The A121 is a radar system based on pulsed coherent radar (PCR) technology and is setting a new benchmark for power consumption and distance accuracy – fully integrated in a small package of 29 mm².
The A121 60 GHz radar system is optimized for high precision and ultra-low power, delivered as a one package solution with integrated Baseband, RF front-end, and antenna. This will enable easy integration into any portable battery driven device.
The A121 is based on leading-edge patented pulsed coherent radar technology with picosecond time resolution. The sensor can measure up to 20 meters and the actual measurable distance is dependent on object size, shape, and dielectric properties.
The A121 60 GHz radar remains uncompromised by any natural source of interference, such as noise, dust, color and direct or indirect light.
The A121 is an optimized low-power, high-precision, 60 GHz radar sensor with integrated Baseband, RF front-end, and Antenna in Package (AiP).
The sensor is based on pulsed coherent radar (PCR) technology, featuring a leading-edge patented solution with picosecond time resolution. The A121 is the perfect choice for implementing highaccuracy, high-resolution sensing systems with low power consumption.
The A121 silicon is divided into four functional blocks: Power, Digital, Timing and mmWave radio.
The Power functional block includes LDOs and a Power on Reset (PoR) block. Each LDO creates its own voltage domain. The PoR block generates a Reset signal on each power-up cycle. To operate the A121, an external host CPU such as a microcontroller (MCU) is required.
The host application interfaces the Power functional block of the sensor via 1.8 V Single power supply, 1.8 V or 3.3 V IO power supply and ENABLE.
The Digital functional block includes sensor control and the data memory stores the radar sweep data. The external host CPU interfaces the A121 via an SPI interface, INTERRUPT signal and optional CTRL signal. The SPI, INTERRUPT, CTRL and ENABLE interfaces support 1.8 V or 3.3 V IO voltage levels.
The Timing block includes the timing circuitry. The PLL digital clock output is used to drive internal digital logic and is generated by a crystal oscillator that requires an external crystal (XIN/XOUT). Supported frequency of the external crystal is 24 MHz.
The mmWave radio functional block generates and receives radar pulses and includes transmitter (TX), receiver (RX) and interfaces toward the antennas in package. The A121 operates in the 57 - 64 GHz band.
Acconeer A121-001-T&R