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= Single-Channel Radar Transceiver =
*Radar Functions: Range Finder; Presence Detection; Velocity; Basic Target Tracking
*Small IC dimensions; analog front-end; the concept of external PLL; ADC or µ-processor
*Wide selection of frequency bands
*At frequencies beyond 100GHz with OnChip-antennas
*Comparable simple sensor architecture
= Multi-Channel-Transceiver for MIMO Radars =
*Multiple transmit and receive channels integrated on one chip; comparable complex IC architecture;
*Radar Functions: Range Finder; Angular Information; Antenna Diversity; 2D/3D Visioning; Velocity; Advanced Target Tracking
*Significant IC dimensions, analog front-end; the concept of external PLL; ADC or µ-processor
*Only OffChip antennas because of chip dimension
= Special Featured Chips – Ultra Wideband Radars =
*Radar Functions: thickness measurement; spectroscopy, an excellent resolution with micrometer precision; life-signs detection; pressure sensors
*Small IC dimensions / Comparable simple sensor architecture
*OnChip antennas because of wideband characteristic
= General Information =
ASIC stands for Application-Specific Integrated Circuit, which means integrated circuits (IC) that are designed for specific purposes. These ICs are not commercially available in the markets. Therefore, the specification and the performance of the ASICs can be optimized to be most suitable for the applications and the requirements from customers. Normally, the number of chips obtained from ASIC designs are lower compared to those from the standard chips. ASICs offer several advantages compared to employing standard ICs, such as:
- Customization and optimization to be most suitable for specific tasks
- IP (intellectual property) in the design can be protected
- Can be low cost and small lot number
= ASIC Design Process =
The process of ASIC designs normally started with initial specifications from customers. With these basic requirements, a feasibility study will then be conducted, which can include fundamental verifications from simulations to check for realistic parameters. Then further discussions with customers based on the results of the feasibility study will be done to finalize the specifications. After these initial steps, the chip design process can start until the chip fabrication process has been done. The steps after this will include packaging (depending on the agreements), measurements, and documentation.
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|[[File:ASIC 1.JPG |thumb|left|Figure 1: Process of ASIC designs and services|link={{filepath:{{PAGENAME:Media:ASIC 1.JPG}}}}]]
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= Design Service at Silicon Radar =
At Silicon Radar, ASIC design services of Radar chips are available in a wide frequency range starting from the low GHz region such as 10 GHz up to the sub-THz region such as 245 GHz. The types of Radars are also available in a wide variety such as single-channel FMCW Radar, multi-channel Radar, phased-array, and MIMO chips. The experience in Radar chip design at Silicon Radar is summarized (but not limited to) in Figure 2. The main technologies used in the designs are IHP SiGe BiCMOS such as 250-nm (for low-frequency circuits) and 130-nm processes (for high-frequency circuits).
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|[[File:Asic design.JPG |thumb|left|Figure 2: Radar chip designs at Silicon Radar |link={{filepath:{{PAGENAME:Media:Asic design.JPG}}}}]]
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Not only ASIC Radar chip designs, but Silicon Radar also provides a full range of design flow starting from design consultant, chip design, antenna design, Radar module, and complete Radar sensor. The miniaturized Radar design service at Silicon Radar is summarized in Figure 3.
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|[[File:Radar design.JPG |thumb|left|Figure 3: Miniaturized Radar design services at Silicon Radar |link={{filepath:{{PAGENAME:Media:Radar design.JPG}}}}]]
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= Radar Front End Design = == General Information ==
Since Radars use radio waves in the detection process, the Radar front ends are related to electronic circuits that operate with high-frequency signals. Depending on the purpose of applications, these frequencies range from hundreds of MHz up to hundreds of GHz, for example, defense systems of military radars and body scanners at airports. The design of Radar front ends involves the designs and developments of radio-frequency (RF) electronic circuit building blocks such as amplifiers, mixers, oscillators, and also some passive elements such as antennas.
== Radar Front End Building Blocks ==
Radar front ends typically share a similar structure as shown in Figure 1. Some circuit building blocks used in Radar front ends are described here.
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|[[File: RFE 1.JPG |thumb|left|Figure 1: Process of ASIC designs and services |link={{filepath:{{PAGENAME:Media:RFE 1.JPG}}}}]]
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