A fully-integrated 77-GHz radar transceiver using two programmable pseudo-random sequences

We present a modified fully-integrated 77-GHz ultra-wideband pseudo-random noise (PRN) radar transceiver, which is complemented by a correlator. The transceiver, which is implemented in a Silicon-Germanium technology, simplifies the range measurements of targets by using two programmable 12-stage pseudo-random binary sequence (PRBS) generators to generate two PRBSs for the transmit and the LO signals with a time offset that can be configured very precisely in the transceiver. Implemented in a current-mode logic topology, the PRBS generators can be operated with a clock rate of up to 4.25 GHz to enable a range resolution of 3.5 cm. The 4.25-GHz input signal used as a clock for the PRBS generators is multiplied by a frequency multiplication factor of 18 to create a 76.5-GHz carrier, on which the PRBSs are modulated. The transceiver achieves a phase noise of -105.3 dBc/Hz at 1MHz offset frequency, a transmit output power of 6.2 dBm, a receive gain of 24 dB and an input-referred 1-dB compression point of -14 dBm. Radar measurements with the proposed transceiver demonstrate the well-functioning system.