2.4GHZ CMOS LC VCO with Low Phase Noise

This paper presents the design of a 2.4 GHz low phase noise fully integrated LC Voltage-Controlled-Oscillator (VCO) in $0.18{\mu}m$ CMOS technology. The VCO is without any tail bias current sources for a low phase noise and, in which differential varactors are adopted for the symmetry of the circuit. At the same time, the use of differential varactors pairs reduces the tuning range, i.e., the frequency range versus VTUNE, so that the phase noise becomes lower. The simulation results show the achieved phase noise of -138.5 dBc/Hz at 3 MHz offset, while the VCO core draws 3.9mA of current from a 1.8V supply. The tuning range is from 2.28GHz to 2.55 GHz.