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PCB News - What are the applications of millimeter wave radar?

PCB News

PCB News - What are the applications of millimeter wave radar?

What are the applications of millimeter wave radar?
2022-06-30
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Author:IPCB


Millimeter wave radar operates in the millimeter wave band.Usually millimeter wave refers to the frequency band from 30 to 300 GHz (wavelength of 1 to 10 mm). The wavelength of millimeter wave is between centimeter wave and light wave, and it has the advantages of both microwave guidance and photoelectricity guidance.Millimeter wave radar for security is a recent emerging technology, the principle is that electromagnetic waves are transmitted by the transmitter through the radar antenna, reflected by obstacles, and then received by the receiver. Based on the time difference between the transmitter and receiver, the location of the target is measured. During heavy rainfall, the radar's performance will be reduced and its monitoring range will be minimized.


The advantage of millimeter wave radar is that a single radar can achieve 360-degree area coverage, and any object with a certain surface area that enters the radar protection area can be detected, and the current detection range of millimeter wave radar can be up to 3Km, which is an obvious advantage. And it can freely divide the protection area to realize the purpose of early warning. The advantages are obvious when it is used in the security system of enterprises with larger sites, such as oil depots, oil fields and terminals.


Millimeter wave applications in various aspects,making millimeter wave exceptionally hot. One of the hottest applications is millimeter wave radar technology. IPCB explains the millimeter wave radar application from two aspects, namely, analyzing the frequency band classification and development trend of vehicle-mounted millimeter wave radar and introducing several application scenarios of millimeter wave radar.



Frequency Band Classification of Millimeter Wave Radar for Vehicles

Introduction of Millimeter Wave Radar Frequency Bands

In terms of frequency bands,there are two relatively common millimeter wave radar frequency bands in the field of automotive millimeter wave radar.


1.At 24GHz, it is now widely used in automobile blind spot monitoring and lane change assistance.The radar is installed on the rear bumper of the vehicle, and is used to monitor whether there are vehicles in the lanes on both sides of the rear of the vehicle and whether lane changing is possible. This band also has its drawbacks.First,the frequency is relatively low, and second, the bandwidth is relatively narrow, only 250MHz.


2.77GHz, the frequency of this band is higher, the international bandwidth allowed up to 800MHz.According to the introduction, the performance of this band radar is better than the 24GHz radar, antique products are mainly used in the front bumper of the vehicle, to detect the distance and speed of the vehicle in front of them,to realize the emergency braking, automatic follow-up and other active safety functions.


In terms of process, the two main processes of millimeter wave radar are SiGe and CMOS.The advantage of SiGe is that the traditional transistor technology is very mature,and large-scale mass production of SiGe wafers at 77GHz has already been realized. The advantage of CMOS is that it is more integrated, and in the future,both baseband and RF can be concentrated in one SoC.This is a very good technological advantage.In terms of shipment volume, SiGe is still larger than CMOS because SiGe's performance is better than CMOS under high power conditions. These two technologies coexist now and will continue to coexist for some time to come.


Advantages of millimeter-wave radar

Among the many in-vehicle sensors, each one has its own characteristics and its own unique application scenario. The solution that integrates multiple sensors must be the best in the future. The safety of automobiles is a prerequisite for all developments. Various sensors work together to realize the vehicle to the surrounding environment of high-precision and low-latency monitoring, millimeter-wave radar rely on its reliable performance (such as to deal with adverse weather conditions) and the only can be 24 hours a day, all-weather work of the superpower. Millimeter-wave radar has become one of the indispensable sensors for automotive ADAS.


Global Automation Trends in Automotive Shipment Volumes

In addition to the distinction between the advantages and disadvantages of different sensors, there is another important question, which is the better of the two frequency bands, 24GHz and 77GHz. 24GHz radar sensors have a relatively short detection range of about 50 meters.It is mainly used for Blind Spot Detection (BSD) and Lane Change Assist (LCA). The detection range of 77GHz radar sensor is longer, reaching 160m to 230m. Compared with 24GHz,77GHz radar sensor has higher frequency,shorter wavelength and wider system bandwidth, which improves the accuracy and precision of distance and speed measurement, and it is mainly used in automatic emergency braking (AEB) and self-adjusting cruise control (ACC), and forward collision warning (FCW). It is mainly used for automatic emergency braking (AEB) and self-tuning cruise control (ACC) and forward collision warning (FCW).


Trends in 24GHz and 77GHz Automotive Radar Sensor Development

What the market needs now is a product that can solve problems better in complex scenarios and at a reasonable price.As a result,77GHz radar and 24GHz radar will be distributed in completely different positions for a long time to come due to cost, performance, and supply chain issues.It will perform different functions in the vehicle.77GHz will not simply replace 24GHz, but will coexist for a long time.

Millimeter Wave Radar Applications


Millimeter-wave Radar Application Scene

Smart Office

At the critical moment of epidemic prevention, the technology based on monitor AI can really help us to reduce the direct or indirect contact in daily work.At the same time,the use of AI technology also enhances the office space experience and utilization, but the large-scale use of monitors also brings a relatively large number of hidden problems,that is,how to protect personal privacy?Especially in some non-public or semi-public spaces,such as staff office areas and meeting rooms.


The biggest advantage of millimeter wave radar compared to monitors is that it does not involve privacy leakage. Its appearance does not have a disturbing lens design.What's more,the radar data information is completely anonymous. Complying with privacy regulations, millimeter wave radar can be used in more office environments where it is not appropriate to deploy monitors.


Millimeter-wave radar also offers benefits over the privacy concerns of AI monitor technology.Since the radar identification process is basically done locally, the amount of data uploaded to the backend cloud is very small. Just identify the location of the personnel, track information or statistical processing of information, so the entire Internet of Things system network bandwidth and cloud resource requirements are very limited, which can illustrate the enterprise to greatly reduce the system's operating costs.


Smart Home

In the field of elderly home, multi-directional perception becomes particularly important. To immediately ensure that the elderly at home breathing heartbeat data, sleep quality and other physiological detection of the normalcy of the data. In addition, in the current smart home, the protection of personal privacy has gradually become a necessity, but it has also become a pain point, and there is an urgent need for technological breakthroughs to fill the gap. Millimeter wave radar products are not restricted by light and privacy. It can determine whether there is someone by measuring physiological breathing. At the same time, it can also measure breathing and heartbeat to determine the physiological state of the elderly. For some unexpected time alarm has an irreplaceable role, will effectively meet the needs of the elderly home care.


In addition, in the traditional smart home, air conditioning, lights, gas automatic shutdown, illegal invasion, etc. are through the monitor and infrared sensor combination alarm system to operate, but in many scenes, the privacy of the monitor and infrared accuracy in many scenes can not be resolved. Millimeter wave radar products have no obstacles to accuracy and privacy. At the same time, radar products are economical, simple signal output, and convenient for scene interaction. Due to its penetrating nature, the radar can be easily installed in household appliances and lighting fixtures to form a complementary linkage with monitors.


In addition to the applications described above, millimeter wave radar is also widely used in intelligent transportation and industrial manufacturing. For example, in smart factories, it can realize intelligent sensing at the edge to further enhance the technology of robot systems and realize the full intelligence of robot sensing.