DDS-Based Signal-Generation Architecture Comparison for an Imaging Radar at 300 GHz

Submillimeter-wave imaging radars for standoff detection require broadband and fast-switch signal-generation architectures in order to achieve a high-range-resolution and near-video-rate imaging system. The signal generation has a strong influence on the radar image quality, primarily due to the transmitted phase noise. Two direct digital synthesis-based architectures for continuous-wave linear-frequency-modulated signal generation have been fabricated and tested for a high-range-resolution imaging radar at 300 GHz for standoff sensing of person-borne concealed threats. In order to select the signal-generation architecture that ensures the proper operation of the imaging radar with a cost-saving objective, three figures of merit have been used: 1) radar image quality; 2) power consumption; and 3) cost. The impact of the signal-generation architectures on the imaging radar indicates that both architectures present a similar radar performance in terms of radar image quality, although the narrowband direct-digital-synthesis/phase-locked loop scheme is a cost-effective solution compared with the broadband direct-digital-synthesis scheme in order to develop an affordable and energy-efficient high-performance preindustrial radar prototype.