Microelectronics, Volume. 55, Issue 4, 535(2025)

A Low-noise Phase-locked Loop with Precise AFC and Amplitude Calibration for VCOs

LIU Yu and NI Yi
Author Affiliations
  • School of Integrated Circuits, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, P R China
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    To avoid selecting an excessively large tuning gain Kvco causing degradation in the phase noise of phase-locked loop frequency synthesizers and various adverse effects from non-optimal sub-band selection, we propose a precise automatic frequency calibration (AFC) algorithm to achieve the accurate selection of voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) frequency sub-bands. Furthermore, to further improve its noise performance, we propose a method for optimizing noise by adjusting the oscillation amplitude of a voltage-biased VCO, while avoiding excessive power consumption. A phase-locked loop frequency synthesizer is fabricated using SMIC 0.11 μm CMOS technology, with a VCO operating frequency range of 1.7–2.6 GHz. After division by four, the phase noise at a frequency deviation of 1 MHz from a local oscillator frequency of 433.92 MHz is −129.59 dBc/Hz. The total power consumption of the proposed frequency synthesizer is 4.8 mW, with an area of 0.32 mm2.

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    LIU Yu, NI Yi. A Low-noise Phase-locked Loop with Precise AFC and Amplitude Calibration for VCOs[J]. Microelectronics, 2025, 55(4): 535

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    Paper Information

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    Received: Jul. 29, 2024

    Accepted: Sep. 9, 2025

    Published Online: Sep. 9, 2025

    The Author Email:

    DOI:10.13911/j.cnki.1004-3365.240259

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