New radar MMIC enables the next generation of 4D and HD imaging radars

The capability to detect pedestrians in dense urban environments is presently a challenge to facilitate the next level of automated and autonomous driving. To fulfil the demands of SAE-defined L2+ to L4 autonomous driving, the development of a new generation of 4D and imaging radars is vital. That’s why Infineon Technologies AG is releasing the final samples of its RASIC CTRX8191F, a new state-of-the-art 28nm radar MMIC. The CTRX8191F was specifically developed to satisfy the needs of automated and autonomous driving and deliver high performance at low system cost. As a result, the device allows the development of next-generation radar imaging modules.

The radar MMIC delivers higher performance and an even better signal-to-noise ratio than previous generations. This level of performance is needed to detect vulnerable road users and vehicles at a distance of up to 380m, using system configurations with eight transmitters and eight receivers. The RASIC MMIC allows the cascading of multiple devices at low frequencies, decreasing the necessity for expensive RF materials on the circuit board. Also, it features an optimised launcher-on-package design that enables the use of low-cost waveguide antennas. Also, its state-of-the-art digital PLL provides high flexibility in generating complex waveforms with the shortest flyback time on the market (<1µs).

The company also offers a comprehensive radar development kit called CARKIT to enable the rapid design and deployment of radar systems. It is based on the CTRX8191F sensor prototyping module, which supports various system configurations, including the transmission of raw ADC data, FFT intermediate results or radar detections via a Gigabit Ethernet interface. The included example code and GUI allow rapid prototyping and design, permitting developers to implement their radar system concepts quickly and efficiently. Also included is a waveguide antenna that can be readily replaced with a custom antenna to meet specific customer needs. Several versions of CARKIT are already available, including a next-generation 4D front radar configuration with eight transmitters and eight receivers, and a cost-effective corner/front radar solution for the standard market with four transmitters and four receivers.

Samples of the CTRX8191F radar MMIC and CARKIT modules in different configurations are available now.