Issues on the design and implementation of radio frequency CMOS LC tank voltage-controlled oscillators

Abstract

This paper is a general tutorial on the design and implementation of integrated submicron CMOS voltage- controlled oscillators based on LC resonator tanks. Although special reference to phase noise reduction is made, the discussion also includes issues such as power consumption, oscillator reliability and adaptivity together with tuning range. Important guidelines on oscillator and LC tank design are discussed, with emphasis on the fact that reduction of noise up-conversion is as important as the reduction of the noise magnitude coming from the various components in the oscillator.