THz-pulse generators with transmitter implementation for broadband transceiver systems

Abstract Increasing demands on inline sensors for resource-efficient production challenge the limits of conventional radar systems. As a solution, this work proposes two fully integrated pulse generators and an extension to transmitter implementation for novel broadband THz pulse-based radar transceivers. Both a fully differential transistor-based and a compact PIN-diode-based concept were characterized in the frequency domain up to 110 and 500 GHz, respectively, demonstrating proof of concept for the designs. With reconstructed pulsewidths in the picosecond range, these systems can provide the bandwidth and resolution necessary for inline material thickness control, offering capabilities beyond state-of-the-art frequency-modulated continuous-wave systems. Leveraging these results, two PIN-diode-based generators were integrated with an on-chip folded-dipole antenna, custom printed circuit board, and collimating silicon lens to form a transmitter. Measurements confirmed the expected spectral behavior throughout the J-band, demonstrating the feasibility of pulse-based architectures for broadband transceiver systems and establishing their suitability for high-resolution measurement applications.