OEMs can now use their secure car access system to incorporate features compliant with the U.S. Hot Cars Act and European NCAP roadmap, such as child presence detection.
NXP Semiconductors has unveiled an all-in-one automotive Ultra-Wideband (UWB) chip family, the Trimension NCJ29D6. This family merges real-time localization with short-range radar technology to cater to several applications within a single system including secure car access, child presence detection, intrusion alert, gesture recognition, and more.
The family features the NCJ29D6B, designed for secure car access, offering improved ranging performance, lower system costs, enhanced security, and ready-to-use software. The enhanced secure car access enables hands-free vehicle entry through a digital key on a UWB-enabled mobile device. Its performance improvements include higher RF sensitivity, support for antenna diversity and angle of arrival concepts, and an integrated digital CAN transceiver, which reduces the number of required components.
The family also includes the NCJ29D6A, the first of its kind in the automotive industry to integrate both ranging and short-range UWB radar into a single chip with an integrated MCU. It adds short-range UWB radar to the location features of the NCJ29D6B. It can sense its surroundings, enabling OEMs to use one UWB-based system for multiple applications. These include in-cabin sensing for child presence detection, seat belt reminders, trunk opening sensors, and smart gesture recognition, thereby maximizing the utility of UWB capabilities in automotive applications.
This innovation allows original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to transform a basic UWB-based car access system into a multi-purpose platform which eliminates redundant systems, thereby reducing costs, space, and weight. OEMs can now use their secure car access system to incorporate features compliant with the U.S. Hot Cars Act and European New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) roadmap.
The family is equipped with integrated security features. Both devices exceed ISO21434 cyber security requirements and support CCC MAC and FiRa MAC for standard-compatible UWB ranging protocols. This integration simplifies AUTOSAR architectures. Major automotive OEMs are set to integrate these devices, which are expected to hit the roads in vehicles of model year 2025.
