Characterization of Millimeter-Wave Wideband FMCW Signals Based on a Precisely Synchronized NVNA for Automotive Radar Applications

In this article, a nonlinear vector network analyzer (NVNA) measurement setup is developed to characterize frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) signals in the frequency domain. Thanks to the use of precisely synchronized multisine phase reference and pulsed-RF phase calibration standards, such NVNA setup is validated for high-accuracy measurement of wideband FMCW signals at the millimeter-wave test bands. According to the method validation at 24 and 60 GHz with a maximum FMCW bandwidth of 2 GHz, the proposed NVNA setup has lower measurement errors and uncertainties than the commercial real-time oscilloscope (RTO) and vector signal analyzer (VSA), offering a reference standard of test and calibration for automotive radar applications.