A Highly-Integrated, Switchless and Baluns-Embedded Transceiver with a Differential Structure for C-Band Radar Application

Abstract

This paper presents a highly-integrated transceiver with a differential structure for C-band (5–6[Formula: see text]GHz) radar application using a switchless and baluns-embedded configuration. To reduce the noise figure (NF) in receiver (Rx) mode and enhance the output power in transmitter (Tx) mode, the balun at RF port is embedded into the low-noise amplifier (LNA) and the power amplifier (PA), respectively. Besides, the RF switch is removed by designing the matching networks that both LNA and PA can share. The same topology is also adopted at the IF port. To achieve a high image rejection ratio (IRR), a Hartley architecture using polyphase filters (PPFs) is adopted. The proposed transceiver has been implemented in 1P6M 0.18-[Formula: see text]m CMOS process. The receiver achieves 6.9-dB NF, [Formula: see text]7.5-dBm IIP3 and 26.3-dB gain with three-step digital gain controllability. Also the measured IRR is better than 41[Formula: see text]dBc. The transmitter achieves 9.6-dBm output power and 19.2-dB gain. The chip consumes 106[Formula: see text]mA in the Rx mode and 141[Formula: see text]mA in the Tx mode from the 3.3-V power supply.