Optimizing Continuous-Wave Radars for Vital-Sign Detection: System Design Challenges and Limitations

Continuous-wave vital-sign detection radars have been commonly used, especially for the long-term monitoring of heart and respiration rates. To achieve a high accuracy and a medical signal quality, which can compete which the ECG, a high distance resolution in the sub-micrometer range is required. This talk introduces the physiological background of the detectable vital-signs and the resulting surface vibrations of the human body and addresses the necessary steps in CW radar system design. These include the trade-offs as well as internal and external error sources which typically limit the system performance.