LC VOLTAGE-CONTROLLED OSCILLATOR

• US 20110018646A1
• Filed: 07/21/2010
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Inventors: Yun, Seok Ju, LEE, Hui Dong, Kwon, Jong Kee, Kim, Kwi Dong
• Application Number:
  US12/840,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20110018646A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 331/117.FE
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 5/1215 the current source or degeneration circuit being in common to both transistors of the pair, e.g. a cross-coupled long-tailed pair
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 5/1218 the generator being of the balanced type
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 5/1221 the amplifier comprising multiple amplification stages connected in cascade
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 5/1228 the amplifier comprising one or more field effect transistors
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 5/1243 the means comprising voltage variable capacitance diodes

Abstract

An LC voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) is provided. According to the LC voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), the amplitude of an oscillation signal is improved by increasing the impedance value of an amplifier circuit seen from an output node in an LC voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), and phase noise is also improved.

Claims

1. An LC voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), comprising:

an LC resonant circuit including at least one inductor whose both ends are connected to an output node, and two variable capacitors connected in series with each other and in parallel with the inductor; and

a first amplifier circuit including first and second negative resistance boosting transistors and first and second switching transistors,

wherein drains of the first and second negative resistance boosting transistors are connected to the output node,

gates and the drains of the first and second negative resistance boosting transistors are connected with each other,

drains of the first and second switching transistors are connected with sources of the first and second negative resistance boosting transistors respectively, and

gates of the first and second switching transistors are respectively connected with gates of the first and second negative resistance boosting transistors through capacitors and also connected with a predetermined bias voltage terminal through resistors.

2. The LC VCO of claim 1, wherein a control voltage for changing capacitance values of the two variable capacitors to adjust a frequency of a signal output from the output node is applied between the two variable capacitors.

3. The LC VCO of claim 1, wherein the LC resonant circuit further includes at least one capacitor connected in parallel with the at least one inductor.

4. The LC VCO of claim 1, wherein the inductor is connected to a power supply terminal,

sources of the first and second switching transistors are connected to the ground, and

the first and second negative resistance boosting transistors and the first and second switching transistors are n-type transistors.

5. The LC VCO of claim 1, further comprising a second amplifier circuit including two p-type transistors whose gates and drains are connected with each other and to the both ends of the at least one inductor and sources are connected to a power supply terminal,

wherein sources of the first and second switching transistors are connected to the ground, and

the first and second negative resistance boosting transistors and the first and second switching transistors are n-type transistors.

6. The LC VCO of claim 1, wherein the inductor is connected to the ground,

sources of the first and second switching transistors are connected to a power supply terminal, and

the first and second negative resistance boosting transistors and the first and second switching transistors are p-type transistors.

7. The LC VCO of claim 1, further comprising a second amplifier circuit including two n-type transistors whose gates and drains are connected with each other and to the both ends of the at least one inductor and sources are connected to the ground,

wherein sources of the first and second switching transistors are connected to a power supply terminal, and

the first and second negative resistance boosting transistors and the first and second switching transistors are p-type transistors.

8. The LC VCO of claim 1, further comprising a bias voltage supply circuit including a transistor for bias voltage supply,

wherein a gate of the transistor for bias voltage supply is connected with a drain and also with a source through a capacitor.

9. The LC VCO of claim 8, wherein the bias voltage supply circuit further includes a current source for supplying current to the drain of the transistor for bias voltage supply.