A wide tuning range CMOS oscillator mixer using a push-push technique for V-band applications

This work proposes a wide tuning oscillator mixer that operates from 56 to 64 GHz and is based on 90 nm CMOS technology. The circuit of a voltage control oscillator (VCO) comprises a mixer core and a coupled line marchand balun. The balanced mixer is symmetric, inherently broadband, and dependent on an LO balun that is combined with the parasitic capacitances from the mixer. The VCO is used in a 60 GHz push-pull circuit to generate the second harmonic, and a 30 GHz dielectric resonator is utilized to stabilize the fundamental oscillation frequency. The LC-tank oscillator also functions as a single-balanced LO load for the mixer core. A theoretical expression for the conversion gain of the self-oscillating mixer is given, taking into account the time-varying nature of the LO load impedance. Measurements show that the mixer has a conversion gain of 3.4 dB. Its output P_{1 dB} is -12.4 dBm. The chip consumes 17.9 mW of dc power and it occupies an area of 0.64 mm² without pads.