Abstract
Phased array technology features rapid and directional scanning and has become a promising approach for remote sensing and wireless communication. In addition, element-level digitization has increased the feasibility of complicated signal processing and simultaneous multi-beamforming processes. However, the high cost and bulky characteristics of beam-steering systems have prevented their extensive application. In this paper, an X-band element-level digital phased array radar utilizing fully integrated complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) transceivers is proposed for achieving a low-cost and compact-size digital beamforming system. An 8–10 GHz transceiver system-on-chip (SoC) fabricated in 65 nm CMOS technology offers baseband filtering, frequency translation, and global clock synchronization through the proposed periodic pulse injection technique. A 16-element subarray module with an SoC integration, antenna-in-package, and tile array configuration achieves digital beamforming, back-end computing, and dc–dc conversion with a size of 317 × 149 × 74.6 mm3. A radar demonstrator with scalable subarray modules simultaneously realizes range sensing and azimuth recognition for pulsed radar configurations. Captured by the suggested software-defined pulsed radar, a complete range–azimuth figure with a 1 km maximum observation range can be displayed within 150 ms under the current implementation.
Highlights
Phased array technology has evolved over the past few decades
This paper presents the design and implementation of an X-band element-level digital phased array radar utilizing fully integrated complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) transceivers
SoCs, wafer-level measurements were performed to evaluate circuit specifications, and qualified chips were packaged according to the assembly procedures detailed in Subsequently, a finished radar demonstrator composed of two 1 × 16 subarray modules was subjected to power-on calibration, antenna pattern measurement, and range sensing experimentation
Summary
Phased array technology has evolved over the past few decades. Categorized into analog, subarray digital, and element-level digital topologies [1], phased array systems accomplish spatial filtering and power combination through the synchronous excitation of each radiating element. Through the use of RF phase-shifting and active switches, an eight-channel silicon-germanium (SiGe) receiver can configure the total number of simultaneous beams for a 2–16 GHz operating frequency [16] From another perspective, an X-band CMOS FMCW radar transceiver including an on-chip quasi-circulator offers a single-antenna interface to reduce the system form factor [17,18]. Studies have reported that incorporating a SiGe transceiver, a CMOS data converter, and a commercial digital processor can produce a compact subarray module tile for a digital beamforming system [26,27,28] From another perspective, a study reported a Ku-band multiple-input multiple-output FMCW radar that enables a reduction in the total number of installed antennas through virtual array synthesis and demonstrates high-resolution 3-D imaging capability [29].
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