AWR6843AOP: Periodic automatic calibration of the sensor causes phase jump issues.

Part Number: AWR6843AOP
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: AWR1843, AWR6843

During the micro-displacement measurement using the AWR6843&AWR1843 radar sensors, we observed that the phase of the target object exhibits abrupt jumps with temperature variations. Specifically, an instantaneous phase jump occurs when the temperature changes by approximately 10°C.
 
This phase jump phenomenon disappears completely after we disable the periodic calibration (by modifying the code from: calibrationCfg.U.chirpCalibrationCfg.enablePeriodicity=true; to calibrationCfg.U.chirpCalibrationCfg.enablePeriodicity=false;).
 
We have the following technical questions:
 
  1. What potential issues may arise from disabling the periodic calibration?
  2. Is there a better solution that can prevent phase jumps without compromising the chip's performance?
  3. Alternatively, can we read the input parameters of this calibration function and implement the calibration process manually through software coding, thereby avoiding uncontrolled phase jumps?
 
We look forward to your reply. Thank you very much.
  • Hello, we have received your case and the investigation will take some time. Thank you for your patience.

  • 1) Disable run-time calibration will result in larger TX power variation cross temperature, and you may have to leave more margin to cope with that.

    2) Yes, it is expected to experience some gain jump after run-time calibration.  If your algorithm is not frame by frame operation and rely on the data analysis cross frames.  Then you will need to reset the algorithm when the run-time calibration changes the setting. 

    3) Yes, it is recommended to trigger run-time calibration manually.