8.2-GHz band radar RFICs for an 8 × 8 phased-array FMCW receiver developed with 65-nm CMOS technology

We propose 8.2-GHz band radar RFICs for an 8 × 8 phased-array frequency-modulated continuous-wave receiver developed using 65-nm CMOS technology. This receiver panel is constructed using a multichip solution comprising fabricated 2 × 2 low-noise amplifier phase-shifter (LNA-PS) chips and a 4ch RX front-end chip. The LNA-PS chip has a novel phase-shifter circuit for low-voltage operation, novel active single-to-differential/differential-to-single circuits, and a current-mode combiner to utilize a small area. The LNA-PS chip shows a power gain range of 5 dB to 20 dB per channel with gain control and a single-channel NF of 6.4 dB at maximum gain. The measured result of the chip shows 6-bit phase states with a 0.35° RMS phase error. The input P1 dB of the chip is approximately -27.5 dBm at high gain and is enough to cover the highest input power from the TX-to-RX leakage in the radar system. The gain range of the 4ch RX front-end chip is 9 dB to 30 dB per channel. The LNA-PS chip consumes 82 mA, and the 4ch RX front-end chip consumes 97 mA from a 1.2 V supply voltage. The chip sizes of the 2 × 2 LNA-PS and the 4ch RX front end are 2.39 mm × 1.3 mm and 2.42 mm × 1.62 mm, respectively.