Multi-band radio-frequency integrated circuits for multiband and multimode wireless communication, radar and sensing systems in harsh environments

Some recently developed 0.18-μm SiGe BiCMOS radio-frequency integrated circuits (RFICs) for multiband multimode wireless communications, radar and sensing systems, which provides many benefits for sensing and communications in uncertain environments with harsh operational scenarios, are presented. The multiband low-noise amplifier has measured peak gain of 21.9/16.6 dB at 23.5/35.7 GHz and best measured noise figure of 5.1/7.2 dB at 22/35.6 GHz, respectively. The multiband power amplifier exhibits gain of 21.4 and 17 dB, maximum output power of 16 and 13 dBm, and maximum power add efficiency (PAE) of 10.6 % and 4.9 % at 25.5 and 37 GHz respectively. The ultra-wideband pulse generator exhibits -1.9 dB (loss) to 1.1 dB (gain) from 31 to 37.1 GHz and produces very narrow RF pulses of 200 ps with extremely low RF leakage. The up-conversion mixer exhibits a conversion gain of 25.7 dB, 1-dB input power of -23 dBm, 1-dB output power of 1.36 dBm, and maximum output power of 2.7 dBm at 24.5 GHz.