Evanescent-mode cavity-based frequency synthesizer

In this paper, an evanescent-mode (EVA) cavity-based frequency synthesizer is developed, implemented, and experimentally validated. The oscillator is integrated on the same substrate of a high-Q (Qu ≥ 400) EVA resonator board to reduce parasitics in the circuit. A piezoelectric actuator is used as a tuner. A phase-locked loop (PLL) is used to control the output frequency. The frequency tuning range is 610 MHz to 950 MHz (1:1.55). The circuit also achieves a phase noise as low as −104 dBc/Hz at 100 kHz offset, −144 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset, and − 150 dBc/Hz as a noise floor. The RMS jitter of the system is 3 ps, and the peak-to-peak jitter is 13 ps at 700 MHz. The frequency synthesizer consumes 340 mW.

[1]  Yuh-Jing Hwang,et al.  A Ka-band YIG-based local oscillator for astronomical heterodyne receiver , 2013, 2013 Asia-Pacific Microwave Conference Proceedings (APMC).

[2]  Dimitrios Peroulis,et al.  Real-time temperature compensation control system for tunable cavity-based high-Q filters , 2015, 2015 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium.

[3]  W. Messner,et al.  Piezoelectric microactuator for dual stage control , 1999 .

[4]  Jianhui Wu,et al.  A 2.4-GHz All-Digital PLL With a 1-ps Resolution 0.9-mW Edge-Interchanging-Based Stochastic TDC , 2015, IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems II: Express Briefs.

[5]  O. Oralkan,et al.  A Low-Noise Oscillator based on a Multi-Membrane CMUT for High Sensitivity Resonant Chemical Sensors , 2009, 2009 IEEE 22nd International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems.

[6]  Thomas H. Lee,et al.  The Design of CMOS Radio-Frequency Integrated Circuits: RF CIRCUITS THROUGH THE AGES , 2003 .

[7]  Herbert Zirath,et al.  Phase-Noise Analysis of an X-Band Ultra-Low Phase-Noise GaN HEMT Based Cavity Oscillator , 2015, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques.

[8]  Yuhao Liu,et al.  Design of low phase-noise voltage-controlled oscillator using tunable evanescent-mode cavity , 2014, 2014 IEEE Radio and Wireless Symposium (RWS).

[9]  D. Leeson.  A simple model of feedback oscillator noise spectrum , 1966 .

[10]  Allen A. Sweet,et al.  A wide band, low phase noise, differential YIG Tuned Oscillator , 2014, WAMICON 2014.