Note: A dual-chip stroboscopic pulsed RADAR for probing passive sensors

Stroboscopy provides an energy and computationally efficient means of sampling radiofrequency and microwave signals assumed to be reproducible under external excitation. While well known for impulse mode RADAR receivers, we here investigate its use for interrogating surface acoustic wave (SAW) transducers acting as passive cooperative targets. Amongst the originality of the implementation is the need to keep phase coherence between successive pulse generations which last up to tens of the radiofrequency periods to optimally transfer energy to the transducer. A two-chip receiver architecture is demonstrated, with a trigger signal compatible either with single-period avalanche transistor pulse excitation or frequency-agile direct digital synthesizer source.