Infineon launches a new generation of radar CMOS transceiver MMIC CTRX8181 for vehicles

     The reliable and high performance radar module is the key to improve the autopilot assistance system and realize the autonomous driving in the future. Cars will need more and more sophisticated radar modules to enable new features such as advanced automatic Emergency braking (AEB) systems that respond quickly to motorcyclists crossing the road. One of the key drivers for the growth of the radar module market is the ongoing programme and legislation of the European Association for the Safety Assessment of New Vehicles (NCAP).

     Infineon Technologies AG has been a leader in the radar module market for more than 15 years and is a TOP 1 manufacturer of radar monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMIC). Infineon pioneered transceiver integration, which integrates transmitter and receiver into the same chip, and in 2009 launched the world's first 77GHz millimeter-wave radar chip for vehicles based on SiGe technology. In addition, Infineon has a broad product portfolio that covers a complete product segment from short range radar (angular radar) to high-end forward radar.

     Now, Infineon has released a new generation of innovative radar products, the RASIC CTRX8181 transceiver, which is also the first product in a new 76 GHz to 81 GHz radar MMIC series developed with 28 nm CMOS technology. The product has higher signal-to-noise ratio and linearity, which can improve system performance and design flexibility. At the same time, the radar transceiver is easy to use, provides a scalable platform for different sensors such as Angle radar, forward radar and short range radar simultaneously, and brings flexibility to new software-defined vehicle architectures. This radar transceiver enables customers to develop 77 GHz automotive millimeter wave radar applications at a lower cost.

     "The new generation CTRX8181 transceiver is capable of accurately classifying and detecting objects, a feature necessary to protect vulnerable groups in road safety such as motorcyclists, cyclists or pedestrians," said Tomas Lucia, product marketing Director of Radar MMIC at Infineon Technologies' Automotive Electronics Division. In addition, the product provides improved RF capabilities to facilitate the deployment of all SAE level (up to L4) reliable assisted driving and autonomous driving capabilities."

     CTRX8181 is a new product developed by Infineon based on the latest ISO26262 functional safety standard, with 4 transmitting channels and 4 receiving channels. The device has an excellent signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and extends the induction range of a standard module by 25% (e.g., from 250 m to more than 300 m). With more RF channels and higher linearity, the product's vertical and angular resolution is improved by 33%, allowing it to better classify different objects, such as accurately identifying pedestrians next to cars. Based on these features, customers can develop radar modules for all applications, from angular radars to high resolution radars.

     On-chip digital phase-locked loop (PLL) supports fast stabilization of frequency ramps for higher range resolution and ultra-fast sweep back times, providing a four-fold increase in response time compared to the best solutions on the market. This new feature not only reduces power consumption, but also allows objects with similar speeds to be more accurately classified according to their speeds. The on-chip digital phase-locked loop (PLL) can realize fully flexible modulation of frequency ramp without affecting phase noise, thus making the radar stable and reliable in various application scenarios. Therefore, it is suitable for schemes with high frequency interference such as electronic compass.

     The new CTRX product line is a perfect fit with Infineon AURIX microcontroller (MCU) TC3x and the upcoming TC4x radar products. Both the TC3x and TC4x integrate a signal processing unit (SPUs) and non-volatile memory for on-chip program code storage. Paired with the AURIX chipset, the CTRX will be able to maximize its performance in future NCAP (new car crash testing) and real-world road conditions, such as improving radar reliability in adverse weather conditions.