A 24-GHz transceiver with RF power envelope digital control for automotive radar ICs

Abstract

This paper presents a 24-GHz transceiver with power envelope digital control for automotive radar sensor applications. The transceiver features three I/Q low-noise receivers, an on-chip voltage-controlled oscillator, frequency divider and an amplification chain delivering 13-dBm output power from a 3.3-V supply voltage. The power digital circuit controls both the RF power on/off transitions and the output power duration in order to comply with emission mask, maximizing the usage of operating bandwidth. According to its features, this transceiver can be used in short- and medium-range automotive radar systems with fast-chirp modulation.