Millimeter wave Extremely high frequency (EHF) is the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) designation for the band of radio frequencies in the electromagnetic spectrum from 30 to 300 gigahertz (GHz). It lies between the super high frequency band and the ...

(mmWave) sensing is a non-contact system of using mmWave radar sensors to measure movement, acceleration, and angles as small as a fraction of a millimeter. This system requires a mmWave radar sensor to transmit and receive pulses of millimeter electromagnetic wave energy, detecting targets and motion from the reflections it receives back. Additional components such as converters, signal processors and other embedded technologies create new use cases and improve performance of the system. Current applications for this technology include human and animal movement tracking,

human presence detection Human presence detection is a range of technologies and methods for detecting the presence of a human body in an area of interest (AOI), or verification that computer, smartphone (or other device controlled by software) is operated by human. Softw ...

, and detection of

vital signs Vital signs (also known as vitals) are a group of the four to six most crucial medical signs that indicate the status of the body's vital (life-sustaining) functions. These measurements are taken to help assess the general physical health of a ...

for use across automotive, meteorological, medical and pet health industries and is often an alternative to wearable-based technologies for the same uses. Compared to sensing technologies using other

radio frequencies Radio frequency (RF) is the oscillation rate of an alternating electric current or voltage or of a magnetic, electric or electromagnetic field or mechanical system in the frequency range from around to around . This is roughly between the upper ...

in the

electromagnetic spectrum The electromagnetic spectrum is the range of frequencies (the spectrum) of electromagnetic radiation and their respective wavelengths and photon energies. The electromagnetic spectrum covers electromagnetic waves with frequencies ranging from ...

such as

infrared Infrared (IR), sometimes called infrared light, is electromagnetic radiation (EMR) with wavelengths longer than those of visible light. It is therefore invisible to the human eye. IR is generally understood to encompass wavelengths from aroun ...

ultra-wideband Ultra-wideband (UWB, ultra wideband, ultra-wide band and ultraband) is a radio technology that can use a very low energy level for short-range, high-bandwidth communications over a large portion of the radio spectrum. UWB has traditional applicati ...

, mmWave uses 30 to 300 gigahertz (GHz). Typical mmWave sensors use the 24-, 60- and 77-GHz band each with their own benefits for specific applications.

Applications

Automotive

mmWave sensing can be used inside vehicles to improve driver and passenger safety and comfort functions. Notable advantages of using mmWave technology in vehicles revolve around its capability to operate effectively in spaces with low-lighting and limited visibility. mmWave sensing can penetrate materials like plastic, textiles, and glass, making it a contactless. Recent applications for automotive mmWave sensing include: *Occupancy detection *Child presence detection (CPD) *Seatbelt reminders *Optimized airbag deployment *Monitoring of driver vital signs

Assisted Living and Elderly Care

mmWave sensing can be used in homes and

nursing home A nursing home is a facility for the residential care of elderly or disabled people. Nursing homes may also be referred to as skilled nursing facility (SNF) or long-term care facilities. Often, these terms have slightly different meanings to i ...

s to assist seniors, individuals

aging in place The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines aging in place as "the ability to live in one's own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level". Environmental gerontology Re ...

, and caregivers. Using mmWave technology is non-intrusive as it does not use cameras or microphones for its applications, and does not require patients to use

wearable devices Wearable technology is any technology that is designed to be used while worn. Common types of wearable technology include smartwatches and smartglasses. Wearable electronic devices are often close to or on the surface of the skin, where they dete ...

for tracking. Use-cases in assisted living and elderly care include: *Fall detection *Posture detection *Occupancy detection *Vital signs monitoring

Smart Home

Integrated within applications for presence and occupancy detection, mmWave sensing can be applied to the smart home to enable home automations without requiring wearable technology or cameras. Applications include: *Water level detection of toilets *Sleep apnea tracking *Smart lighting control

Other

Other applications for mmWave sensing include pet monitoring, where the technology can be used to track and monitor animal vital signs to interpret pet emotions.

References

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