Continuous-time high-precision IR-UWB ranging-system in 90 nm CMOS

Precision ranging is a key factor for localization in wireless sensor networks. Most reported ranging solutions are limited by clock frequency or clock synchronization. With the combination of continuous-time binary value (CTBV) technique and the impulse-radio ultra-wideband (IR-UWB) technology, we have a promising approach towards high precision positioning combined with communication. In this paper, we have presented a UWB communication solution with embedded ranging by measuring the symbol round trip time without a common reference clock. A first working clockless UWB ranging transceiver realized in 90 nm CMOS technology with fully integrated digital symbol detection including a running cross-correlator is implemented. Preliminary measured results shows that two transceivers in a master-slave configuration can estimate distance with centimeter precision (≈ 1.4 cm).