Infineon and Imec develop a radar sensor chip for autonomous cars

31 May, 2016

The radar will be manufactured using standard 28 nm CMOS process, operating in 79GHz frequency. The prognosis: each autonomous car will have 10 radar systems

The radar will be manufactured using standard 28 nm CMOS process, operating in 79GHz frequency. The prognosis: each autonomous car will have 10 radar systems

Imec's 28nm CMOS 79GHz transceiver chip for phase-modulated continuous-wave radar
Imec’s 28nm CMOS 79GHz transceiver chip for phase-modulated continuous-wave radar

German semiconductor manufacturer Infineon and leading Belgian research center Imec announced that their single chip radar project is well underway. They expect to show functional CMOS sensor chip samples in the third quarter of 2016. A complete radar system demonstrator is scheduled for the beginning of 2017.

A conceptual visualization of a one chip radar
IMEC concept of a single chip radar

The collaboration is focused on the further development of a 28mn CMOS 79GHz Automotive Radar Sensor to provide autonomous cars with the ability to sense its surrounding environment (360 degrees) in centimeter scale precision.

Radars, Cameras and LIDARs

Current ADAS systems are comprised of up to 3 Radar systems. The two companies believe that a truly autonomous car will require up to 10 separate radar systems and 10 different kinds of sensors, for example: cameras and laser based sensor such as LIDAR.

““In the future, we will manufacture radar sensor chips as a single-chip solution in a classic CMOS process for applications like automated parking. Infineon will continue to set industry standards in radar technology and quality.” Ralf Bornefeld, Vice President & General Manager, Sense & Control, Infineon Technologies AG.

Wim Van Thillo, perceptive systems program director at IMEC explained that in contrast to standard car radars operating in a 24GHz frequency and based on an expensive SiGe process, the radar under development by the two companies will operate in 77GHz-79GHz band, which will provide better angular and frequency resolution.

“We will implement radar sensor prototypes with integrated MIMO antennas, capable of identifying large objects, pedestrians and cyclists” he added. IMEC is a world renowned research institute based with worldwide offices and r&d centers. The institute specializes in micro-electronics and Nano-technologies.

A technological challenge

INFINEON-RADAR
Automotive 24GHz radar development kit ATV 24GHZ

Imec is experimenting with the single chip radar since 2013, but tangible results were first demonstrated as late as 2015, in the ISSCC convention held in February 2015. Imec demonstrated a CMOS single chip transciever for a phase-modulated continuous-wave radar developed together with Panasonic. The transceiver operated in the 79GHz frequency, allowing the operation of a 7.5 cm resolution radar, with a low power consumption of of 260mW.

Imec estimates that the radar sensor will be suitable for further applications such as smart house, drones robotics and much more. The new technology is a real breakthrough for German Infineon. Only this year it started the production of the 24GHz BGT24Axx kit which has a very narrow bandwidth, as well as a much lower accuracy level than the new technology in development. In addition, the current kit is comprised of several components, not a single chip solution.

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