VCO Design. Lab 3. Prof.

Jos Luis Gonzlez

Final Project. Gilbert Cell Design.

Prof. Jos Luis Gonzlez. Ra io Fre!uenc" #"ste$%On%C&i' )a"* 3+t& of ,++-

Cristina Do$ingo #(bat .a/ier Ji$nez Gonzlez

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VCO Design. Lab 3. Prof. Jos Luis Gonzlez

Gilbert Cell Design. Contents.

O/er/ie2......................................................................................................................., 3ntro uction to $i4ers..................................................................................................., )i4er o'eration.............................................................................................................5 6nal"tical stu ".............................................................................................................Gilbert )i4er #i$ulation...............................................................................................7 Con/ersion Gain........................................................................................................8 Port 3solation............................................................................................................0+ Po2er Dissi'ation* Large #ignal Po2er Con/ersion Gain......................................00 #%Para$eters............................................................................................................03 9oise Figure............................................................................................................0: 0 ; Co$'ression an 33P3.....................................................................................07 <ffect of t&e ;loc=er on Gain an 9F of )i4er......................................................0> Conclusions.................................................................................................................,+ Pro'ose i$'ro/e$ents..............................................................................................,+

Overview.
?&is re'ort tries to gi/e a brief escri'tion of a $i4er i$'le$ente b" a Gilbert Cell. 6fter e4'laining so$e i$'ortant conce'ts about $i4ers* an anal"tical anal"sis in 2&ic& transistors i$ensions are calculate is 'resente . ?&e $ain section of t&e 2or= is focuse on t&e si$ulation of a Gilbert Cell. #'ectreRF* of Ca ence* is use for t&e si$ulation in or er to obtain t&e $ost significant 'ara$eters t&at c&aracterize a $i4er* suc& as@ 0. ,. 3. 5. :. -. Po2er Consu$'tion RF to 3F Con/ersion Gain 9oise an 9F 3n'ut an Out'ut 3$'e ance )atc&ing LO to RF an LO to 3F 3solation Linearit"

Circuit esign is i$'le$ente in a #tate%Of%6rt of +.3: m b" an 6)# C)O# Ac3:b5B 'rocess. Conclu ing t&is anal"sis a c&ange on t&e original circuit is 'ro'ose in or er to i$'ro/e t&e 9oise Figure of t&e $i4er.

Introduction to mixers

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VCO Design. Lab 3. Prof. Jos Luis Gonzlez )i4ers are use for fre!uenc" con/ersion an are critical co$'onents in $o ern ra io fre!uenc" ARFB s"ste$s. 6 $i4er con/erts RF 'o2er at one fre!uenc" into 'o2er at anot&er fre!uenc" to $a=e signal 'rocessing easier an also ine4'ensi/e. 6 fun a$ental reason for fre!uenc" con/ersion is to allo2 a$'lification of t&e recei/e signal at a fre!uenc" ot&er t&an t&e RF* or t&e au io* fre!uenc". 6 recei/er $a" re!uire as $uc& as 05+ ecibels A ;B of gain. 3t $ig&t not be 'ossible to 'ut $ore t&an 5+ ; of gain into t&e RF section 2it&out ris=ing instabilit" an 'otential oscillations. Li=e2ise t&e gain of t&e au io section $ig&t be li$ite to -+ ; because of 'arasitic fee bac= 'at&s* an $icro'&onics. ?&e a itional gain nee e for a sensiti/e recei/er is nor$all" ac&ie/e in an inter$e iate fre!uenc" A3FB section of t&e recei/er ?&e i eal $i4er is a e/ice 2&ic& $ulti'lies t2o in'ut signals. 3f t&e in'uts are sinusoi s* t&e i eal $i4er out'ut is t&e su$ an ifference fre!uencies gi/en b"

?"'icall"* eit&er t&e su$* or t&e ifference* fre!uenc" is re$o/e 2it& a filter.

Circuit symbol for a mixer

Co2e/er* a $i4er is a non%linear e/ice 2&ic& 'ro/i es an out'ut t&at follo2s t&e 'resente i entit"@
y = ax bx 3

being a t&e $i4erDs gain for t&e linear res'onse an b t&e /oltage gain for t&e t&ir or er non%linearit". ?&is non esire t&ir or er ter$ 2ill force t&e esigner to consi er so$e as'ects suc& as 3nter$o ualtion 'ro ucts* Desenzitation* ;loc=ing* 0 ; Co$'ression Point or 3nterce'tion Point* 2&ic& 2ill be intro uce else2&ere in t&is 2or=* 2&en esigning transistors sizes an c&oosing esign structures. ?&ere are t2o t"'es of $i4er* 'assi/e an acti/e. Generall" 'assi/e t"'es Aalt&oug& &a/e better 3)3 'erfor$anceB &a/e &ig&er con/ersion losses an &ence &ig&er noise figures t&an acti/e $i4ers. 6 itionall"* t&ere are single balance $i4ers an ouble balance $i4ers A Gilbert Cell is an active double-balanced mixer. #ingle balance $i4ers are $uc& less co$'le4* but &a/e inferior 'erfor$ance in ter$s of RF to 3F an LO to 3F rejection* co$'are to ouble balance $i4ers. Gi/en belo2 are t&e a /antages an isa /antages of ouble balance $i4ers.

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VCO Design. Lab 3. Prof. Jos Luis Gonzlez Advantages: ;ot& LO an RF are balance * 'ro/i ing bot& LO an RF Rejection at t&e 3F out'ut. 6ll 'orts of t&e $i4er are in&erentl" isolate fro$ eac& ot&er. 3ncrease linearit" co$'are to singl" balance . 3$'ro/e su''ression of s'urious 'ro ucts Aall e/en or er 'ro ucts of t&e LO an 1or t&e RF are su''resse B. Cig& interce't 'oints. Less susce'table to su''l" /oltage noise ue to ifferential to'ogra'&".

Disadvantages: Re!uire a &ig&er LO ri/e le/el. Re!uire t2o baluns Aalt&oug& $i4er 2ill usuall" be connecte to ifferential a$'lifiersB. Ports &ig&l" sensiti/e to reacti/e ter$inations.

Mixer operation
?&e RF signal is a''lie to t&e transistors )0 an ), 2&ic& 'erfor$ a /oltage to current con/ersion. For correct o'eration t&ese e/ices s&oul not be ri/en into saturation an t&erefore* signals

consi erabl" less t&an t&e 0 ; co$'ression 'oint s&oul be use . )O#Fets )3 to )- for$ a $ulti'lication function* $ulti'l"ing t&e linear RF signal current fro$ )0 an ), 2it& t&e LO signal a''lie across )3 to )- 2&ic& 'ro/i e t&e s2itc&ing function. )0 an ), 'ro/i e E1% RF current an )3 an ): s2itc& bet2een t&e$ to 'ro/i e t&e RF signal Aor t&e in/erte RF signalB to t&e left &an

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VCO Design. Lab 3. Prof. Jos Luis Gonzlez

loa . )5 an )- s2itc& bet2een t&e$ for t&e rig&t &an loa . ?&e t2o loa resistors for$ a current to /oltage transfor$ation gi/ing ifferential out'ut 3F signals.

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VCO Design. Lab 3. Prof. Jos Luis Gonzlez

Analytical study
F&en esigning* it $ust be ta=en into account 2&at are t&e re!uire$ents to be fulfille b" t&e esign. Li=e2ise* it can be 'referable to gi/e $ore i$'ortance to certain as'ects* suc& as linearit" or gain* in front of ot&er c&aracteristics or t&e esign 2&ic& $a" be not t&at strict. 3t is onl" co$$ente in t&is section fe2 &ints of &o2 a $i4er can be anal"ticall" esign. 3t can be esirable t&en* a ifferential in'ut an out'ut esign or just a single%en e esign e'en ing on 2&et&er 're/ious an ne4t bloc=s are balance or unbalance ones. ?&ere is 2&ere ;6LG9s ta=e 'lace. Co2e/er* a first ste' in $i4erHs esign is to set t&e s2itc&ing transistors to t&e sa$e ratio F1L A0++u1+.3:uB. Ot&er action t&at increases t&e linearit" of t&e $i4er lies on intro ucing egeneration resistors or in uctors to RF transistors sources A)0* ),B. Cence* t&e /oltage gain of t&e $i4er 2it& source egeneration is gi/en b"@

;eing g$ t&e first stage transcon uctance efine as@

9e/ert&eless* g$ can be also calculate as follo2s@

6n

efining t&e rain current t&roug& t&e transistor as@

?&e o/er ri/e /oltage AVgs%V?B s&oul be set at so$e /alue aroun 0.2 to 0.4V. De'en ing on t&e current flo2ing t&roug& t&e IL96H RF section 2e can eter$ine t&e o'ti$u$ F1L ratio for t&e LO s2itc&ing section. ?&us* for a esire &ig& linearit" 'erfor$ance of t&e $i4er* t&is ste's $a" be a goo reference 2&en starting t&e esign@ 0.% #elect a /alue for Rs. 3f 2e start 2it& t&e L96 esign * Rs 2ill be realize b" an in uctor Ls. ,.% Gsing t&e esign e!uations of section 5AiiB eci e on t&e 3)3 /alue re!uire to calculate t&e /oltage o/er ri/e AVgs%V?B. J ?&is is 'art of t&e L96 esign 'rocess. 3.% Calculate g$ an c&ec= for co$'liance of +.5V. 5.% Deter$ine LO s2itc&ing F b" selecting $ini$u$ L allo2e an assu$ing t&at t&e o/er ri/e /oltage AVgs%V?B 2ill be bet2een +., an +.5 V

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VCO Design. Lab 3. Prof. Jos Luis Gonzlez

Gilbert Mixer Simulation

?&e sc&e$atic t&at i$'le$ents a Gilbert )i4er is 'resente on t&e foregoing figure. 3F 'ort

#u''l" /oltage RF 'ort LO 'ort Oscillation 'art

;ias current

?&is is t&e test benc& for Gilbert )i4er@

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VCO Design. Lab 3. Prof. Jos Luis Gonzlez 6 Gilbert Cell is an acti/e $i4er* itHs to sa"* acti/e co$'onents AtransistorsB are use to ac&ie/e t&e fre!uenc" con/ersion. ?&ese t"'es of $i4ers 'ro/i e a certain /oltage1'o2er gain to t&e out'ut signal. Li=e2ise 2e can efine the voltage conversion gain as the ratio of the RMS 1 voltages of the ! and R! signals and the "o#er conversion gain as the ratio of the "o#er delivered to the load and the available R! in"ut "o#er. 3n'ut an out'ut e!ui/alent resistances of t&e circuit $ust be ta=en into account to ac&ie/e a certain 'o2er transfer. ?&at $eans t&at t&e esigner s&oul &a/e a reliable i ea of 2&at out'ut resistance /alue is e4'ecting fro$ a 're/ious bloc= AL96 co$$onl"B an 2&at in'ut resistance is 'resenting t&e ne4t bloc= in t&e RF c&ain A3F FilterB. Co2e/er* a co$$on esign 'roce ure relies on fi4ing t&ese resistances to :+ O&$s just as 2e are going to assu$e for in'ut resistance an out'ut loa . ?&is assu$'tion lea s us to t&e fact t&at so Voltage as Po2er Gains are t&e sa$e 2&en 'resente in ;. 9ote@ RF at ,.50 GCz%%%%%%LO at ,.5+GCz%%%%%%%%%%%3F at 0+ )Cz

Conversion Gain. ?&is is t&e ratio Ain ;B bet2een t&e 3F signal Ausuall" t&e ifference fre!uenc" bet2een t&e RF an LO signalsB an t&e RF signal. Con/ersion Gain can be obtaine using a s$all signal anal"sis* li=e a P## , toget&er 2it& a P6C3 or a P.F5 anal"sis. ;ut ot&er gains suc& as VCG referre to RF fre!uenc" are t"'icall" obtaine 2&en si$ulating.

$oltage versus fre%uency at R! and ! "orts

Voltage Con/ersion Gain e'en s on t&e oscillation signal 'o2er as it is s&o2n &ere*

0 ,

R)#@ Root )ean #!uare P##@ Perio ic #tate # 3 P6C@ Perio ic 6ltern Current 5 P.F@ Perio ic .F

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VCO Design. Lab 3. Prof. Jos Luis Gonzlez

$CG versus &' out"ut "o#er.

?&us* 2e notice a $a4i$u$ an to' 'o2er transfer 2&en t&e local oscillator 'o2er is set to be aroun ,+ ;$. Conse!uentl"* subse!uent ste's in si$ulation are one assu$ing t&is 'o2er 'ro/i e b" t&e local oscillator. Voltage con/ersion gain also e'en s on t&e fre!uenc" of t&e 3F signal A2&en fLO is fi4e an fRF is /ariableB. #o a si$ulation is one b" fi4ing 'o2er in Local Oscillator 'ort A,+ ;$B an 'o2er in t&e RF 'ort A%:+ ;$B. ?&e ne4t gra'&ic s&o2s Voltage Con/ersion Gain /ersus fre!uenc" at 3F.

$oltage Conversion Gain.

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VCO Design. Lab 3. Prof. Jos Luis Gonzlez Conse!uentl"* 2e can state t&at t&e Gain of t&e $i4er esigne is Power Gain (dB) = Voltage Gain (dB) = - 6 dB 3ts /alue $o/es aroun %- ;* 2&at $eans t&at it is not a /er" goo one because acti/e $i4ers li=e t&is s&oul &a/e a VCG greater t&an + ;. Fe &a/e one a si$ilar si$ulation b" using P.F. ?&is $et&o is one to use a t2o%tone large%signal KP## anal"sis 2&ic& is $ore ti$e%consu$ing. 6fter si$ulating* 2e c&ec= t&at t&e results are /er" si$ilar@

$oltage Conversion Gain.

(ort solation. Fe can efine t&e 6%to%; 'ort isolation as t&e ratio in ; bet2een t&e 6 fre!uenc" 'o2er le/el inci ent at t&e 6 'ort of t&e $i4er an t&e 6 fre!uenc" 'o2er e$anating fro$ t&e ; 'ort. 3t can be also referre as t&e 6%; fee t&roug& Alea=ageB. 6not&er i$'ortant c&aracteristic to $easure in a $i4er is t&e "ort-to-"ort isolation.

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VCO Design. Lab 3. Prof. Jos Luis Gonzlez 6n t&is is t&e R! to ! isolation@

R!-to- ! "ort solation.

LO%to%RF an LO%to%3F Fee t&roug&@

&'-to-R! and &'-to- ! solation.

(o#er Dissi"ation) &arge Signal (o#er Conversion Gain 6not&er re$ar=able c&aracteristic of a $i4er resi es on &o2 $uc& 'o2er it is able to transfer fro$ t&e injecte 'o2er at RF an LO to t&e esire out'ut A$ain &ar$onics of 3FB. ;" using a KP## anal"sis 2e &a/e been able to i entif" t&is 'ara$eter in our circuit..

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VCO Design. Lab 3. Prof. Jos Luis Gonzlez KP## AKuasi Perio ic #tea " #tate 6nal"sisB is an anal"sis t&at in/o=es a series of P##%li=e anal"ses o/er all t&e in'ut fre!uencies* t&eir &ar$onics an t&e inter$o ulation 'ro ucts of t&e in'ut fre!uencies. KP## allo2s arbitrar" signal in'uts* inclu ing su$ of sinusoi s 2&ic& are not 'erio ic* so calle !uasi 'erio ic e4tension of P##. #i$ilar to P6C APerio ic 6C anal"sisB it calculates t&e res'onses of t&e circuits t&at e4&ibit t&e fre!uenc" translation li=e $i4er* oscillator etc. Gnli=e P6C* P## is not e4'licitl" re!uire before KP## as it si$ulates t&e $o erate an large signal be&a/iour instea of s$all signal be&a/iour. Li=e2ise* t&is is t&e Large #ignal Con/ersion Gain of our circuit@

&arge Signal Conversion Gain

3t $ust be ta=en into account t&at so KP## as P## 'ro/i e t&e s'ectru$* not scalar /alues. #o if 2e 2ant to gi/e a /alue to t&e 'o2er consu$'tion* a goo a''roac& relies on t&e su$$ation of t&e $ain fun a$ental &ar$onics 'resente in t&e foregoing figure. Fe can state* t&us* t&at our circuit acco$'lis&es a goo be&a/iour referring to 'o2er consu$'tion.

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VCO Design. Lab 3. Prof. Jos Luis Gonzlez

&arge Signal Conversion Gain *+oom at interest fre%uency) 1, M-+.

S-(arameters <le$entar" circuit t&eor" 'ro/i es $an" $et&o s for escribing electronic net2or=s. ?&ose $et&o s* &o2e/er* best escribe DC an lo2%fre!uenc" circuits. ?&e" fall s&ort 2&en t&e 2a/elengt&s of t&e signals of interest s&rin= to beco$e co$'arable to t&e '&"sical i$ensions of t&e circuit of interest. ?o c&aracterize &ig&%fre!uenc" circuits* "ou can e$'lo" #%'ara$eters Aor scattering 'ara$etersB in 'lace of t&e i$'e ance or a $ittance 'ara$eters t&at escribe lo2%fre!uenc" circuits. <ac& 'ara$eter is t"'icall" c&aracterize b" $agnitu e* ecibel an '&ase. ?&e e4'ression in ecibel is ,+logA#ijB because s%'ara$eters are /oltage ratios of t&e 2a/es. S11@ S/1@ S1/@ S//@ in'ut reflection coefficient of :+ ter$inate out'ut. for2ar trans$ission coefficient of :+ ter$inate out'ut. re/erse trans$ission coefficient of :+ ter$inate in'ut. out'ut reflection coefficient of :+ ter$inate in'ut.

9otice t&at@ POR? 0 RF 'ort POR? , 3F 'ort POR? 3 LO 'ort

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VCO Design. Lab 3. Prof. Jos Luis Gonzlez ?&e a /antage of s%'ara$eters oes not onl" lie in t&e co$'lete escri'tion of t&e e/ice 'erfor$ance at $icro2a/e fre!uencies but also t&e abilit" to con/ert to ot&er 'ara$eters suc& as &"bri ACB or a $ittance ALB 'ara$eters. 6 KP## anal"sis &as been re!uire as 2ell to obtain t&e s%'ara$eters. ?&ese are t&e figures corres'on ing to t&e $i4erD #%'ara$eters@

S/10 $oltage Conversion Gain.

S110 (o#er transfer from &' "ort to R! "ort

S/10 &'- ! feedthrough

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VCO Design. Lab 3. Prof. Jos Luis Gonzlez

S110 R!-&' feedthrough

?&is gra'&ic s&o2s 9oise Figure in t&e range of fre!uenc" fro$ + to 0+ )Cz.

2oise !igure 9oise figure is efine as t&e ratio of #9R at t&e 3F 'ort to t&e #9R of t&e RF 'ort. ?"'icall"* t&e signal 'resent at t&e i$age fre!uenc" is not esire . ?&e $i4er translates bot& RF an t&e i$age signals at t&e sa$e 3F. #o for a noiseless $i4er t&e out'ut #9R is &alf t&e in'ut #9R i.e. 9F##; of a noiseless $i4er is 3 ;.

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VCO Design. Lab 3. Prof. Jos Luis Gonzlez

Co2e/er* in so$e a''lications A irect con/ersion recei/ersB t&e signal 'resent at t&e i$age fre!uenc" contains useful infor$ation* an &ence t&e 9F D#; is $easure an calculate . 9oise Figure ##; an D#;@

2oise !igure SS3 and DS3

Fe efine out'ut noise as t&e a$ount of un esire signal 'o2er foun at t&e out'ut signal fre!uenc".

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VCO Design. Lab 3. Prof. Jos Luis Gonzlez Out'ut 9oise@

'ut"ut 2oise

1 d3 Com"ression and

(1

3n s$all signal con itions out'ut 'o2er increases linearl" 2it& increase in t&e in'ut signal 'o2er. F&en circuits s&ift to2ar large signal o'eration t&is relation is no longer linear. ?&e 0 ; co$'ression 'oint is a $easure of t&is nonlinearit". ?&is is 'o2er 2&ere t&e out'ut of t&e fun a$ental crosses t&e line t&at re'resents t&e out'ut 'o2er e4tra'olate fro$ s$all signal con itions $inus 0 ;. ?&e reco$$en e a''roac& to calculate t&e 0 ; CP an 33P3 is to a''l" large LO an one $e iu$ RF tone an 'erfor$ t&e KP## anal"sis. ?&en t&e secon tone as a s$all tone close to t&e RF signal fre!uenc" is a''lie to 'erfor$ after2ar s t&e KP6C anal"sis. ?&e 'o2er of t&e ,n s$all RF signal tone* pacmag* &as to be s$all enoug& t&at 3)P0 an 3)P3 are in t&eir as"$'totic ranges.

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VCO Design. Lab 3. Prof. Jos Luis Gonzlez 0 ; Co$'ression 'oint an 33P3@

1d3 Com"ression "oint

33P3 using KP## an KP6C@

(1

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VCO Design. Lab 3. Prof. Jos Luis Gonzlez 4ffect of the 3loc5er on Gain and 2! of Mixer 3n ban an out of ban bloc=ers are s'ecifie for all stan ar s AG#)* D<C? etcB. ?&ese bloc=er esensitize t&e recei/er i.e. t&e gain an 9F of t&e recei/er for esire signal is rasticall" egra e . 6ll co$$unication stan ar s inclu e t&e bloc=ing re!uire$ents for bot& $obile ter$inals an base stations. ?&e re!uire$ent efines se/eral in%ban an out%of%ban bloc=ers. 9F in 'resence of ;loc=ing #ignal@

2! in "resence of 3loc5ing Signal

Voltage Con/ersion Gain in 'resence of ;loc=ing #ignal@

$oltage Conversion Gain in "resence of 3loc5ing Signal

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VCO Design. Lab 3. Prof. Jos Luis Gonzlez

Conclusions
Do2n con/ersion of recei/ing signal is ac&ie/e . ?&e $i4er 'ro/i es t&e esire 3F fre!uenc" at 0+ )Cz. 9ot as goo as esire 3nterce'tion Point as 2ell as 0 ; Co$'ression Point are obtaine . Fe obser/e not a /er" goo linear be&a/iour. F&en a''l"ing a ;loc=ing signal at t&e in'ut* a goo $i4er res'onse can be notice in ter$s of 9F but not in VCG. Goo 'o2er consu$'tion be&a/iour is acco$'lis&e . )i4er sensibilit" is consi erabl" lo2er t&an e4'ecte . ?&is lea s to a $as=ing of t&e RF signal A$e iu$ 'o2er signal* %:+ ;$B b" t&e LO signal Alarge 'o2er signal* ,+ ;$B. Fee t&roug& A3solation* lea=ageB is far fro$ esirable. ?&is affects as 2ell to $i4erH sensibilit" 6 /er" 'oor gain is a re$ar=able as'ect to consi er. ?&is lea s to rea ful /alues of 9F as 2ell as #9R.

Proposed improvements
6s a result of suc& a ba noise result* 2e &a/e reference our 'ro'ose i$'ro/$ents to a 'a'er title M9oise in RF%C)O# )i4ers@ 6 si$'le P&"sical )o elN 2ritten b" Coo$an Darabi an 6sa 6. 6bi i* 2&o are fello2s of t&e 3<<<. 3n t&is 'a'er* t&e" refer to t&ree =in of noise 2it& effect on t&e out'ut signal an state 2&at factors ta=e influence on t&e$@ % lo# fre%uency noise@ in/ersel" e'en ant on LO slo'e an 'erio e s!uare%li=e 2a/es an large 'erio es 're/ents t&is =in of noise. ?&e" also e4'lain t&at increasing t&e gate area of t&e s2itc& transistors lo2ers flic=er noise as 2ell as lo2ering t&e OD: /oltageO &o2e/er* it egra es $i4er ban 2i t&.

-igh fre%uency noise@ it oes not e'en on transistorH size but on LO a$'litu e an t&e bias current. 3ncreasing gate area of transistors 2&ic& 'ro/i e bias current coul be reasonable.

6ransconductance noise@ in/ersel" e'en ant on LO a$'litu e. Lo2ering LO a$'litu e $ini$izes t&is =in of noise.

OD Voltage@ O/er Dri/e Voltage.

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VCO Design. Lab 3. Prof. Jos Luis Gonzlez Important note@ 2&en OD Voltage assu$es si$ilar /alues as LO a$'litu e bot& noise effects contribute co$'arabl" to t&e out'ut noise. Cence* a tra eoff bet2een linearit" an noise ta=es 'lace in acti/e $i4ers.

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