Source: Infineon AGWhether for artificial intelligence, augmented reality or the internet of things, five billion people worldwide will be using smart devices to sense their environment next year, according to International Data Corporation.
Infineon Technologies AG has developed a 60 GHz radar chip, which enables a new form of interaction between users and their devices. Using an integrated antenna system, it senses the presence and movement of people and objects with high precision, or measures distances and speeds. This chip is the base for Google’s Soli technology and has been integrated for the first time into a smartphone so that it can also be controlled by gestures.
"With our radar technology devices become 'context-aware’. This means that they can finally understand their environment and react much more purposefully," says Andreas Urschitz, Division President for Power Management and Multimarket at Infineon Technologies AG.
"The precise motion detection by the 60 GHz radar chip turns the Google Pixel 4 smartphone into a gesture control system. This is a revolution in the human-machine-interaction. At Infineon, we are furthermore working on the fusion of multiple sensors to simplify interaction and increase the usefulness of the devices," according to Andreas Urschitz, division president for power management and multimarket at Infineon Technologies AG.
Infineon’s radar technology has its roots in the automotive sector. Radar sensors have been measuring distances, speeds and movements while driving for decades. Infineon has further developed these functions for small devices. The 60 GHz chip is a complete radar system with antennas on a small area (e.g., 5 mm x 6.5 mm) coupled with low power consumption. It can perceive movements in rooms or measure distances from objects in the millimetre range with utmost precision. With the appropriate software, the motion data is converted into functions, so that control via gestures is possible without touching the device.
