Overlapping uncoupled inductors for low-cost multi-frequency voltage-controlled oscillators

Abstract

Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques and apparatus for generating multiple oscillating signals. One example circuit generally includes a first voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) having a first inductor and a second VCO having a second inductor in parallel with a third inductor, wherein the second and third inductors are disposed inside a loop of the first inductor and may behave as a magnetic dipole. The loop of the first inductor may be symmetrical, and a combined geometry of loops of the second and third inductors may be symmetrical. The coupling coefficient (k) between the first inductor and a combination of the second and third inductors may be small (e.g., k<0.01), due to the symmetrical geometry of the circuit layout. With a smaller k, the first and second VCOs' inductors may be placed closer to one another, thereby reducing an area consumed by the two VCOs.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.