# A Wideband Sliding Correlator-Based Channel Sounder with Synchronization in 65 nm CMOS

## TL;DR

This paper presents a programmable, ultra-wideband sliding correlator-based channel sounder implemented in 65 nm CMOS, capable of high-resolution multipath channel measurements for millimeter-wave frequencies.

## Contribution

It introduces a compact, low-power, high-speed baseband chip with configurable functions for channel sounding in wireless communications.

## Key findings

- Achieved 1 Gbps chip rate for high temporal resolution.
- Designed a small, low-power chip occupying 0.66 mm x 1 mm.
- Enabled accurate multipath delay profiling at millimeter-wave frequencies.

## Abstract

A programmable ultra-wideband sliding correlator-based channel sounder with high temporal and spatial resolution is designed in standard 65 nm CMOS. The baseband chip can be configured either as a baseband transmitter to generate a pseudorandom spread spectrum signal with flexible sequence lengths, or as a baseband receiver with sliding correlator having an absolute timing reference to obtain power delay profiles of the multipath components of the wireless channel. The sequence achieved a chip rate of one Giga-bit-per-second, resulting in a multipath delay resolution of 1 ns. The baseband chip occupies an area of 0.66 mm x 1 mm with a power dissipation of 6 mA at 1.1 V in 65 nm CMOS. The sliding correlator-based channel sounder in this work is a critical block for future low-cost, miniaturized channel sounding systems used in accurate and efficient channel propagation measurements at millimeter-wave frequencies.