Low-cost UWB front-end system for pulse radar automotive applications at 24GHz

The paper presents a low-cost ultra-wideband Rx/Tx front-end design at 24 GHz, for short range pulse radar applications. Whilst the entire design is based on low-cost device technologies, the performances achieved compare well with those achieved so far with the much more expensive MMIC based technologies. A NF between 4 and 5 dB has been measured for the Rx down-converter within a bandwidth exceeding 4 GHz, while maintaining good linearity over a significant dynamic range. Pulses under 500 ps duration can be generated in the Tx stage and recovered at the output of the homodyne down converter, allowing target range resolutions of less than 10 cm. The entire front-end design has been initially fabricated and tested on duroid, and recently this has been transferred on LTCC. Some accurate device modeling methods and innovative design techniques have been developed and employed throughout, in order to achieve this level of performances with low-cost technologies. Finally, the paper includes some real performance test results obtained with this system