Enabling compact MMIC-based frontends for millimeter-wave imaging radar and radiometry at 94 and 210 GHz

We report on MMIC-based analog frontend components for imaging radar and radiometry at high millimeter-wave frequencies. The MMICs are realized in our metamorphic HEMT technology. In W-band, the focus is on analog frontends with multi-pixel capability. A compact four-channel receiver module based on four single-chip heterodyne receiver MMICs achieves a noise figure of 4.2 dB and a conversion gain of 7 dB. A W-band five-to-one switch MMIC with less than 3.5 dB insertion loss addresses four antenna ports and uses an integrated reference termination for pixel normalization. Both components operate in a frequency range from 75 to 100 GHz, making them suitable for broadband imaging systems with high geometrical resolution. After an overview of MMIC amplifier performance over the entire millimeter-wave frequency range, we present a chip set for imaging radar at 210 GHz, comprising linear and frequency-translating circuits.