Low Noise Low Cost Rx Solutions for Pulsed 24GHz Automotive Radar Sensors

This work presents the performance of an integrated low noise amplifier (LNA) and Gilbert cell mixer integration and also a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) performance. Differential topology was used to achieve the down converter. LNA measurements report 22.5 dB gain and about 3.2 dB noise figure at 24 GHz. Large signal results give IP_1dB of -15 dBm. The mixer measurements show very interesting results of 15 dB conversion gain and 5 dBDSB noise figure. This allows a down converter of 31.8 dB gain and 3.5 dBDSB noise figure which provides a dynamic range of 37 dB. The design of these circuits was performed considering temperature and process variations. Nevertheless, results obtained at 24 GHz have never been published using a standard 0.17 mum BiCMOS SiGe 170 GHz f_T featuring 1.7 V Bvceo.