56 GHz bandwidth FMCW radar sensor with on-chip antennas in SiGe BiCMOS

Abstract

This paper presents the design and characterization of an ultra wideband FMCW radar sensor. The radar frontend consists of transmitter and receiver chips in SiGe BiCMOS technology with on-chip antennas. Both chips share the same reference chirp signal, multiplied 8 times to the desired operation band. The radar frontend demonstrates a bandwidth of 56.8 GHz from 104.4 GHz to 161.2 GHz, which corresponds to a theoretical range resolution of 2.6mm. The on-chip antenna occupies only 1.2 X 0.9mm 2 without any post-micromachining and exhibits a measured gain above 4 dBi for more than 28 GHz of bandwidth. The sensor covers a bandwidth from 105 to 160 GHz with about 10 dB Tx-to-Rx gain fluctuation and less than 39 dBc harmonic power. The radar sensor was tested with FMCW chirps for different scenarios, showing a range resolution of approximately 5 mm.

Design and experimental evaluation of compensated bondwire interconnects above 100 GHz

“…Although at present, on-chip antennas offer good radiation properties [20][21][22][23][24], the relatively large area they occupy on-chip may still be prohibitive for certain imaging and radar systems operating across F and D bands (half wavelength in the air at 100 GHz is approximately one and a half millimeter). Moreover, to achieve good radiation properties, the space surrounding the on-chip radiating elements should not contain any metal fillers, which is often incompatible with standard high-volume integration processes that require specified metal densities across all layers to achieve high yield.…”

Vehicle microwave radar system for 2D and 3D environment mapping

“…The transmitter chip and the receiver chip of the radar frontend both have on-chip antennas and a frequency multiplier-by-eight to multiply the chirp frequency up to the desired operation band [3]. The on-chip antennas were placed at the focal point of the dielectric lens.…”

“…Microwave in these bands has better penetration capability than light, which provides better visibility under poor whether conditions. Integration with high-efficiency on-chip antennas is also possible [3]. The microwave radar sensor does not require expensive optical lenses, and low-cost dielectric lens can be used instead.…”

Performance-Issues-Mitigation-Techniques for On-Chip-Antennas – Recent Developments in RF, MM-Wave, and Thz Bands With Future Directions

“…Fourth, they enable an easy and hasslefree integration of the system's components [15]. Fifth, they help in achieving a higher system bandwidth [29] as they introduce smaller parasitic losses because of the absence of the metal interconnects. Sixth, they make the design cycle of the wireless system shorter [30] since they enable a codesign approach of the antenna and RF front-end section, thus ensuring a significant reduction in the design steps of the wireless system.…”

“…The unlicensed 60 GHz band, for example, can be used for Wireless personal area network, (WPAN), radiometry, radio astronomy, broadband radio communication [14], [17], [32]- [35] and short range wireless communications with high data rates and frequency reuse benefits [36], [37]. MM-Wave radars are gaining importance in numerous applications like industrial, automotive, remote control sensing, material characterization, imaging, and security systems [22], [29], [38]. In D-band , the radar sensors and wireless communication are attractive applications [39].…”