A 3-channel true-time delay transmitter for 60GHz radar-beamforming applications

Abstract

A beamforming radar transmitter IC operating in the 60GHz ISM-band is presented. Three differential RF outputs interface with a 1-dimensional antenna array. Wideband signal delays are generated based on a true-time delay architecture using variable interconnect lengths to control transmit beamforming. The relative delay between RF outputs is programmable across a 16ps range with 1.2ps resolution. A biphase modulator is used to multiply the 60GHz carrier with a pseudo-random data sequence of up to 4Gb/s for UWB signal generation. The 3.4mm <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> IC produces 11dBm saturated output power per RF output. The IC dissipates 1.24W from a dual 2.5V/3.5V supply voltage and is implemented in a 0.13μm SiGe BiCMOS IC process.