Ultra wide band 24 GHz automotive radar front-end

The recent approval granted by the FCC for the use of Ultra Wide Band (UWB) signals for vehicular radar applications has provided a gateway for production of these sensors as early as in 2004. However, the rules governing the allowable spectral occupancy create significant constraints on the sensors operation. The implications for waveform design and the consequent limitation on system architecture, including antenna design and receiver architecture are discussed. Other practical considerations such as available semiconductor technology with low-cost plastic packaging are reviewed. This is developed into a methodology for developing a single board sensor with integrated antenna. Results are presented for a specification compliant antenna, and a low-cost plastic package for 24 GHz ICs. Finally, the required IC architecture for a transceiver is presented, along with measured results of a single-chip homodyne I/Q down-conversion receiver fabricated in SiGe.