UWB receiver for breast cancer detection: Comparison between two different approaches

In UWB imaging for breast cancer detection, breast-reflected RF signals are processed to create energy images. This method was validated with instrumentation tools, which must be replaced with integrated circuits. We compare two front-end architectures, Direct Conversion (DC) and Coherent Equivalent Time Sampling (CETS). We evaluate the effect—on energy maps and SCR/SMR metrics—of noise sources, phase inaccuracies and non-linearity. DC receiver is more sensitive to phase inaccuracies and so less robust than CETS receiver. The latter can work in time domain with UWB pulses, other than in frequency domain like the DC one, which reduces acquisition time without performance impact.