A PVT Variation Tolerant 24-GHz FMCW Signal Generator for Automobile Radar Applications

We have developed a process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) variation tolerant 24-GHz FMCW generator MMIC for automobile radar featuring phase noise variation of 3.3 dB and output power variation of 1.9 dB under all PVT conditions using a 0.18-μm SiGe BiCMOS process. In our design, in order to increase the PVT tolerance, a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) utilizes a temperature proportional bias and a transformer-coupled output configuration, and a driver amplifier utilizes a 2-step coarse and a 32-step fine power tuning adjustment function. The measurement results of the implemented signal generator MMIC demonstrated low phase noise and output power variations under all PVT conditions while generating desired waveforms for automobile radar.