Abstract: A circuit includes a radio frequency (RF) channel including an input node and an output node and being configured to receive an RF oscillator signal at the input node and to provide an RF output signal at the output node; a mixer configured to mix an RF reference signal and an RF test signal representative of the RF output signal to generate a mixer output signal; an analog-to-digital converter configured to sample the mixer output signal in order to provide a sequence of sampled values; and a control circuit configured to provide a sequence of phase offsets by phase-shifting at least one of the RF test signal and the RF reference signal using one or more phase shifters, calculate a spectral value from the sequence of sampled values; and calculate estimated phase information indicating a phase of the RF output signal based on the spectral value.

Abstract: An apparatus is described that, according to an exemplary embodiment, has an RF oscillator for generating an RF oscillator signal at a first frequency and a frequency divider having a division ratio that is fixed during operation. The frequency divider is supplied with the RF oscillator signal and is configured to provide an oscillator signal at a second frequency. The apparatus further has a monitor circuit, to which the oscillator signal at the second frequency is supplied and which is configured to measure the second frequency and to provide at least one digital value that is dependent on the second frequency of the oscillator signal. The at least one digital value is provided on a test contact.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a computed tomography apparatus, comprising: a first semiconductor device with a first radar transceiver IC, a second semiconductor device with a second radar transceiver IC, and at least one third semiconductor device with a third radar transceiver IC, which are arranged at different positions around a tomographical measurement region; a synchronization circuit, which is designed to provide a synchronization signal in order to operate the first, second and third radar transceiver IC as synchronized transmitters and receivers using the synchronization signal; and an evaluation circuit, which is designed to ascertain at least one characteristic of a medium located in the measurement region based on time-of-flight measurements of radar signals received from at least two receivers.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method for monitoring a data converter configured to convert data using a calibration determined by a calibration data record includes calibrating the data converter in order to determine a corresponding multiplicity of time associated calibration data records at a multiplicity of different times; and determining a state of the data converter based on comparing at least one of the multiplicity of time associated calibration data records with a comparison data record.

Abstract: A radar transmitter is described. The radar transmitter may include the following: a transmit channel which is designed to receive a local oscillator signal and to generate a high-frequency (HF) radar signal based on the local oscillator signal; a phase shifter contained in the transmit channel which is designed to set a phase of the HF radar signal depending on an input phase value; and a coupler contained in the transmit channel which is designed to receive the HF radar signal and output the HF radar signal at an output contact. A phase controller circuit is assigned to the transmit channel, where the circuit is coupled with the coupler and is designed to receive the local oscillator signal and the HF radar signal, and to adjust the input phase value for the phase shifter based on a phase difference between the local oscillator signal and the HF radar signal.

Abstract: A method for testing at least one reception path in a radar receiver is provided. The reception path contains a mixer and a downstream signal processing circuit. The method includes injecting a test signal into the radar reception path so that at least a first test tone having a first test tone frequency in a passband of the downstream signal processing circuit and a second test tone having a second test tone frequency outside the passband are present on the radar reception path downstream of the mixer; and determining a characteristic of the radar reception path based on a first characteristic of a baseband signal at the first test tone frequency and a second characteristic of the baseband signal at the second test tone frequency.

Abstract: A method for testing at least one reception path in a radar receiver is provided. The reception path contains a mixer and a downstream signal processing circuit. The method involves injecting a test signal into the reception path, so that at least a first test tone having a frequency in a passband of the signal processing circuit and a second test tone having a frequency outside the passband are present on the reception path downstream of the mixer. Further, the method involves tapping off a baseband signal, generated by the signal processing circuit, from the reception path, the baseband signal being based on the test signal.

Abstract: A circuit includes a radio frequency (RF) channel including an input node and an output node and being configured to receive an RF oscillator signal at the input node and to provide an RF output signal at the output node; a mixer configured to mix an RF reference signal and an RF test signal representative of the RF output signal to generate a mixer output signal; an analog-to-digital converter configured to sample the mixer output signal in order to provide a sequence of sampled values; and a control circuit configured to provide a sequence of phase offsets by phase-shifting at least one of the RF test signal and the RF reference signal using one or more phase shifters, calculate a spectral value from the sequence of sampled values; and calculate estimated phase information indicating a phase of the RF output signal based on the spectral value.

Abstract: A circuit is described herein. In accordance with one embodiment the circuit includes two or more RF channels, wherein each channel includes an input node, a phase shifter and an output node. Each channel is configured to receive an RF oscillator signal at the input node and to provide an RF output signal at the output node. The circuit further includes an RF combiner circuit that is coupled with the outputs of the RF channels and configured to generate a combined signal representing a combination of the RF output signals, and a monitor circuit that includes a mixer and is configured to receive and down-convert the combined signal using an RF reference signal. Thus a mixer output signal is generated that depends on the phases of the RF output signals.

Abstract: A method is disclosed use with a circuit device that includes a circuit having a predetermined voltage-current characteristic and a detector configured to detect a voltage-current relation of the circuit. The method includes using the detector to detect the voltage-current relation of the circuit, and indicating if the detected voltage-current relation differs from the predetermined voltage-current characteristic. A circuit device includes a circuit having a predetermined voltage-current characteristic, and a detector configured to detect a voltage-current relation of the circuit. The circuit device is configured to indicate if the detected voltage-current relation differs from the predetermined voltage-current characteristic.

Abstract: An apparatus is described that, according to an exemplary embodiment, has an RF oscillator for generating an RF oscillator signal at a first frequency and a frequency divider having a division ratio that is fixed during operation. The frequency divider is supplied with the RF oscillator signal and is configured to provide an oscillator signal at a second frequency. The apparatus further has a monitor circuit, to which the oscillator signal at the second frequency is supplied and which is configured to measure the second frequency and to provide at least one digital value that is dependent on the second frequency of the oscillator signal. The at least one digital value is provided on a test contact.

Abstract: An apparatus is described that, according to an exemplary embodiment, has an RF oscillator for generating an RF oscillator signal at a first frequency and a frequency divider having a division ratio that is fixed during operation. The frequency divider is supplied with the RF oscillator signal and is configured to provide an oscillator signal at a second frequency. The apparatus further has a monitor circuit, to which the oscillator signal at the second frequency is supplied and which is configured to measure the second frequency and to provide at least one digital value that is dependent on the second frequency of the oscillator signal. The at least one digital value is provided on a test contact.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a computed tomography apparatus, comprising: a first semiconductor device with a first radar transceiver IC, a second semiconductor device with a second radar transceiver IC, and at least one third semiconductor device with a third radar transceiver IC, which are arranged at different positions around a tomographical measurement region; a synchronization circuit, which is designed to provide a synchronization signal in order to operate the first, second and third radar transceiver IC as synchronized transmitters and receivers using the synchronization signal; and an evaluation circuit, which is designed to ascertain at least one characteristic of a medium located in the measurement region based on time-of-flight measurements of radar signals received from at least two receivers.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method of monitoring a data converter includes determining a multiplicity of time-associated linearity parameters that describe a linearity of the data converter at a multiplicity of different times, and determining a state of the data converter based on comparing at least one linearity parameter of the multiplicity of time-associated linearity parameters with a comparison parameter.

Abstract: A radar device comprises a test signal generator including a digital harmonic oscillator that generates a digital oscillator signal with a first spectral component; a first digital-to-analog-converter that generates an analog oscillator signal based on the digital oscillator signal. Furthermore, the radar device comprises at least one radar channel receiving the analog oscillator signal during one or more self-tests.

Abstract: The description is of a circuit which, according to one example embodiment, comprises the following: an input circuit node for receiving an RF oscillator signal; a test signal generator circuit, which comprises at least one modulator and which is embodied to generate an RF test signal by modulating the RF oscillator signal. Further, the circuit comprises at least one receive channel with a receiver circuit and a coupler, which is embodied to feed the RF test signal into the receiver circuit.

Abstract: An RF front-end circuit of an RF transceiver is described herein. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, the fronted circuit includes a local oscillator (LO) configured to generate an RF transmit signal, an RF output port coupled to the local oscillator, wherein the RF transmit signal is output at the RF output port, and a monitoring circuit receiving an input signal and configured to determine the phase of the input signal or the power of the input signal or both. A directional coupler is coupled to the RF output port and configured to direct a reflected signal incoming at the RF output port as input signal to the monitoring circuit, and a controller is configured to detect, based on the determined phase or power or both, a defect in a signal path operably connected to the RF output port.

Abstract: A radar transmitter is described. The radar transmitter may include the following: a transmit channel which is designed to receive a local oscillator signal and to generate a high-frequency (HF) radar signal based on the local oscillator signal; a phase shifter contained in the transmit channel which is designed to set a phase of the HF radar signal depending on an input phase value; and a coupler contained in the transmit channel which is designed to receive the HF radar signal and output the HF radar signal at an output contact. A phase controller circuit is assigned to the transmit channel, where the circuit is coupled with the coupler and is designed to receive the local oscillator signal and the HF radar signal, and to adjust the input phase value for the phase shifter based on a phase difference between the local oscillator signal and the HF radar signal.

Abstract: A test set-up for testing a system-in package with an integrated antenna is described herein. According to one exemplary embodiment, the test set-up includes a carrier with an RF probe arranged thereon and a test socket with resilient electric contacts. The test socket is mounted on the carrier and provides an electric contact to interconnects of the package when it is placed on the test socket. The test socket has an opening which is arranged superjacent to the RF probe.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method of monitoring a data converter includes determining a multiplicity of time-associated linearity parameters that describe a linearity of the data converter at a multiplicity of different times, and determining a state of the data converter based on comparing at least one linearity parameter of the multiplicity of time-associated linearity parameters with a comparison parameter.