A 2-channel TX and 4-channel RX in SiGe BiCMOS for X-band MIMO Radar Applications

This work presents a 2-channel transmitter (TX) and a 4-channel I/Q receiver (RX) for X-band multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar applications. The circuits are fabricated using cost-effective SiGe BiCMOS technology. The TX comprises a common-collector Colpitts VCO providing 15.5% tuning range (TR) and -105.5 dBc/Hz worst-case phase noise at 1 MHz offset from the carrier. The TX provides more than 6 dBm output power at each output. The RX entails an efficient LO distribution network resulting in -15 dBm minimum LO input power for saturated conversion gain (CG). It provides peak CG of 26 dB and more than 23 dB in 7-12.5 GHz range. Despite wideband characteristics the RX yields low gain and phase mismatch between I and Q channels. The TX and RX consume 237 mW and 574 mW power and occupy 1 mm ² and 2 mm ² silicon area, respectively.