Low power wideband receiver and transmitter chipset for mm-wave imaging in SiGe bipolar technology

This paper presents a chip-set aiming at high resolution imaging systems for people screening applications operating near the W-band. The center frequency of operation is 78GHz with a 3-dB bandwidth of at least 7GHz for optimal image resolution and depth of focus. The frequency generation for both receive and transmit chips consists of a frequency quadrupler consisting of 2 cascaded active Gilbert mixers. The receiver RFIC contains 4 channels including LO generation and distribution. The measured receiver conversion gain is 23dB with a SSB NF below 10dB over a wide frequency range from 70GHz up to 82GHz. The transmitter RFIC includes LO generation, distribution and 4 output amplifiers with an output power of more than 0 dBm in a frequency range from 77GHz to 85GHz. Both receiver and transmitter ICs are supplied from a single 3.3V supply voltage and the power consumption per channel is below 160mW.