A Modular MIMO Millimeter-Wave Imaging Radar System for Space Applications and Its Components
M. Hrobak1, K. Thurn2, J. Moll3, M. Hossain4, A. Shrestha3, T. Al-Sawaf5, D. Stoppel6, N.G. Weimann7, A. Rämer4, W. Heinrich4, J. Martinez8, M. Vossiek8, T.K. Johansen9, V. Krozer3, M. Resch10, J. Bosse10, M. Sterns11, K. Loebbicke12, S. Zorn12, M. Eissa13, M. Lisker13, F. Herzel13, R. Miesen14, K. Vollmann15
Published in:
J. Infrared Milli. Terahz. Waves, vol. 42, no. 3, pp. 275-324 (2021).
Abstract:
This article presents the design and prototyping of components for a modular multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) millimeter-wave radar for space applications. A single radar panel consists of 8 transmitters (TX) and 8 receivers (RX), which can be placed several times on the satellite to realize application-specific radar apertures and hence different cross-range resolutions. The radar chirp signals are generated by SiGe:C BiCMOS direct-digital-synthesizers (DDS) in the frequency range of 1 to 10.5 GHz with a chirp repetition rate of <1µs within each TX and RX. The latter allows for easy interfaces in the MHz range in between the TX/RX units and therefore optimized 2-D sparse antenna arrays with rather large distances in between the TX/RX antennas. Furthermore, this allows for ideally linear frequency modulated continuous-waveforms (FMCW) in conjunction with phase-shift-keying (PSK) radar signals and enables simultaneous operation of all TX when code division multiplex (CDMA) modulation schemes are applied. Comparably low complexity of the TX/RX units has been achieved by applying straightforward frequency plans to signal generation and detection but comes with challenging requirements for the individual active and passive components. Tackled by thin film technology on alumina and the recently developed SiGe and InP semiconductor technologies, which have been further optimized in terms of process maturity and space qualification. Upconversion and downconversion to and from 85 to 94.5 GHz are performed by double balanced Gilbert mixers realized with InP double heterojunction bipolar transistor technology (DHBT) and 42-GHz local oscillator signals from SiGe:C BiCMOS VCO synthesizer using phase locked-loops (PLL). InP DHBT power amplifiers and low-noise amplifiers allow for output power levels of 15 dBm and >30 dB gain with noise figure values of 9 dB, respectively. The MIMO radar utilizes patch antenna arrays on organic multilayer printed circuit boards (PCB) with 18 dBi gain and 18° half power beamwidth (HPBW). Generation of power supply and control signals, analog-to-digital conversion (ADC), and radar signal processing are provided centrally to each panel. The radar supports detection and tracking of satellites in distances up to 1000 m and image generation up to 20 m, which is required to support orbital maneuvers like satellite rendezvous and docking for non-cooperative satellites.
1 Continental AG, ADC Automotive Distance Control Systems GmbH, Robert-Bosch-Str. 7, 85521 Munich, Germany
2 BMW AG, Landshuter Str. 26, 85716 Munich, Germany
3 University of Frankfurt am Main, Max-von-Laue-Str. 1, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
4 Ferdinand-Braun-Institut, Gustav-Kirchhoff-Str. 4, 12489 Berlin, Germany
5 Thales Deutschland GmbH, Schützenstr. 25, 10117 Berlin, Germany
6 Nexperia GmbH, Stresemannallee 101, 22529 Hamburg, Germany
7 University of Duisburg-Essen, Forsthausweg 2, 47057 Duisburg, Germany
8 Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen, Cauerstr. 9, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
9 Technical University of Denmark, Ørsteds Plads, 2800 Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark
10 Robo-Technology GmbH, Benzstr. 12, 82178 Puchheim, Germany
11 Rohde, Schwarz GmbH, Co. KG, Mühldorfstr. 15, 81671 Munich, Germany
12 Rohde, Schwarz GmbH, Co. KG, Kaikenrieder Str. 27, 94244 Teisnach, Germany
13 IHP GmbH, Im Technologiepark 25, 15236 Frankfurt (Oder), Germany
14 German Aerospace Center (DLR), Kalkhorstweg 53, 17235 Neustrelitz, Germany
15 German Aerospace Center (DLR), Linder Höhe, 51147 Cologne, Germany
Keywords:
FMCW radar; Frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW); Imaging radar; Millimeter-wave radar; Satellite tracking; Synthetic aperture imaging; W-band; Indium phosphide (InP); Transferred substrate InP DHBT; Silicon germanium (SiGe); Heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT); Monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC); Transceiver; Direct-digital-synthesizer (DDS); Gilbert cell mixer; Power amplifier; Broadband filter; Low-noise amplifier (LNA); Phase-locked-loop (PLL)
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