160-GHz to 1-THz Multi-Color Active Imaging With a Lens-Coupled SiGe HBT Chip-Set

This paper presents the concept and implementation of an active all-electronic terahertz multi-color imager with the functionality demonstrated in the frequency range of 160 GHz-1 THz. The proposed terahertz system is realized in the form of two independent highly integrated low-cost transmitter (Tx) and receiver (Rx) modules. Each module consists of a single silicon die with a silicon lens-coupled ultra-wideband on-chip antenna and is assembled onto a low-cost FR-4 printed circuit board using traditional wire-bonding. The chip-set is implemented in a 0.25 μm SiGe HBT BiCMOS process with fT/fmax of 280/435 GHz. The main Tx path is composed of an antenna-coupled harmonic generator and is driven by a × 9 multiplier chain fed from an external reference signal centered around 17-18 GHz. Four identical Tx paths are spatially combined on a single chip to increase the output power. The Rx chip shows a 2 × 2 arrangement of identical antenna-coupled broadband sub-harmonic mixers driven by a single × 9 multiplier chain; similar to that from the Tx circuit. The system operates simultaneously at six harmonics being multiple numbers of 165 GHz. The signal-to-noise ratio in transmission-mode active imaging with a 1-Hz resolution bandwidth is 90 dB for 165-GHz band, 115 dB for 330- and 495-GHz bands, 95 dB for 660- and 820-GHz bands, and 70 dB for 990-GHz band.

[1]  Ullrich R. Pfeiffer,et al.  Towards 3D-imaging with low-cost SiGe-Technology at 160GHz , 2011, 2011 IEEE 9th International New Circuits and systems conference.

[2]  J. Grzyb,et al.  A 2×2 lens-integrated on-chip antenna system for a 820 GHz multiplier-chain source in SiGe technology , 2014, 2014 IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society International Symposium (APSURSI).

[3]  Cunlin Zhang,et al.  Compact continuous-wave subterahertz system for inspection applications , 2005 .

[4]  Janusz Grzyb,et al.  A 0.32 THz FMCW radar system based on low-cost lens-integrated SiGe HBT front-ends , 2013, 2013 Proceedings of the ESSCIRC (ESSCIRC).

[5]  Patrick Reynaert,et al.  A 0.54 THz Signal Generator in 40 nm Bulk CMOS With 22 GHz Tuning Range and Integrated Planar Antenna , 2014, IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits.

[6]  R.M. Weikle,et al.  A 270-GHz Tuner-Less Heterostructure Barrier Varactor Frequency Tripler , 2007, IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters.

[7]  Kaushik Sengupta,et al.  A 0.28 THz Power-Generation and Beam-Steering Array in CMOS Based on Distributed Active Radiators , 2012, IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits.

[8]  Janusz Grzyb,et al.  A 240 GHz circular polarized FMCW radar based on a SiGe transceiver with a lens-integrated on-chip antenna , 2014, 2014 44th European Microwave Conference.

[9]  Yan Zhao,et al.  A SiGe quadrature transmitter and receiver chipset for emerging high-frequency applications at 160GHz , 2010, 2010 IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference - (ISSCC).

[10]  K. Ajito,et al.  THz Chemical Imaging for Biological Applications , 2011, IEEE Transactions on Terahertz Science and Technology.

[11]  Ehsan Afshari,et al.  High Power Terahertz and Millimeter-Wave Oscillator Design: A Systematic Approach , 2011, IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits.

[12]  I. Mehdi,et al.  An all-solid-state broad-band frequency multiplier chain at 1500 GHz , 2004, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques.

[13]  U. Pfeiffer,et al.  Toward room-temperature all-silicon integrated THz active imaging , 2013, 2013 7th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP).

[14]  Bernd Heinemann,et al.  235–275 GHz (x16) frequency multiplier chains with up to 0 dBm peak output power and low DC power consumption , 2014, 2014 IEEE Radio Frequency Integrated Circuits Symposium.

[15]  W. Grundfest,et al.  THz Medical Imaging: in vivo Hydration Sensing , 2011, IEEE Transactions on Terahertz Science and Technology.

[16]  J. M. Chamberlain,et al.  Catalogue of Human Tissue Optical Properties at Terahertz Frequencies , 2003, Journal of biological physics.

[17]  Choonsup Lee,et al.  A Frequency-Multiplied Source With More Than 1 mW of Power Across the 840–900-GHz Band , 2010, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques.

[18]  J. Grzyb,et al.  Lens-integrated on-chip antennas for THz direct detectors in SiGe HBT technology , 2013, 2013 IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society International Symposium (APSURSI).

[19]  Bernd Heinemann,et al.  A Terahertz Detector Array in a SiGe HBT Technology , 2013, IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits.

[20]  K. Kawase,et al.  Non-destructive terahertz imaging of illicit drugs using spectral fingerprints. , 2003, Optics express.

[21]  Ingo Fischer,et al.  Generation and spectroscopic application of tunable continuous-wave terahertz radiation using a dual-mode semiconductor laser , 2008 .

[22]  Iwao Hosako,et al.  Application of terahertz spectroscopy for character recognition in a medieval manuscript , 2008, IEICE Electron. Express.

[23]  Janusz Murakowski,et al.  Gas-absorption spectroscopy with electronic terahertz techniques , 2000 .

[25]  A. Rydberg,et al.  Broadband CMOS Millimeter-Wave Frequency Multiplier With Vivaldi Antenna in 3-D Chip-Scale Packaging , 2012, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques.

[26]  N. Llombart,et al.  Penetrating 3-D Imaging at 4- and 25-m Range Using a Submillimeter-Wave Radar , 2008, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques.

[27]  Christian Bredendiek,et al.  A 240 GHz single-chip radar transceiver in a SiGe bipolar technology with on-chip antennas and ultra-wide tuning range , 2013, 2013 IEEE Radio Frequency Integrated Circuits Symposium (RFIC).

[28]  Ali M. Niknejad,et al.  A 0.38 THz Fully Integrated Transceiver Utilizing a Quadrature Push-Push Harmonic Circuitry in SiGe BiCMOS , 2012, IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits.

[29]  M. C. Kemp,et al.  Explosives Detection by Terahertz Spectroscopy—A Bridge Too Far? , 2011, IEEE Transactions on Terahertz Science and Technology.

[30]  Yan Zhao,et al.  A 1 k-Pixel Video Camera for 0.7–1.1 Terahertz Imaging Applications in 65-nm CMOS , 2012, IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits.

[31]  Janusz Grzyb,et al.  On design of differentially driven on-chip antennas with harmonic filtering for silicon integrated mm-wave and THz N-push oscillators , 2014, The 8th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP 2014).

[32]  F. Harris.  On the use of windows for harmonic analysis with the discrete Fourier transform , 1978, Proceedings of the IEEE.

[33]  Yan Zhao,et al.  A 288-GHz Lens-Integrated Balanced Triple-Push Source in a 65-nm CMOS Technology , 2013, IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits.

[34]  M. Leivo,et al.  THz microbolometers for imaging applications , 2008, 2008 33rd International Conference on Infrared, Millimeter and Terahertz Waves.

[35]  Valery V. Tuchin,et al.  Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy of biological tissues , 2008 .

[36]  E Öjefors,et al.  Active 220- and 325-GHz Frequency Multiplier Chains in an SiGe HBT Technology , 2011, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques.

[37]  Yan Zhao,et al.  A 820GHz SiGe chipset for terahertz active imaging applications , 2011, 2011 IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference.

[38]  Robert A. York,et al.  Picosecond electrical spectroscopy using monolithic GaAs circuits , 1992 .

[39]  B. Gelmont,et al.  Terahertz Fourier transform characterization of biological materials in a liquid phase , 2006 .