Millimeter Wave Multi-Port Interferometric Radar Sensors: Evolution of Fabrication and Characterization Technologies

Abstract

Recent advances in millimeter wave technologies, both in component and system design, in line with important size and cost reductions, have opened up new applications in ultra-high-speed wireless communications, radar and imaging sensors. The paper presents the evolution of millimeter wave circuit and modules fabrication and characterization technologies in the past decades. Novel planar low-cost fabrication technologies have been successfully developed in this period. In combination with the standard rectangular wave-guide technology, these offer great opportunities for prototyping and testing of future millimeter wave transceivers or front-ends, which integrate antenna arrays, down-converters, modulators, amplifiers, etc., in a compact fixture. The paper uses, as a suggestive example, the evolution of the multi-port interferometric front-ends implementation from millimeter wave bulky components and systems to miniaturized and high-efficient ones. Circuit and system designs are carefully done to avoid (as much as possible) complicated calibration methods or difficult post-processing of baseband data. This requires an increased effort in design and fabrication, but it allows miniaturization, low-power consumption, while keeping very good overall performances. Useful and straightforward laboratory characterization techniques of circuits and systems are described in detail.

Fabrication Error Modeling and Analysis of an E-Band MHMIC Balanced Power Detector

“…The fabricated power detector, which is situated in a metallic base, utilizes an optimized microstrip to WR-12 transition [8] for the input signal of 60 -90 GHz. Also the DC path shown in Fig.…”

“…The HSCH 9161 diode is designed for zero-bias detecting applications up to the frequency of 110 GHz [16]. The input of the detector is connected to a microstrip to WR-12 transition, which is introduced in [8]. Fig.…”

“…In general, the microwave power detector converts a mi-crowave signal into DC or low frequency signals and is widely used in the power measurement [7], network analyzers, communication and radar receivers [8], six-port modules [9], [10], etc. The power detectors can be implemented by various topologies, and technologies such as Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) [11], BiCMOS [12], GaAs [13], etc.…”

V-Band Six-Port Interferometer Receiver: High Data-Rate Wireless Applications, BER and EVM Analysis, and CFO Compensation

“…In multiports, the interferometric approach compares the incoming RF signal with the reference LO signal. Six-port interferometer receivers, which are a category of multi-ports, have capabilities of significant LO power consumption reduction (less than -10 dBm), small size, low-cost receiver front-end, and easy fabrication [8]- [10]. The proposed mm-wave interferometry in this research project will pave the way for more efficient devices, modules, and transceivers.…”

“…A sixport interferometer is a passive microwave system composed of couplers and/or power dividers, joined by transmission lines. It has two inputs and four outputs and operates as a dualchannel receiver when four power detectors are attached to outputs [8], [16]- [20]. This manuscript presents the design of a low power consumption six-port front-end receiver to demonstrate the performance of multiport technology for advanced high datarate wireless systems.…”