Quasi‐constant‐sensitivity VCO with offset‐tuning PN junction varactor array

A quasi-constant-sensitivity voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) using an offset-tuning junction varactor array is demonstrated with low standard deviation of 4.5 MHz/V and average sensitivity of 41 MHz/V. The varactor array utilizing PN-junction varactors provides high-linear capacitor-voltage response and low sensitivity variation. The VCO has a figure-of-merit (FOM) value, FOMKvco, of 0.11 and phase noise of −120 dBc/Hz at 1-MHz offset. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 48: 1063–1066, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.21601