Terms and Definitions: VCO’s

Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO):

This is an oscillator designed so the output frequency can be changed by applying a voltage to its control port, also known as its tuning port.

Frequency Tuning Characteristic:

Frequency versus tuning voltage performance for a given VCO. This is usually graphed as frequency vs. voltage.

Frequency VS. Temperature:

Variation of frequency with temperature at a fixed tuning voltage.

Monotonic Tuning:

This refers to the fact that for a given frequency voltage characteristic, the frequency is single-valued at a given voltage, and vice versa. The slope has the same sign across the tuning range.

Tuning Sensitivity:

This is the slope of the tuning characteristic and is expressed as frequency change per unit voltage change (MHz/V, etc.).

Tuning Linearity:

Tuning linearity is the deviation of the frequency versus tuning voltage characteristic from a best-fit straight line. It is sometimes called tuning nonlinearity.

Tuning OR Modulation, and Delta Modulation Sensitivity:

The slope of the tuning voltage characteristic at a given tuning voltage is the tuning or modulation sensitivity. The difference in modulation sensitivity at two operating tuning voltages is the delta modulation sensitivity.

Tuning Speed (or Response Time):

This is the time required for the output frequency to settle to within 90% of its final value after applying a step change in tuning voltage. The settling time or tuning speed is related to the tuning or modulation bandwidth.

VCO Input Capacitance:

The total equivalent capacitance seen at the tuning port of the VCO. This capacitance is a function of the DC component of the test signal applied to the tuning port, and depends mainly on the varactor diode capacitance vs. voltage characteristic.

Modulation or Tuning Bandwidth:

The modulating frequency at which the frequency deviation decreases to 0.707 of its DC value. This is an inverse function of the tuning-port capacitance, and it usually depends also on the modulating source impedance, which is typically 50Ω.

Post Tuning Drift:

The application of a step voltage causes the VCO to change its frequency from an initial f1 value to a final f2 value. The frequency f2 will settle to a stabilized value after some time. Post tuning drift is the frequency error compared to a final stabilized value at a specified time after the application of a step voltage. Expressed as frequency error in Hz, kHz, etc. as illustrated in Figure 1.

Frequency Drift with Temperature:

This is the frequency drift of the VCO with temperature at a fixed tuning voltage, and may be expressed as a relative percentage change per unit temperature, or as a frequency change per unit temperature.

Output Power:

The fundamental sinusoidal frequency output of the oscillator measured into a 50Ω load, expressed in dBm.

Output Power Variation:

The maximum to minimum power variation (expressed in dB) observed over the specified frequency range in a 50Ω system at a given temperature.

Output Power Flatness:

Variation of the output power from the average output power, expressed in dB.

Output Power Change with Temperature:

The change in the output power over the temperature range. (Example using Mini-Circuits Models POS-765 or JTOS-765 is shown in Figure 2.)

Frequency Pushing:

The changing of output frequency corresponding to a given change in the supply voltage at a fixed tuning voltage (expressed in MHz/V).

Frequency Pulling:

Frequency variation caused by changes in the impedance of the output load. It is usually specified at a load return loss of 12 dB and all possible phases, and is expressed in MHz peak-to-peak.

Harmonic Content or Suppression:

Harmonic levels are measured relative to the fundamental signal (the”carrier”) and expressed in dB referenced to the carrier (dBc).

Spurious Responses or Non-Harmonic Spurious Content:

Spurious spectral components are unwanted and non-harmonically related signals present at the oscillator output. Spurious response is usually expressed in terms of dBc.

SSB Phase Noise:

Single side band phase noise in 1 Hz bandwidth is measured relative to the carrier power at a given offset from the carrier frequency and is expressed as dBc/Hz, as illustrated in Figure 3 (Mini-Circuits models POS-1025 or JTOS-1025). For more information see article relating to VCO Phase Noise.

Flicker Noise:

One of the sources of noise associated with solid state devices, the amplitude of which varies inversely with offset frequency. It is also referred to as 1/f noise.

Residual FM:

Alternatively known as RMS frequency error, this is another form of specifying the frequency stability of a signal source. It is the total rms frequency deviation Δf_rms within a given modulation bandwidth fa to fb. The bandwidth is usually specified as 50 Hz to 3 kHz. Expressed mathematically, we have:

where f is the offset frequency from the carrier, and S_C(f) is the single-sideband phase noise power spectral density function.

Q or Quality Factor:

A figure of merit often used in describing the sharpness of a tuned circuit response. A high-Q circuit has a sharper response, and vice versa. Applied to a VCO it refers to the frequency-determining resonator, and high Q improves noise suppression.

Varactor Diode:

A diode operated in a reverse biased condition providing a junction capacitance that is a function of the applied reverse bias voltage.

Phase Locked Loop (PLL):

A feedback circuit in which the VCO frequency and phase are locked to the frequency and phase of a stable reference signal.

Frequency Synthesizer:

A system that generates any one of equally spaced frequencies within a given band, referenced to a stable frequency.

Phase Detector:

A circuit which compares two coherent RF signals and generates a DC output voltage or current that is a function of the difference between the phase of two signals.

Phase Detector Gain:

This is a constant for a given device and given input signal conditions, and is measured in volts per radian or amperes per radian.

Bode Plot or Bode Diagram:

A method of describing the transfer characteristic of a circuit or system where the gain function as magnitude in dB and phase shift is plotted on a logarithmic frequency scale.

Unity Gain:

The gain at which the magnitude of the open loop gain is equal to 1 (or 0 dB).

Unity Gain Frequency:

The frequency at which the magnitude of the open loop gain crosses the 0 dB point.

Loop Filter:

The loop filter is generally a low pass filter which filters the output of the phase detector and determines the noise characteristics of the VCO. If the phase detector generates a current output, then the loop filter will integrate the output signal from the phase detector into a DC voltage to drive the VCO to a specific frequency. The loop filter may take different forms, a typical one being a lag/lead network.

Browse all voltage controlled oscillators (VCO’s)