Summary of TEXAS INSTRUMENTS’ ANTENNA-ON-PACKAGE MMWAVE SENSOR
mmWave radar uses millimeter-range electromagnetic waves to provide highly accurate range, velocity, and angle measurements with small antennas. Texas Instruments addressed design complexity and PCB area issues by integrating the antenna into the sensor package (Antenna-On-Package, AOP), reducing size, cost, and implementation difficulty. This compact mmWave sensor suits robotics (detecting glass walls, improving odometry) and automotive uses (seat occupancy, intruder detection), enabling applications where cameras or IR struggle.
Parts used in the mmWave Antenna-On-Package Sensor Project:
- mmWave radar sensor
- Antenna-On-Package (AOP) integrated antenna
- Printed Circuit Board (PCB)
- RF front-end components
- Signal processing unit
- Power supply
- Mechanical package/enclosure
Radar sensors are not exactly a new thing, but, like every other technology, there is always progress to be made, something that could be improved in order to take the technology to the next level. One of its younger cousins, the mmWave technology, which you may have not heard of until this point, is a promising category of radar sensors that are creeping into, for instance, the automotive industry, with the help of manufacturers such as Texas Instruments. Today, we will take a dive into the mmWave technology, check out what there is so special about it and showcase one product from TI that pushes this technology even further.
Starting with mmWave (short for millimeter wave), it is a special type of radar that makes use of short-wavelength electromagnetic waves (in the millimeter range, hence the name). By the functioning principle of a radar, you can, through the reflected signals, gather information on range, velocity and angle of objects. The use of millimeter waves is advantageous, in the sense that the required antennas are small and the process is highly accurate, allowing you to detect movements in the fraction of a millimeter. So, where is the catch? Well, designing such a sensor has increased complexity, due to the high frequencies involved (~ dozens of GHz). Then, there is an implementation issue: the antennas, as small as they are, still occupy about 30% of the PCB, according to Texas Instruments. But also, obviously, translates into higher costs, when you consider the need for antenna engineers, the extra sophistication required for the PCB and the size.
To counter this problem, Texas Instruments provided a new design where the antenna is integrated into the sensor package (Antenna-On-Package, or AOP, if you prefer), which conveniently solves a wide array of problems for you. It drastically simplifies the design and reduces its overall implementation size and cost. So, where can the industry take advantage of this sensor technology, in this smaller form? For example, in robotics applications, you can detect glass walls, which may seem ridicule to mention, but try that with IR sensors or cameras, and you will be surprised to see them struggle. Better odometry is another area where mmWave can shine, and if you ask a robotics engineer, they will take all the help they can get in that regard. The automotive industry can also take advantage of it, for better car seat occupation, intruder detection, among other things (and the smaller size really comes in handy).
Read more: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS’ ANTENNA-ON-PACKAGE MMWAVE SENSOR
- What is mmWave technology?
mmWave is radar using millimeter-range electromagnetic waves to measure range, velocity, and angle of objects. - Why are mmWave antennas small?
Because millimeter wavelengths are short, allowing physically small antenna sizes. - What problem does Antenna-On-Package solve?
Antenna-On-Package integrates the antenna into the sensor package, reducing PCB area, design complexity, size, and cost. - Why is designing mmWave sensors more complex?
Because they operate at high frequencies (dozens of GHz), requiring specialized RF and antenna design and PCB considerations. - How can mmWave benefit robotics?
mmWave can detect glass walls and improve odometry where cameras or IR sensors may struggle. - How can mmWave be used in automotive applications?
Automotive uses include improved car seat occupancy detection and intruder detection, benefiting from smaller sensor size. - Does AOP reduce implementation cost?
Yes, integrating the antenna into the package reduces overall implementation size and cost by simplifying design and reducing PCB footprint.
