## Overview of the EV-RADAR-MMIC2 The **EV-RADAR-MMIC2** is an evaluation board designed for prototyping and testing high-frequency radar applications. It specifically features the **ADF5901** and **ADF5904** chipset from Analog Devices, operating in the **24 GHz ISM band**. --- ### Core Electronic Components The board is composed of several critical high-frequency and power management components: | Component Category | Part Number | Function | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Transmitter (Tx)** | **ADF5901** | A 2-channel 24 GHz transmitter MMIC with an integrated VCO and PGA. | | **Receiver (Rx)** | **ADF5904** | A 4-channel 24 GHz receiver MMIC with integrated LNAs and mixers. | | **PLL Synthesizer** | **ADF4159** | 13 GHz fractional-N frequency synthesizer used to generate the ramp for FMCW radar. | | **Power Management** | **ADP7104 / ADP150** | Low-dropout (LDO) regulators to provide clean, low-noise power rails. | | **Interface** | **Standard Pin Headers** | Connects to high-speed ADCs or DSP evaluation platforms like the SDP-B. | --- ### Functional Block Details #### 1. ADF5901 (The Transmitter) The ADF5901 is the "heart" of the signal generation. * **VCO:** Generates the 24 GHz signal. * **Power Amplifier:** Boosts the signal for transmission. * **Dual Channels:** Allows for beamforming or MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) configurations. #### 2. ADF5904 (The Receiver) This component handles the incoming reflected signals. * **4-Channels:** Enables the calculation of the "Angle of Arrival" (AoA) by comparing phase differences between antennas. * **Downconversion:** Mixes the 24 GHz reflected signal with the Local Oscillator (LO) to produce an Intermediate Frequency (IF) in the MHz range. #### 3. ADF4159 (The Modulator) This chip controls the frequency of the ADF5901. It is responsible for: * **FMCW Modulation:** Creating "chirps" (linear frequency ramps). * **Phase Synchronization:** Ensuring the radar system remains stable over time. --- ### Technical Specifications * **Frequency Range:** 24.0 GHz to 24.25 GHz. * **Modulation Support:** FMCW (Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave), FSK, and CW. * **Detection Range:** Depends on antenna gain and processing, but typically used for short to mid-range sensing (1m to 100m). * **Power Supply:** Typically requires a 5V DC input which is regulated on-board. --- ### Typical Signal Chain 1. **Generation:** ADF4159 tells ADF5901 to create a 24 GHz sweep. 2. **Transmission:** Signal is sent out via Tx antennas. 3. **Reception:** Reflected signal is caught by ADF5904's 4 antennas. 4. **Mixing:** The ADF5904 mixes the Tx and Rx signals to create a "Beat Frequency." 5. **Output:** The IF signals are sent to an external Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) for processing.