A 150-GHz 9-dBm EIRP Open-Source FMCW Radar Chip in 130-nm BiCMOS

A 150-GHz frequency modulated continuous wave radar was implemented in the IHP 130-nm SG13G2 SiGe:C BiCMOS technology, using the open-source Process Design Kit. The 2 mm² chip operates using a single-ended 10-GHz input signal. Simulations indicate that the transmit chain reaches an effective isotropically radiated power of 9 dBm in the D frequency band. The signal is transmitted through an on-chip differential patch antenna. The receiver employs the same antenna design. The amplifier and down-conversion mixer exhibit a low noise figure of 5.08 dB, enabling high sensitivity. An optional CMOS IF amplifier is included alongside the radio frequency circuitry to deliver the IF signal for further processing. The entire circuit design, including SPICE simulations, electromagnetic simulations, and layout, was completed using exclusively free and open-source software.