Ultra-low-power 60 GHz radar-on-chip

Short-range radar has many potential applications, such as gesture control, contactless vital-signs monitoring, presence detection, and more. Some radar-on-chip solutions that integrate signal processing and RF components are available today, but most of them are designed for automotive anti-collision applications that require long-range detection and higher power consumption. These solutions are not suitable for low-power or low-cost applications.

CSEM has developed a low-cost, ultra-low-power 60 GHz MIMO FMCW PHY that can be integrated into radar-on-chips with custom digital processing for specific applications. This solution leverages CSEM’s decades of experience in ultra-low-power RF CMOS system-on-chip design.

• ADPLL with 57-66 GHz I&Q DCO
• Scalable LO distribution and < 0.4 mm2 per Rx & Tx slice
• Integrated current and voltage references, LDOs and digital control
• 16 mW for 57-66 GHz LO+ 7.2 mW per Rx+ 13.6 mW per Tx.(40 mW 1T1R & 100 mW 4T4R)
• Min. 0.5 ms frequency ramp time (chirp) linearized by PLL lock-in
• Fast start-up for power-efficient activity duty-cycling
• 1 Mchip/s < BPSK < 10 Mchip/s

• Gesture control/human interface
• Contactless vital-signs monitoring
• Presence detection for building management systems
• In-vehicle presence detection