A 23 GHz Low-Phase-Noise Transformer-Feedback VCO in 22nm FD-SOI with a FOMT of 191dBc/Hz

This paper presents a 23GHz low-phase-noise transformer-feedback differential VCO with a 27% frequency tuning range. By adding a source-bridging capacitor between the sources of the transistors that are connected to the two feedback transformers, the phase noise at 1/f
³
region is improved due to the suppression of flicker noise up-conversion. The proposed VCO is implemented in a 22nm FD-SOI technology with a low supply voltage of 0.65V. The measured phase noise is -106 dBc/Hz at 1MHz frequency offset with power consumption of 11.5mW, and the corresponding FOM and FOMT are 182.6 dBc/Hz and 191 dBc/Hz, respectively.