What should I simulate in VCO to characterize it??

Hi,

I want to design a VCO in the band from 2.4GHz to 2.6GHz..

Can anyone give me a push to start.. It will be block of a bluetooth ∑-Δ PLL ..

Design should be implemented in the 130nm technology..

What are steps should i follow ?

Finally, what are names (and meanings) of Cadence tools that i will need to characterize it (in terms of noise, tuning range, free running freq., etc.)

My questions may be not clear enough, but i hope that you guys well help me as far as u can

Cheers,
--Knack

The first step is to compare different VCO topologies, for e.g. LC VCO (NMOS only, Complementary etc), Colpitts VCO, Ring VCO and so on...based on the pros and cons of each architecture and your preferrence...choose one of them and start the analyses and simulation...

In cadence, you have to run DC and transient simulation first to see whether the oscillator starts or not....next you need to run PSS and PNoise simulation to get a more exact oscillation frequency and phase noise estimate....

i hope this helps...also search the forum..there have been some similar questions already asked and answered....!!

Regards

haadi20 said:

The first step is to compare different VCO topologies, for e.g. LC VCO (NMOS only, Complementary etc), Colpitts VCO, Ring VCO and so on...based on the pros and cons of each architecture and your preferrence...choose one of them and start the analyses and simulation...

In cadence, you have to run DC and transient simulation first to see whether the oscillator starts or not....next you need to run PSS and PNoise simulation to get a more exact oscillation frequency and phase noise estimate....

i hope this helps...also search the forum..there have been some similar questions already asked and answered....!!

Regards

Click to expand...

Hi hadi20
Thank you for your nice prompt reply
Do you have some books/papers regarding VCO robus design for the selected range?
Another thing, regarding VCO biasing, we're a team of 7 undergraduates, on of us will take biasing of other blocks... what does this mean? will that guy provide an IDEAL-LIKE current source to bias my VCO with? or what.. Biasing issue let me really mad
Can you suggest typical values of current that my VCO will need to operate correctly?? ( I assume that i will regect ring-oscillator.. most probably, i will use L-C or colpit oscillator...what're the pros and cons of each?)
Finally, can you please refer to some of topics you mean? i alread searched but didn't find what matches my needs..

Thank you very much,
Cheers,
--Knack

Search IEEE explorer for paper names/abstraction, and send links for papers.. I will get them for you if you want

knack said:

What are steps should i follow ?

Finally, what are names (and meanings) of Cadence tools that i will need to characterize it (in terms of noise, tuning range, free running freq., etc.)

Click to expand...

This Cadence workshop may be helpful: