A High Linearity, Low Phase Noise and High Operating Temperature Ku-band MMIC VCO-Prescaler, suitable for Complex Modulations ACC radar source

A new VCO concept dedicated to automotive radar applications is described in this paper. The fully integrated architecture used makes it low cost assembly oriented. Comfortable flexibility is proposed thanks to the integration of a dual-rank prescaler, three different tuning slope ports and a variable output power. Excellent performance is also provided thanks to the use of InGaP GaAs HBT, 12% of tuning range is obtained with a phase noise of -98dBc/Hz @ 100kHz from carrier @ 12.75GHz. Associated with a multiplier a transmitter can be built for 77GHz radar. A free running good linearity of less than 1% has been obtain over more than 30MHz tuning range on the medium slope tuning port. Very wide chip operating temperature range, from -40 deg C up to +125 deg C is also achieved