STMicroelectronics Introduces Ultra-Wideband Chips for Long-Range Device Localization

Ultra-wideband chips extend device localization and secure access applications
Automotive access systems, smart home technologies, and industrial tracking applications increasingly rely on ultra-wideband (UWB) wireless communication to locate devices and enable secure proximity-based interactions. STMicroelectronics has introduced the ST64UWB family, a new generation of UWB system-on-chip solutions designed to support the emerging IEEE 802.15.4ab wireless standard while maintaining compatibility with IEEE 802.15.4z deployments already used in digital key systems.

The devices combine extended ranging capability, enhanced signal robustness, and embedded processing resources to support secure digital access control, presence detection, motion sensing, and accurate device localization across distances reaching several hundred meters.

Support for next-generation IEEE 802.15.4ab ultra-wideband standard
The new chip family supports both the existing IEEE 802.15.4z specification and the upcoming IEEE 802.15.4ab standard, which introduces multi-millisecond ranging (MMS) and narrow-band assistance radio (NBA) features. These enhancements improve link reliability and extend operating range while maintaining compatibility with the installed base of UWB-enabled smartphones and vehicle systems.

In automotive digital key systems, these improvements allow vehicles to detect the location and direction of a smartphone or key fob more accurately. The increased range and improved non-line-of-sight performance enable reliable operation even when devices are carried in bags or rear pockets.

The standard also enhances UWB radar capabilities, supporting sensing applications such as child presence detection (CPD) in vehicles—an emerging safety feature recommended by the European vehicle safety program Euro NCAP.




18 nm FD-SOI process improves link budget and ranging distance
The three new system-on-chip devices—ST64UWB-A100, ST64UWB-A500, and ST64UWB-C100—are fabricated using an 18 nm FD-SOI process. According to the company, this manufacturing technology improves the RF link budget by approximately 3 dB compared with conventional bulk CMOS processes, enabling a roughly 50% increase in communication range beyond the improvements already delivered by the IEEE 802.15.4ab standard.

This higher link budget can extend device communication distance and improve reliability in challenging signal conditions, such as obstructed environments or complex indoor spaces.

Automotive variants support digital key systems and radar sensing
The ST64UWB-A series targets automotive applications such as secure digital vehicle access and vehicle localization.

The ST64UWB-A100 integrates an Arm Cortex-M85 processor and supports an ASIL A(B) automotive safety concept, making it suitable for safety-relevant vehicle access systems. Typical applications include smartphone-based car keys and precise vehicle approach detection.

The higher-performance ST64UWB-A500 adds digital signal processing and AI acceleration, enabling radar-based sensing features. These include child presence detection inside vehicles, kick-to-open trunk detection, parking sensors, and vehicle sentinel monitoring functions.

Radar accuracy improvements are supported by the 1.3 GHz bandwidth of UWB channel 11 combined with the new 15.4ab Kaiser pulse shape, which enables approximately twice the sensing accuracy compared with earlier 500 MHz channels.




Consumer and smart building applications
The ST64UWB-C100 targets consumer electronics and smart building systems, also built around an Arm Cortex-M85 core. The device is designed to support hands-free device interaction and precise proximity detection for applications such as smart locks, indoor asset tracking, and secure access control systems.

The chip supports the Aliro standard, an emerging ecosystem specification for interoperable digital access solutions, allowing smartphones and smart locks to work together across different manufacturers.

Development tools accelerate integration
To support system development, STMicroelectronics provides a complete development ecosystem including a UWB software stack covering the PHY and MAC layers, radar development tools, reference antenna designs, and development boards for automotive and consumer applications.

These tools are intended to simplify integration of UWB connectivity and radar sensing into next-generation automotive systems, IoT devices, and smart building infrastructure.

The ST64UWB devices are currently sampling to automotive Tier-1 suppliers and original equipment manufacturers, enabling early system development ahead of broader deployment of the IEEE 802.15.4ab ultra-wideband standard.

www.st.com

Edited by Industrial Journalist, Natania Lyngdoh.

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