An Ultra-Wideband 3-23 GHz VCO Array with high continuous tuning range for FMCW Radar application

Drechsel, Tom; Joram, Niko; Ellinger, Frank

doi:10.23919/gemic.2019.8698168

Cited by 12 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…12, next to the frequencies of the individual VCOs, all in dependency of V tune,H . To prevent the aforementioned overlap of the two VCOs, V tune,H is limited to a minimum of 2 V. Thereby, the tuning curve follows the proportionality described analytically by (14), illustrated in Fig. 6(b).…”

Section: Measurement Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, the tuning voltages V tune,H and V tune,L are also presented, which generate those chirps by working in opposite directions inside of one PLL. 1, the works presented in [14,24] achieve better phase noise using a single VCO or a switchable VCO bank, respectively. Using two VCOs and subtracting their signals is, as explained above, not beneficial regarding phase noise.…”

Section: Measurement Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With a singular VCO at the fundamental frequency however, the relative bandwidth is limited. Using the switchable VCO bank of [14], a broader spectrum of frequencies can be covered, e.g., for pulse-based applications in the UWB. However, the full bandwidth cannot be utilized to generate coherent FMCW chirps.…”

Section: Measurement Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To achieve similar relative bandwidths with VCOs, switchable concepts are proposed in the literature. This includes one core with different dividers in [13] or multiple VCO cores in combination with a divider in [14]. Within a single core, [15] offers limited continuous varactor tuning around broadly switchable center frequencies by utilizing a discretely tuneable artificial transmission line.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Overcoming the relative bandwidth limitations of single VCO frequency synthesizers by implementing a novel PLL architecture

Braun,

Schoepfel,

Marquez M.

et al. 2024

Int. J. Microw. Wireless Technol.

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Frequency-modulated continuous-wave radar systems profit from increasing the absolute bandwidths of the generated frequency chirps to improve range resolution. As the relative bandwidth of SiGe-voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs) is limited to about 80%, increasing the center frequency fundamentally or via frequency multiplication is the most direct way to increase that absolute bandwidth. However, as some applications require penetration depth, which dramatically decreases with frequency, other solutions are necessary. Therefore, state-of-the-art concepts rely on the down-conversion of generated frequency chirps via two separately stabilized frequency sources. This article implements a novel architecture, offering relative bandwidths of >100% within a single phase-locked loop (PLL). Therefore, two VCOs at different center frequencies are fed into a down-conversion mixer, whose output is directly stabilized via that PLL with one loop filter generating both tuning voltages. Those circuit blocks can be summarized as one equivalent VCO, offering a higher relative bandwidth and a significantly more linear tuning curve. Thereby, a solution to limited relative bandwidths with high VCO gain variation of single VCO synthesizers is offered while substantially reducing the hardware and implementation effort compared to the state-of-the-art.

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Section: Measurement Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Measurement Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Measurement Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Overcoming the relative bandwidth limitations of single VCO frequency synthesizers by implementing a novel PLL architecture

Braun,

Schoepfel,

Marquez M.

et al. 2024

Int. J. Microw. Wireless Technol.

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“…This means the range of the radar is reduced due to the losses as well as the smaller gain of the transistors themselves. Possible ways to achieve higher tuning ranges in lower frequency bands, which are currently in focus for new automotive and 6 G research, are to use direct-digital synthesis (DDS) [5] or to combine multiple [13] or just two VCOs using a mixer [14] [15] while remaining at a lower center frequency despite the high bandwidth.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ultra-Wideband Transceiver MMIC Tuneable From 74.1 GHz to 147.8 GHz in SiGe Technology

Vogelsang,

Bott,

Starke

et al. 2024

IEEE J. Microw.

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As the use of integrated radar sensors is becoming more common not only in traditional military and automotive but also in medical and industrial applications, the requirements for a radar sensor diversify. For some applications, bandwidth is critical, primarily defining the capability to distinguish targets. Mostly, varying the frequency of an oscillator in the mmWave and THz range is realized by tuning a dc voltage to a variable capacitance. While this is typical for integrated transceivers in silicon-germanium (SiGe) technology, the tunability of a single voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) limits the bandwidth. This work presents an approach to overcome this limitation by using two simultaneously tuned VCOs combined with a mixer. The oscillators are tuned simultaneously in opposing directions, resulting in an ultra-wideband signal at the mixer's output. The resulting tuning range is the addition of both of the VCOs' respective tuning ranges. The transceiver is realized using the B11HFC SiGe technology, featuring VCOs at center frequencies of 52 GHz and 108 GHz, respectively. The transceivers' output with a center frequency of 111 GHz is continuously tunable over a range of 73.6 GHz (66%). Furthermore, the phase noise contributions from both VCOs along a receiver test are presented.

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An ultra-wideband 6–14 GHz frequency modulated continuous wave primary radar with 3 cm range resolution

2020

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An Ultra-Wideband 3-23 GHz VCO Array with high continuous tuning range for FMCW Radar application

Cited by 12 publications

References 8 publications

Overcoming the relative bandwidth limitations of single VCO frequency synthesizers by implementing a novel PLL architecture

Overcoming the relative bandwidth limitations of single VCO frequency synthesizers by implementing a novel PLL architecture

Ultra-Wideband Transceiver MMIC Tuneable From 74.1 GHz to 147.8 GHz in SiGe Technology

An ultra-wideband 6–14 GHz frequency modulated continuous wave primary radar with 3 cm range resolution

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