Improved switched tuning of differential CMOS VCOs

Varactors for continuous frequency tuning are typically used in LC-oscillators. However, they have some drawbacks for large tuning ranges, such as high tuning sensitivity causing high sensitivity to noise and disturbances on the control voltage. Furthermore, large metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) varactors have high conversion of harmless amplitude noise into harmful phase noise. To reduce these problems a small varactor can be used in combination with MOS-transistors that switch fixed capacitors in and out of the oscillator. The limitations due to the imperfect complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) switches are investigated, and an improved structure for use with the popular differential CMOS LC-oscillator is presented.