A Four‐Core Dual‐Mode VCO With a Frequency Range of 19.92–40.17 GHz Using Current Reuse and Transconductance Unit Switching Techniques

ABSTRACT A four‐core dual‐mode wideband voltage‐controlled oscillator (VCO) is proposed for 5G communication systems. The design features a novel complementary VCO structure, which differs from the traditional PMOS and NMOS complementary cross‐coupled structure. The fundamental oscillation unit is composed of transconductance units ( G mc units) and PMOS cross‐coupled pairs. Different oscillation modes are achieved by switching between different G mc units, resulting in an extended tuning range. Current reuse techniques are employed to reduce the VCO's start‐up conditions and lower power consumption, thereby enhancing robustness. Using the 65‐nm CMOS process, the designed four‐core dual‐mode VCO achieves a frequency coverage of 19.92–40.17 GHz. The maximum power consumption is 14.22 mW, phase noise ranges from −112.60 to −101.64 dBc/Hz at a 1‐MHz offset, and FoM T varies from 198.28 to 205.84 dBc/Hz. The core area occupies 0.21 mm 2 .