Wide-Bandwidth InGaP-GaAs HBT Voltage-Controlled Oscillators in K- and Ku-Band

A series of voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) covering 12 to 21 GHz with double-tuned configuration using commercially available 2-mum GaAs heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) technology is presented. Double-tuned topology improves the tuning bandwidth and linearity in voltage sensitivity. The tuning bandwidth of the VCOs ranges from 21 to 25%, with phase noise of -117 to -124 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset from the carrier. The overall dc power consumption of the VCO is 75 mW with a supply voltage of -3 V. To the best authors' knowledge, this work demonstrates the best FOM among all the reported VCOs at K- and Ku- band, when tuning range is taken into account.

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