Inductor shielding strategies to protect mmW LC-VCOs from high frequency substrate noise

  • Authors:

  • Marc Molina;Xavier AragonèS;Diego Mateo;José Luis GonzáLez

  • Affiliations:

  • Electronic Engineering Department, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain;Electronic Engineering Department, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain;Electronic Engineering Department, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain;Electronic Engineering Department, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain

  • Venue:
  • Microelectronics Journal
  • Year:
  • 2013

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Abstract

This paper analyzes the impact of high-frequency substrate noise on two 60GHz LC-VCOs that implement different strategies for inductor shielding, namely floating and grounded shields. An analytical model, which has previously shown very good accuracy up to 7GHz, is used to identify the circuit parameters that determine the level of the spurs created by the noise. These parameters are individually evaluated for the two VCOs, identifying their relative responsibility for the observed noise effects. The analysis concludes that a floating inductor shield provides extra immunity compared to a grounded inductor shield, and that this advantage is essentially due to the improvement in the tank quality factor. The predictions of the analytical model are validated by comparing them with circuit simulations and measurements of the noise impact on the two VCOs manufactured in a 65nm CMOS technology, proving its usefulness at mm-wave frequencies.