Design of a Low Noise Transformer Feedback Millimeter-Wave CMOS Oscillator with Linearization of Circuit

In this paper, according to the size of the transistors and the feedback gain of the oscillator, a design point in which the gain of the active core of the oscillator is maximum, is derived. In order to realize the feedback gain, we utilize a transformer. This transformer is employed in such a way that it could be able to provide the feedback gain for the oscillator and also eliminate the large portion of parasitic capacitance, simultaneously. By using this technique, the phase noise at 1MHz offset and the tuning range in comparison with the general transformer oscillator is improved by 5dB and 70% respectively. Furthermore, we show that with linearization of the oscillator in millimeter-wave frequencies, phase noise of the oscillator can also be reduced even more. Regarding this criteria we linearize the oscillator as much as possible. Post-simulation results show that the circuit designed in 0.18-μm CMOS technology, consumes 43mW while showing -89dBc/Hz phase noise at 1MHz offset with 1.9GHz tuning range around 57GHz.