A Frequency-Domain Transfer Model for Predicting FM Error of FMCW Radar Chirp Generators

This paper proposes a frequency-domain model for fast and accurate prediction of frequency modulation (FM) error in frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar chirp generators. Obtaining FM error from the output frequency of a phase-locked loop (PLL) requires lengthy simulation times due to the simulator’s limited frequency quantization accuracy, which can result in discrepancies between simulated and actual performance. To address this issue, the feedback signal (DIV) sent to the phase-frequency detector (PFD) is employed in this study to quickly and accurately determine the FM error through spectrum analysis. During frequency sweeps, the feedback signal with a relatively constant frequency receives the modulating signal directly. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed model, a nested PLL-based frequency synthesizer operating from 24-27.52 GHz is designed in a 55-nm CMOS process. Measurement results show good agreement with those obtained from the model, with the difference between the simulated and measured root mean square (RMS) FM error being less than 22 kHz.