1 Challenge the future

UWB FMCW Radar for concealed

weapon detection: RF front-end
development
Eugenio Pasqua
MSc student of Electrical Engineering

Supervisors:
Prof. Dr. Sci. Alexander Yarovoy
Dr. Ir. Timofey Savelyev

2 Challenge the future
Outline
Contents of this presentation:

Problem Statement;
Background: approaches to the problem;
Proposed solution and design choices;
Performance analysis;
Conclusions and recommendations.
3 Challenge the future
Problem statement
Need for improved security at sensible locations requires more effective and less
invasive Concealed Weapon Detection systems;
Easily transportable Short-Range 3-D Imaging Radar as ideal solution for fast
screening of people at mass events;
4 Challenge the future
Common approaches to CWD
Different types of sensors currently available for this application:

Metal detectors (only metal detection, high false alarm rate);

X-Ray imagers (bulky, expensive, 2-D images);

Passive Imagers: IR, THz, mmW (fast, power detection, 2-D images, indoor/outdoor
differences);

Active Radar Imagers (coherent, 3-D images);
5 Challenge the future
State-of-the-art Active Radar
Imaging Systems for CWD
Currently, mostly millimeter-wave (mmW) imaging systems;
PNNL has developed several prototypes, working at different frequency bands
between 10 and 120 GHz;
Pros: very fine resolution, detection of a variety of threats;
Cons: privacy concerns, bulky, expensive, high complexity;


6 Challenge the future
Example of commercial system
ProVision Whole Body Imager by L3-Safeview
Technical specifications:
Operational bandwidth: 26.5-30 GHz;
Antenna system: two vertical arrays with 384 elements each, scanned over a
circular aperture;
Time required for a scan: 1.5 s, with image presented to operator within 2 s.
Active Radar Imaging systems for concealed weapon
detection
7 Challenge the future
Challenges and chosen approach
Research at MTS-R department on concealed weapon detection;
Challenge: design of multi-channel radar front-end with minimized cost and complexity,
achieving performances comparable with mmW imaging systems;
Chosen approach: UWB FMCW Microwave Radar imaging system based on MIMO 2-D
antenna array.


UWB MIMO 2-D array-based Microwave Radar
8 Challenge the future
Overall performance
Depends on several factors at different
stages, for example:

MIMO array pattern and topology;
Resolution and Dynamic range;
Measurement speed;
Imaging algorithm;

Focus of this thesis is design of multichannel RF-electronics for the radar front-end, to
guarantee a high SNR at signal processing stage.
9 Challenge the future
Design strategy

Derivation of radar specifications from list of functional requirements;

Determination of proper technology and frequency band to satisfy above mentioned
specifications;

Choice of a RF-scheme for the multichannel radar front-end, with selection of
commercially available RF-components for its implementation;

Evaluation of the performance of the RF-scheme, by means of both theoretical analysis
and simulations with ADS, using real components specifications.
10 Challenge the future
Inputs and requirements

Whole body imager: Aperture size 1x2 m;
Short-range operation: 0.5 2 m range;
Detection of metallic and non-metallic objects;
Cm-resolution for target shape recognition;
Acquisition time lower than 2 seconds;
Low transmit power (less than 1 W);
Cost effective and low complexity;
Easily transportable;
Outdoor use;

11 Challenge the future
Frequency bandwidth and Resolution
Down-range resolution:



UWB technology for high down-range
resolution;
2
c
R
B
A =
Cross-range resolution:



R/L 1 to achieve cm-resolution which
should allow for shape recognition of
weapons;
c R
X
B L
A ~
Bandwidth Down-Range
Resolution
Cross-range
Resolution (elevation)
Cross-range Resolution
(azimuth)
10 GHz 1.5 cm 3 cm 1.5 cm
15 GHz 1 cm 2 cm 1 cm
After survey of state-of-the-art RF components, we opted for a 6-18 GHz
frequency band, due to the larger variety of commercially available components.
12 Challenge the future
Choice of technology

FMCW is the more convenient way to achieve a high SNR, while minimizing the
complexity of the transceiver.
Pulse Radar Noise Radar FMCW Radar SFCW Radar
+ Simple, compact
and robust design;
- High peak power;
- Stroboscopic
sampling;
- Jitter;

+ Low transmit
power;
+ Compact
design;
- Complex
architecture;
+ Low power and
complexity;
+ High SNR;
+ Availability of RF-
components;
+ Low power and
complexity;
+ High SNR;
+ Availability of RF-
components;

13 Challenge the future
Transceiver Architecture and Multi-
channel electronics
Homodyne transceiver with single
transmit channel to reduce complexity;
Multichannel receiver to speed up data
acquisition;
Full dataset acquisition time:
R
da T SWEEP
R
N
T N T
C
=
N
T
and N
R
: number of Tx and Rx antennas
C
R
: number of Rx channels
14 Challenge the future
Array Thinning: UWB MIMO approach
given an ideal sidelobe level, the minimal number of required elements NE for a 1-D
array can be estimated.
MIMO approach to array thinning;
Reduced number of antennas in the array, lower cost and complexity;
Problem of sparse arrays: higher grating lobes;
Solution: use of UWB signals (with at least 100% fractional bandwidth)
greatly reduces influence of grating lobes;

Ideal Sidelobe level for wideband signals:

MIMO approach to array thinning: achieves array pattern comparable with that of
conventional arrays with far less antennas;
Problem of sparse arrays: higher grating lobes;
Solution: use of UWB signals (with at least 100% fractional bandwidth) to greatly
reduce influence of grating lobes;

Ideal Sidelobe level for wideband signals:

10
E
1
ISL = 20log ( )
N
15 Challenge the future
Estimation of N. of antennas
For a 2D MIMO array, the number of virtual elements is expressed as:
E_2D
N N N 2 N 113
MIMO tx rx
= + = ~
E_2D
N = N N 3200
az el
=
30 dB ISL azimuth: 32 elements required;
40 dB ISL elevation: 100 elements required;
E_2D
N = N N
tx rx

Selecting Ntx=Nrx, total number of antennas in the MIMO array can be estimated as:
60 transmit antennas
60 receive antennas
16 Challenge the future
Selection of final multi-channel RF-scheme (1)
Bound to best RF-components available on the market, 6-18 GHz bandwidth;
Combination of 3-9 GHz fast sweep VCO and frequency doubler to generate 6-18 GHz
chirp signal;
sweep speed is 20 times faster than with 6-18 GHz VCOs available on the market;

Selected VCO specs:
Frequency band: 3-9 GHz;
Output power: 14 dBm;
Highest harmonic: -15 dBc;
Sweep time: 80 us/GHz;
Phase noise: -120 dBm/Hz @ 100 KHz offset;
Linearity: 0.25 %;
17 Challenge the future
Selection of final multi-channel RF-scheme (2)
1-channel transmitter, 10-channels receiver, sequentially switched operations to acquire
data from any combination of tx and rx antennas:
0.17 s data acquisition time for a single array data-set;
10 array data-sets in less than 2 s;

18 Challenge the future
Performance evaluation
RCS estimation for typical targets;

Theoretical analysis
Power analysis;
Noise analysis;
Detectability analysis;

Simulations with Advanced Design System (ADS)
Influence of harmonics;
Down-range resolution;

19 Challenge the future
RCS estimation of typical targets
3 4 3 4
refl 2
2 2
transm rx tx rx tx
P (4 ) R (4 ) R
= = S11
P G G G G
t t
o

20 Challenge the future
Power (saturation) analysis
Power delivered to Tx antenna:
18.2 dBm

Sources of strong signals:
Antenna coupling;
Background reflections;
Human body at 0.5 m distance;


Assuming careful design of MIMO
array and well-done calibration
procedure, maximal estimated signal
at Rx input is:


r _max out free_space_human_body
P = P +L =18.2- 40.5 = -22.3 [dBm]
Receivers saturation point:
-9 dBm
21 Challenge the future
Noise analysis
Noise figure of receiver:

Noise power at Rx input:

Noise power at IF output:

Maximal phase noise: -104 dBm Total noise power at IF output is -104 dBm!
0 RX_in
N = k B F T 66.7 [dBm] =
LNA MIX
SW
SW SW LNA
F -1 F -1
F = F + + 6.5 dB
G G G
=

0
0
REC
RX_out out REC
sweep
k F T G
N = k F B T G 122.5 [dBm]
T

= =
22 Challenge the future
Power budget and dynamic range



Dynamic Range:

at receiver input:



at IF output:

t
RX_in
P
PowerBudget = 84.9 dB
N
=
_Rx_in out_LNA LNA SW_cable RX_in max RX_in
DynamicRange = P1dB - G - G - N P - N 57.5 [dB] = =
IF_out LNA_out mix RX_out
DynamicRange = P1dB - G - N =15 12 ( 104) 107 [dB] =
23 Challenge the future
Detectability analysis of weapons
Target Distance (m) SNR min (dB) SNR max (dB) SNR average (dB)

Handgun
1 11.8 29.6 22.2
1.5 4.7 22.5 15.1
2 -0.3 17.5 10.1

Knife
1 17.6 26.8 22.3
1.5 10.6 19.7 15.3
2 5.6 14.7 10.3
24 Challenge the future
ADS simulations: overview
Investigation on harmonics, dynamic range and down-range resolution;
Real components specifications;

25 Challenge the future
ADS simulations: investigation of harmonic
influence at beat signal stage (1)
Selected RF-scheme suffers from high level of harmonics: -29 dB level w.r.t main peak
Further harmonic suppression is thus required.
beat
sweep
B 2R
f =
T c

R (m) 0.5 1 1.5 2

Fbeat (MHz) 8 16 24 32
sweep
T = 5 s
26 Challenge the future
ADS simulations: investigation of harmonic
influence at beat signal stage (2)
Solution to improve harmonic rejection:
Use of DC-9 GHz LPF at VCO output: harmonic rejection is increased to -42 dB;
27 Challenge the future
ADS simulations: investigation of harmonic
influence at beat signal stage (3)
Alternative solution to improve harmonic rejection:
Use of 9-18 GHz chirp signal;
DC-9 GHz LPF at VCO output
9-18 GHz BPFs at RF and LO mixer input
28 Challenge the future
ADS simulations: down-range resolution
and detectability of small targets
Small targets on the background of human body reflection are detectable;
Simulation of Down-range resolution:
6-18 GHz band: 3 cm;
9-18 GHz band: 3.75 cm;
29 Challenge the future
ADS simulations: comparison of the two
solutions
6-18 GHz solution is preferred, because of its higher fractional bandwidth (crucial
for MIMO array), and finer down-range resolution.

Harmonic rejection of -42 dB is high enough to detect small targets on the
background of human body reflections
RF-scheme BW Fractional BW Spurious free
dynamic range
Acquisition
time
Down-range
resolution
Multi-octave band 6-18 GHz 100% -42 dB 0.17 s 3 cm
Octave band 9-18 GHz 66.7% -80 dB 0.13 s 3.75 cm
30 Challenge the future
Conclusions (1)
Feasibility of a radar imaging system for concealed weapon detection, using
Microwave UWB technology and a 2-D MIMO array to minimize its cost and
complexity.

Design of the radar front-end for the above mentioned imaging system,
specifically optimized for fast data acquisition: 60 tx/rx antennas, 10 receive
channels;

Estimation of performance of the designed RF-scheme, via both theoretical
analysis and simulations with ADS.

31 Challenge the future
Conclusions (2)
Obtained results:

18.2 dBm transmit power;

Sufficient sensitivity and dynamic range (42 dB spurious free);

3 cm down-range resolution;

Data acquisition time of 0.17 s for the whole 2-D MIMO array;

32 Challenge the future
Recommendations

Detectability analysis of a wider variety of targets;

More precise characterization of realistic components in ADS simulations;

Special care for phase noise (optimization of cable lengths);

Design of an optimal MIMO array, to validate approximations made in the
estimation of n. of antennas.

33 Challenge the future
Thank you for your attention!