High performance transmit/receive modules in 0.13 um SiGe:C BiCMOS for short range F-band MIMO radars

• Transmit and Receive (TX/RX) F-band radar modules are presented. Both modules are implemented in a state of the art SiGe:C BiCMOS featuring high-speed HBTs with f(T)/f(max) of 300/500 GHz. The TX is based on a frequency octupler that consists of a cascade of three Gilbert cells, covering the upper F-band from 120-140 GHz and providing differential output power of up to 6 dBm, the highest values reported to date for BiCMOS. The RX uses the identical frequency octupler followed by a mixer, transformer and a differential LNA, giving altogether conversion gain of 25 dB. Both chips are packaged and connected to off-chip patch antennas using bondwire interconnects with dedicated compensation structures. Initial measurement trials proved full functionality of the realized frontend across 114-152 GHz. It has also been demonstrated that wire-bonding, when properly designed, is still an attractive solution for chip to antenna interconnects even above 110 GHz.

Keyword

Engineering Science with specialization in Electronics

Teknisk fysik med inriktning mot elektronik

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)