FOR PHASED-ARRAY RADAR sensors, the design should be a simple structure with fewer receivers than antennas. A K-band, frequency-modulated, CW (FMCW) phased-array radar sensor with a low-complexity receiver based on antenna switching was recently proposed by Moon-Sik Lee from Korea's Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute together with Yong-Hoon Kim from Korea's Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology. Using a beamforming method, the researchers evaluated the radar sensor's performance based on angle and range information.
The short-range radar sensor comprises the following: a transmitter; transmitting antenna; four receiving antennas; a single-pole, four-throw (SP4T) switch; a receiving channel; two analog-todigital converters (ADCs), a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), and a digital signal processor (DSP). The receiving antennas are periodically switched to the single receiving channel. See "Development of a K-band FMCW Phased Array Radar Sensor with Low Complexity Receiver Based on Antenna Switching," Microwave And Optical Technology Letters, December 2009, p. 2848.
About the Author
Nancy Friedrich
RF Product Marketing Manager for Aerospace Defense, Keysight Technologies
Nancy Friedrich is RF Product Marketing Manager for Aerospace Defense at Keysight Technologies. Nancy Friedrich started a career in engineering media about two decades ago with a stint editing copy and writing news for Electronic Design. A few years later, she began writing full time as technology editor at Wireless Systems Design. In 2005, Nancy was named editor-in-chief of Microwaves & RF, a position she held (along with other positions as group content head) until 2018. Nancy then moved to a position at UBM, where she was editor-in-chief of Design News and content director for tradeshows including DesignCon, ESC, and the Smart Manufacturing shows.