Fully integrated automotive radar sensor with versatile resolution

A planar radar sensor for automotive application is presented. The design comprises a fully integrated transceiver multi-chip module (MCM) and an electronically steerable microstrip patch array. The antenna feed network is based on a modified Rotman-lens. An extended angular coverage together with an adapted resolution allows for the integration of automatic cruise control (ACC), precrash sensing and cut-in detection within a single 77 GHz frontend. For ease of manufacturing the interconnects between antenna and MCM rely on a mixed wire bond and flip-chip approach. The concept is validated by laboratory radar measurements.