STMicroelectronics, a global semiconductor leader serving a wide range of electronics applications, has introduced a new ultra-wideband (UWB) chip family designed to support the next-generation wireless standard for precise device localization and tracking over distances of several hundred meters. The new UWB platform combines extended range, higher processing capability, and enhanced robustness to support advanced automotive, consumer, and industrial applications. These include secure digital access control, presence and motion sensing, and highly accurate approach detection.
“The ST64UWB family we announce today is an industry-first system-on-chip supporting the latest ultra-wideband specification, IEEE 802.15.4ab including narrow-band assistance radio, with ultra-precise ranging and sensing,” said Rias Al-Kadi, General Manager, Ranging and Connectivity Division, STMicroelectronics. “These chips are tailored for automotive, consumer, and industrial applications, providing innovators with a powerful platform for the next wave of ultra-wideband use cases.”
The new standard builds on the IEEE 802.15.4z UWB technology currently used in hands-free digital car keys that unlock vehicles automatically as users approach. With the addition of multi-millisecond ranging (MMS) and narrowband assistance (NBA), the technology significantly extends operating range and improves connectivity with devices carried in bags or rear pockets. It also enables more accurate direction detection at close range to better interpret user intent. In addition, IEEE 802.15.4ab enhances radar capabilities, enabling advanced safety applications such as child presence detection (CPD) in vehicles, a potentially life-saving feature recommended by Euro NCAP, the independent vehicle safety assessment organization.
The devices are now sampling to major Tier 1s and original equipment manufacturers.
Why IEEE 802.15.4ab and ST64UWB matter
“IEEE 802.15.4ab is set to become the backbone of next-generation ultra-wideband,” said Andrew Zignani, Senior Research Director at ABI Research. “By 2030, we expect the vast majority of ultra-wideband equipped vehicles to migrate to this new standard, leveraging a rapidly growing installed base of hundreds of millions of compatible smartphones. Meanwhile, backward compatibility with IEEE 802.15.4z allows the industry to adopt these enhancements quickly without disrupting existing deployments, while enabling valuable new user experiences and services across multiple end markets.”
“IEEE 802.15.4ab is the foundation for enabling a new generation of key fobs as part of a digital key system,” said Daniel Siekmann, Head of Car Access HW D&D Team, Forvia Hella. “It offers more than eight times the range of 802.15.4z and significantly better non-line-of-sight performance, which allows for key fob functionality to reliably perform from a back-pocket or inside a bag. With backward compatibility to 802.15.4z, it provides a practical path to replace legacy HF/LF key fobs with a modern ultra-wideband based architecture, a transition that is further enabled by STMicroelectronics’ new ST64UWB chips.”
“With IEEE 802.15.4ab, the ability to drastically increase UWB performance, especially when the smartphone is left in the rear pocket, is highly appreciated,” said Bernd Bär, Expert Product Line Technology, Marquardt. “At the same time, operating within tight global homologation limits while remaining backward compatible with existing IEEE 802.15.4z ecosystems tremendously extends the applicability of UWB systems.”
“Over the last decade, Nuki has helped establish and shape the smart lock category in Europe. We firmly believe Ultra-Wideband is a transformative technology for precise, hands-free unlocking,” said Jürgen Pansi, Chief Innovation Officer, Nuki Home Solutions. “Together with STMicroelectronics and their ST64UWB solution, we are showcasing how the IEEE 802.15.4ab standard can bring the power of Aliro and UWB to our region.”
