Semiconductor integrated circuit and method of operating the same

A semiconductor integrated circuit that can be mounted in a millimeter wave radar device, the semiconductor integrated circuit comprising:

• a single A/D converter to A/D-convert a plurality of reception signals generated from a plurality of reception mixers of the millimeter wave radar device, where the single A/D converter includes a foreground digital correction type A/D converter;
• a receiving interface including a multiplexer having a plurality of input terminals to which the reception signals can be supplied as a multi-input terminal;
• and
• a microprocessor unit that responds to an output digital signal of the A/D converter,
• wherein a correction signal generating unit, a digital correction D/A converter, and a digital correction unit constitute the foreground digital correction type A/D converter,
• wherein the foreground digital correction type A/D converter sequentially A/D-converts the reception signals output from an output terminal of the multiplexer of the receiving interface,
• wherein the single A/D converter further includes a pipeline type A/D converter having a plurality of converters that are cascade-coupled,
• wherein during a calibration operation of the foreground digital correction type A/D converter, a calibration digital signal generated from the correction signal generating unit is supplied to an input terminal of the digital correction D/A converter,
• wherein a calibration analog signal generated from an output terminal of the digital correction D/A converter is supplied to an input terminal of the single A/D converter via the output terminal of the multiplexer,
• wherein during the calibration operation, a digital calibration output signal generated from an output terminal of the single A/D converter and the calibration digital signal generated from the correction signal generating unit are supplied to the digital correction unit, and thereby, a foreground digital correction output signal is generated from an output terminal of the digital correction unit,
• wherein during a normal operation of the foreground digital correction type A/D converter, the reception signals output from the output terminal of the multiplexer are supplied sequentially to the input terminal of the single A/D converter,
• wherein during the normal operation, a digital normal output signal generated sequentially from the output terminal of the single A/D converter is supplied to the digital correction unit, and thereby, a normal digital correction output signal is generated from the output terminal of the digital correction unit, and
• wherein the digital correction D/A converter is configured by cascade-coupling a ΣΔ type D/A conversion unit and a switched capacitor low pass filter.

A semiconductor integrated circuit that can be mounted in a millimeter wave radar device, the semiconductor integrated circuit comprising:

• a single A/D converter to A/D-convert a plurality of reception signals generated from a plurality of reception mixers of the millimeter wave radar device, where the single A/D converter includes a foreground digital correction type A/D converter;
• a receiving interface including a multiplexer having a plurality of input terminals to which the reception signals can be supplied as a multi-input terminal;
• and
• a microprocessor unit that responds to an output digital signal of the A/D converter,
• wherein a correction signal generating unit, a digital correction D/A converter, and a digital correction unit constitute the foreground digital correction type A/D converter,
• wherein the foreground digital correction type A/D converter sequentially A/D-converts the reception signals output from an output terminal of the multiplexer of the receiving interface,
• wherein the single A/D converter further includes a pipeline type A/D converter having a plurality of converters that are cascade-coupled,
• wherein during a calibration operation of the foreground digital correction type A/D converter, a calibration digital signal generated from the correction signal generating unit is supplied to an input terminal of the digital correction D/A converter,
• wherein a calibration analog signal generated from an output terminal of the digital correction D/A converter is supplied to an input terminal of the single A/D converter via the output terminal of the multiplexer,
• wherein during the calibration operation, a digital calibration output signal generated from an output terminal of the single A/D converter and the calibration digital signal generated from the correction signal generating unit are supplied to the digital correction unit, and thereby, a foreground digital correction output signal is generated from an output terminal of the digital correction unit,
• wherein during a normal operation of the foreground digital correction type A/D converter, the reception signals output from the output terminal of the multiplexer are supplied sequentially to the input terminal of the single A/D converter,
• wherein during the normal operation, a digital normal output signal generated sequentially from the output terminal of the single A/D converter is supplied to the digital correction unit, and thereby, a normal digital correction output signal is generated from the output terminal of the digital correction unit,
• wherein the receiving interface further includes a plurality of capacitor elements coupled, respectively, between the multi-input terminal and the output terminal of the multiplexer,
• wherein the receiving interface further includes a plurality of calibration switches coupled, respectively, between the capacitor elements and the output terminal of the digital correction D/A converter,
• wherein during the normal operation of the foreground digital correction type A/D converter, the reception signals generated from the reception mixers are sampled substantially at the same time by the capacitor elements,
• wherein during the calibration operation of the foreground digital correction type A/D converter, the calibration switches are controlled sequentially into an ON state,
• wherein the calibration analog signal generated from the output terminal of the digital correction D/A converter is supplied sequentially to the capacitor elements, and
• wherein during the calibration operation, the digital correction unit sequentially executes a digital calibration operation for a plurality of digital calibration output signals generated sequentially from the output terminal of the single A/D converter in response to the calibration analog signal supplied sequentially to the capacitor elements, and
• wherein the output terminal of the digital correction D/A converter and the calibration switches are electrically coupled to an external terminal of the semiconductor integrated circuit.

A semiconductor integrated circuit that can be mounted in a millimeter wave radar device, the semiconductor integrated circuit comprising:

• a single A/D converter to A/D-convert a plurality of reception signals generated from a plurality of reception mixers of the millimeter wave radar device, where the single A/D converter includes a foreground digital correction type A/D converter;
• a receiving interface including a multiplexer having a plurality of input terminals to which the reception signals can be supplied as a multi-input terminal;
• and
• a microprocessor unit that responds to an output digital signal of the A/D converter,
• wherein a correction signal generating unit, a digital correction D/A converter, and a digital correction unit constitute the foreground digital correction type A/D converter,
• wherein the foreground digital correction type A/D converter sequentially A/D-converts the reception signals output from an output terminal of the multiplexer of the receiving interface,
• wherein the single A/D converter further includes a pipeline type A/D converter having a plurality of converters that are cascade-coupled,
• wherein during a calibration operation of the foreground digital correction type A/D converter, a calibration digital signal generated from the correction signal generating unit is supplied to an input terminal of the digital correction D/A converter,
• wherein a calibration analog signal generated from an output terminal of the digital correction D/A converter is supplied to an input terminal of the single A/D converter via the output terminal of the multiplexer,
• wherein during the calibration operation, a digital calibration output signal generated from an output terminal of the single A/D converter and the calibration digital signal generated from the correction signal generating unit are supplied to the digital correction unit, and thereby, a foreground digital correction output signal is generated from an output terminal of the digital correction unit,
• wherein during a normal operation of the foreground digital correction type A/D converter, the reception signals output from the output terminal of the multiplexer are supplied sequentially to the input terminal of the single A/D converter,
• wherein during the normal operation, a digital normal output signal generated sequentially from the output terminal of the single A/D converter is supplied to the digital correction unit, and thereby, a normal digital correction output signal is generated from the output terminal of the digital correction unit,
• wherein in the receiving interface, a plurality of input terminals of a matrix switch is coupled to the input terminals and a plurality of capacitor elements, to the capacitance values of which, predetermined weights are added, is coupled to a plurality of output terminals of the matrix switch, and thereby, a capacitor D/A converter is configured by the capacitor elements to which the predetermined weights are added, and
• wherein the digital correction D/A converter is configured by the capacitor D/A converter including the capacitor elements.

A method of operating a semiconductor integrated circuit that can be mounted in a millimeter wave radar device, the semiconductor integrated circuit including:

• a single A/D converter to A/D-convert a plurality of reception signals generated from a plurality of reception mixers of the millimeter wave radar device, where the single A/D converter includes a foreground digital correction type A/D converter;
• a receiving interface including a multiplexer having a plurality of input terminals to which the reception signals can be supplied as a multi-input terminal;
• and
• a microprocessor unit that responds to an output digital signal of the A/D converter,
• wherein a correction signal generating unit, a digital correction D/A converter, and a digital correction unit constitute the foreground digital correction type A/D converter,
• wherein the foreground digital correction type A/D converter sequentially A/D-converts the reception signals output from an output terminal of the multiplexer of the receiving interface,
• wherein the single A/D converter further includes a pipeline type A/D converter having a plurality of converters that are cascade-coupled,
• wherein during a calibration operation of the foreground digital correction type A/D converter, a calibration digital signal generated from the correction signal generating unit is supplied to an input terminal of the digital correction D/A converter,
• wherein a calibration analog signal generated from an output terminal of the digital correction D/A converter is supplied to an input terminal of the single A/D converter via the output terminal of the multiplexer,
• wherein during the calibration operation, a digital calibration output signal generated from an output terminal of the single A/D converter and the calibration digital signal generated from the correction signal generating unit are supplied to the digital correction unit, and thereby, a foreground digital correction output signal is generated from an output terminal of the digital correction unit,
• wherein during a normal operation of the foreground digital correction type A/D converter, the reception signals output from the output terminal of the multiplexer are supplied sequentially to the input terminal of the single A/D converter,
• wherein during the normal operation, a digital normal output signal generated sequentially from the output terminal of the single A/D converter is supplied to the digital correction unit, and thereby, a normal digital correction output signal is generated from the output terminal of the digital correction unit, wherein the receiving interface further includes a plurality of capacitor elements coupled, respectively, between the multi-input terminal and the output terminal of the multiplexer,
• wherein the receiving interface further includes a plurality of calibration switches coupled, respectively, between the capacitor elements and the output terminal of the digital correction D/A converter,
• wherein during the normal operation of the foreground digital correction type A/D converter, the reception signals generated from the reception mixers are sampled substantially at the same time by the capacitor elements,
• wherein during the calibration operation of the foreground digital correction type A/D converter, the calibration switches are controlled sequentially into an ON state,
• wherein the calibration analog signal generated from the output terminal of the digital correction D/A converter is supplied sequentially to the capacitor elements, and
• wherein during the calibration operation, the digital correction unit sequentially executes a digital calibration operation for a plurality of digital calibration output signals generated sequentially from the output terminal of the single A/D converter in response to the calibration analog signal supplied sequentially to the capacitor elements,
• the method comprising:
• when turning on the power source of the semiconductor integrated circuit, prior to the execution of a first normal operation of the foreground digital correction type A/D converter, a first calibration operation of the foreground digital correction type A/D converter is executed.