Fast settling ultra low phase noise synthesizer for frequency agile RADARS

Synthesizer phase noise and settling time of RADAR transmitter impacts performance of the radar system. Ability to detect moving-target signals superimposed with clutter depends on spectral purity level of the transmitter signal i.e. phase noise combined with other spurii. Lower the phase noise, stronger the ability to detect moving-target signals. Low time jitter/phase noise clock signals in receiver are enhances dynamic range by increasing SNR. Frequency agile RADARS works at higher bandwidths and narrow channel spacing with fast settling time. Combined PLL&DDS synthesizers and transistor multiplication methods are used for transmitter Local oscillator and Receiver clock signals generation respectively. This paper presents, generation of ultra low phase noise signals with fast settling time using minimum hardware. Measured results taken from in-house developed multi source synthesizer for frequency agile RADARS.