A fully differential low-power high-linearity 77-GHz SiGe receiver frontend for automotive radar systems

Abstract

This paper presents a single-chip receiver frontend consisting of a low-noise amplifier and an active downconversion mixer, intended for application in automotive radar systems at 77 GHz. The circuit has been implemented in a SiGe:C HBT technology with f <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">t</sub> /f <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">max</sub> = 200/250 GHz and can operate either fully differential or in single-ended mode. The receiver frontend shows a conversion gain of 24 dB and a single sideband noise figure of 14 dB when driven single-ended. Linearity measurements show a 1 dB input referred compression point of -10 dBm. The circuit draws 40 mA from a 3.3 V supply and occupies a chip area of 728 times 1028 mum <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> including bond pads.