imec UWB receiver extends industrial positioning range
AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication
imec has developed a narrowband receiver chip that complies with the upcoming IEEE 802.15.4ab ultra-wideband standard, supporting a fourfold increase in ranging distance for UWB systems in dense wireless environments. The chip was unveiled at the IEEE MTT-S RF Integrated Circuits Symposium and validates the narrowband assistance mechanism defined in the standard. It combines narrowband signalling with UWB's precise ranging and localisation capabilities, suppressing out-of-band interference and preserving the desired signal. The design consumes less than 6mW and achieves a 9dB improvement in dynamic range. Potential applications include industrial IoT devices and automotive platforms, addressing practical limits of impulse-radio UWB in crowded environments.
💡 Why It Matters
- · Industrial applications rely on accurate location data, which is increasingly difficult to maintain in crowded wireless environments.
- · Reliable communication at longer distances is crucial for applications like asset tracking and collaborative robotics.