Imec Announces Development of New UWB Transmitter Chip with Rates Up to 1.66Gb/s

      At this year's ISSCC, Imec announced a new impulse radio ultra-wideband (IR-UWB) transmitter chip that could change the future of UWB technology.

      UWB (Ultra Wideband) is able to support a wide range of applications that combine the need for high data rates over short distances with very low power consumption in a small form factor. UWB communication technology is used to support many consumer applications such as secure keyless entry in cars and hotels, indoor positioning and asset tracking.

      The IR-UWB chip adopts 28nm CMOS process, the area is only 0.155mm², and the data transmission rate is up to 1.66Gb/s, which is suitable for in vivo or short distance transmission applications. The IR-UWB chip has over 50 times higher transfer rates than previous chips using the current IEEE 802.15.4z standard.

      Although it supports high bit rates, it consumes less than 10 milliwatts (mW), and its 5.8pJ/b energy efficiency ratio is better than Wi-Fi. IR-UWB utilizes complex (even combined) modulation schemes, with the help of energy efficient and low jitter ring oscillators combined with low power transmitters to achieve hybrid pulse modulation schemes in the smallest possible footprint.

      "A suitable application includes next-generation smart glasses for immersive AR/VR experiences," Bachmann said. "Neuroscience research could also benefit from this, powering high bit rates and small wireless telemetry modules for Intracortical sensing. In all of these cases, UWB could be a strong contender for Wi-Fi technology — because the latter typically have a larger area and are more complex.”