A portable radar for accurately detecting danger
The ‘Mimo mid-range radar for security applications in mainstream CMOS technology’ (Miramos) project was designed to develop a portable tracking device for short distances to be used for security purposes. Radars are devices that use electromagnetic (EM) waves bounced off an object and returned to a receiver to determine information related to the object’s position and bearing (speed and direction at which it is moving). Radars operating at high frequencies are highly accurate for relatively short distances. Thus, for mid-range and often indoor applications (not subject to weather conditions) such as those related to portable security devices, radars operating at 60 GHz (GigaHertz) frequency ensure superior resolution and accuracy. The Miramos project developed the mathematical background, concept design and simulation of a portable radar system based on the CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) technology that is widely used in most of today’s computer microchips, making it low-cost and easy to integrate with existing technology. The simulations demonstrated two major enhancements in resolution and accuracy having to do with approximation of time delay based on phase shift. In detecting a signal, an intermediate frequency (IF) is often generated prior to amplification and final detection of the signal of interest. By properly defining the IF, the researchers reduced the error in approximation of time delay to less than 1 %. The researchers also demonstrated elimination of the error by a process of swapping the signal paths in different paths. Preliminary circuit level simulations produced results clearly in line with systems level simulations. In conclusion, EU researchers on the Miramos project successfully developed a concept for a highly accurate portable security device for short range applications based on high-frequency radar and readily available CMOS technology. Future implementation of the design concept should advance global security goals related to tracking and detecting suspicious and potentially dangerous events.