MMIC radar transceivers for industrial sensors

Active microwave sensors perform radar functions to detect presence of objects and measure position and speed of those objects. With the benefit of MMIC technology, advanced radar techniques may be applied to expand sensor functions without increasing the cost of the microwave front-end significantly. One example of low-cost MMIC, radar sensors is Hittite´s FM-CW transceiver for a proximity fuse integrated into a 1 mm/sup 2/ chip. Hittite has also demonstrated low-cost techniques for packaging and automated functional testing. These low-cost design and manufacturing techniques are applicable to a wide variety of industrial sensors. As an example of industrial applications, a radar sensor designed for liquid level measurements is described.<>