67 GHz three-spiral transformer CMOS oscillator

This paper presents a 67GHz LC oscillator exploiting a three-spiral transformer and implemented in 65nm bulk complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor technology by STMicroelectronics. The three-spiral transformer allows operating with a lower voltage supply, still obtaining good phase noise performance, and achieving a compact design. Measured performances when supplied with 1.2V are: oscillation frequency of 67GHz, phase noise PN equal to -96dBc/Hz at 1MHz frequency offset from the carrier, power consumption PC equal to 19.2mW and figure of merit FOM equal to -179.7dB/Hz. Measured performances when supplied with 0.6V are: oscillation frequency of 67GHz; PN equal to -88.7dBc/Hz at a 1MHz frequency offset from the carrier; PC equal to 3.6mW and FOM equal to -179.7dB/Hz. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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