Tool/software:
Dear TI Support Team,
We are in the process of developing a custom PCB based on the AWR1642BOOST evaluation module for an automotive radar application.
Our design work was initiated using a Rev A schematic of the AWR1642BOOST that was provided to us. As we are now moving towards the fabrication stage, we have some concerns and would greatly appreciate your expert guidance on two key aspects of our design.
Part 1: Schematic Revision
First, regarding the schematic version, we would like to ask:
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Feasibility of Rev A: Are there any critical operational issues or performance limitations we should anticipate if we manufacture a board based on the AWR1642BOOST Rev A schematic?
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Software & Toolchain Compatibility: Will a custom board fabricated from the Rev A design be fully compatible with the latest mmWave SDK, Code Composer Studio, and other current development tools? Or would it be restricted to older, legacy versions of the SDK?
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Recommendation: Considering potential hardware differences and software dependencies, do you recommend that we halt development based on the Rev A schematic and instead use the latest official design files from the AWR1642BOOST product page?
Part 2: RF Modification for External Antenna
Second, our design requires a significant modification to the RF section. We plan to remove the onboard patch antenna and replace it with RF connectors to use external antennas.
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Guidance on RF Modification: Could you provide any guidance, application notes, or best practices for this type of modification? We are particularly interested in recommendations for maintaining signal integrity at 77 GHz, proper impedance matching, and suitable RF connector types for this application.
Our goal is to build a reliable product that can be supported long-term, so ensuring we are on the correct hardware and software path from the beginning is crucial.
Thank you for your time and assistance.
Best regards,
