Circuits and methods for increasing output frequency of an lc oscillator

A portable wireless device comprising:

• an antenna configured to receive a radio-frequency (RF) signal;
• a receiver circuit connected to the antenna and configured to process the received RF signal;
• and
• a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) circuit coupled to and configured to facilitate operation of the receiver circuit, the VCO having differential outputs through first and second electrically parallel conductors and a third conductor configured to electrically connect the differential outputs, the first, second and third conductors in combination having an inductance that is lower than an inductance corresponding to a combination of the first and second conductors without the third conductor, the lowered inductance yielding an increase in a maximum frequency of the VCO circuit.

A method for fabricating a VCO based device, the method comprising:

• providing an LC oscillator circuit having differential outputs;
• forming a conductive path between each of the differential outputs and a ground;
• and
• forming a conductive path between the differential outputs such that the first, second and third conductive paths in combination yields an inductance that is lower than an inductance corresponding to a combination of the first and second conductive paths without the third conductive path, the lowered inductance yielding an increase in a maximum frequency of the LC oscillator circuit.