Development of Broad Band VCO at Ka-Band

A broad band VCO has been developed at Ka-band for FMCW Radar applications. To achieve a wide range of frequency variation, VCO has been designed in series configuration. Design steps have been presented. VCO exhibits a tuning range of 600 MHz with the power output of 50 mw, when the controlled varactor voltage varies from 7.5 volts to 15 volts. Frequency drift with temperature has been contained within 30 MHz using a proportionally controlled DC heater module over the temperature range of 0°C to +55°C. Phase Noise of the oscillator measured at the mid and extreme frequencies is about -70 dBc/kHz at 10 kHz away from the carrier. The experimental circuit and measured performance is also presented.