A differential
voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) employed in a
frequency synthesizer used as a
local oscillator of a
wireless communication on-
chip transmitter /
receiver is provided. More particularly, a differential current
negative feedback VCO equipped with a current-current
negative feedback circuit that suppresses low- and high-
frequency noise is provided. A differential current
negative feedback VCO includes a
resonator determining oscillation frequency, and an oscillator generating
negative resistance. In the oscillator of the differential current negative feedback VCO, transistors Q1 and Q2 form a cross-coupled pair, and
negative resistance is generated by
positive feedback of the cross-coupled pair. And, transistors Q1 and Q3 together with an emitter
resistor and a
capacitor form a current negative feedback part, and transistors Q2 and Q4 together with an emitter
resistor and a
capacitor form another current negative feedback part which is disposed opposite to a
resonator. Thus, the VCO operates differentially. In the oscillator of the differential current negative feedback VCO, emitter
noise currents generated by base
noise voltages of Q1 and Q2 induced by low- and high-
frequency noise sources in the bases of Q1 and Q2 are sampled by emitter resistors, amplified through bases of Q3 and Q4, and thus return to the bases of the Q1 and Q2 and suppress the base
noise voltages. Measurement of the
phase noise of the differential current negative feedback VCO reveals a
phase noise reduction of approximately 25 dB compared to a conventional differential VCO.