60 GHz receiver beamforming IC for radar and communication

Abstract

Since the 60 GHz frequency band provides a wide bandwidth, it is suitable for a communication system with a high data-rate or a radar with a high distance resolution. However, since this band exhibits high attenuation characteristics in the atmosphere, it is necessary to introduce a beamforming technique to improve the signal-to-noise ratio. The phase shifter is an essential part of the beamforming IC, and in this study, a 60 GHz radar and various phase shifters for communication were proposed. A variable gain phase shifter with an arbitrary gain/phase resolution was proposed by applying a correction technique based on a look-up table. In addition, a phase shifter has been proposed that eliminates performance degradation due to changes in input/output impedance using a digital-RF cell structure. A 1-channel receiver beamforming IC including an LNA and a phase shifter was implemented, and based on this, a 4-channel receiver beamforming IC was implemented. A test module to verify the implemented 4-channel IC was fabricated and the performance of the 4-channel IC was verified.