An Integrated VCO with Frequency Tripler in SiGe BiCMOS with a 1-dB Bandwidth from 22 GHz to 32 GHz for Multiband 5G Wireless Networks

We present a 9 GHz wideband voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) integrated with a frequency tripler on a single chip. The circuit can generate frequencies from 21.3 GHz to 32.1 GHz with a phase noise between -122 and -114 dBc/Hz at 10 MHz offset from the carrier. The 1-dB bandwidth is from 22 GHz to 32 GHz with an output power between -13 dBm and -12 dBm. Using a direct-conversion or a sliding-IF transceiver frontend architecture, various 5G frequency bands between 24 GHz and 40 GHz can be addressed. The chip occupies an area of 1.5 mm
²
and dissipates 95 mA from a 3.3 V supply.