Imec Unlocks Fourfold UWB Range Extension
semiconductor-digest.com Jun 11, 2026

Imec Unlocks Fourfold UWB Range Extension

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Imec, a world-leading research and innovation hub, has unveiled the first narrowband receiver chip that complies with the upcoming IEEE 802.15.4ab UWB standard. The chip supports a fourfold increase in ranging distance, marking a key step toward reliable, scalable, and energy-efficient UWB deployments in dense wireless environments. The receiver features a novel second-order transimpedance amplifier and a high dynamic-range clip detector, enabling it to maintain a low noise figure and suppress strong out-of-band interferers.

💡 Why It Matters

  • · This breakthrough in UWB technology has significant implications for the development of secure, precise, and low-latency relative positioning and synchronization in dense wireless environments.
  • · The potential applications of narrowband-assisted UWB, such as robot-to-robot coordination and AR glasses interacting with their surroundings, could revolutionize various industries, including robotics, automotive, and IoT.