RECEIVER WITH PROGRAMMABLE GAIN FOR UWB RADAR

A receiver for an ultra wideband (UWB) pulse radar system includes a programmable gain network (PGN) block coupled to process a received UWB radar signal. The programmable PGN block includes programmable attenuator having an output coupled to an input node of a UWB low noise amplifier (LNA), and a fast acting power limiter is between the input node and a system ground and/or a power supply node for the radar system. A sampling unit is coupled between an output of the LNA and a processor. The processor implements an attenuation algorithm, wherein the processor is coupled to the programmable attenuator, and provides attenuation control signals to dynamically control a gain or attenuation of the programmable attenuator, such as based on a distance from a transmitting antenna to the product material.