Qorvo helps industrial robots evolve to sense the future

From high-precision positioning and navigation to wireless data communications, sensor fusion and intelligent perception, these technologies not only significantly improve the efficiency of robots, but also bring them unprecedented flexibility and reliability. Qorvo is driving industrial robots to become more intelligent and efficient.

Precise positioning is undoubtedly the basis for the operation of industrial robots. UWB technology, which is specially designed to achieve accurate, safe and real-time position, distance and direction measurement, has gradually become an important force in promoting the intelligent upgrade of industrial scenarios in industrial Internet of Things applications with its multiple technical advantages.

UWB Application Scenarios

UWB technology can provide strong support for accurate location tracking and efficient material handling. The centimeter-level accuracy achieved by using methods such as two-way ranging , time difference of arrival (TDOA) and phase difference of arrival (PDoA) can enable industrial robots to accurately locate themselves and other objects in complex environments full of obstacles, thereby completing tasks more efficiently. In addition, UWB can also provide high-speed wireless data transmission, and its low latency characteristics and the same security level as NFC make UWB shine in many applications.

Coincidentally, thanks to the innovative Channel Sounding (CS) technology , Bluetooth Low Energy has also achieved a major leap in ranging methods: it uses phase ranging (PBR) and round-trip time (RTT) to accurately determine the distance between two Bluetooth Low Energy devices. In many ranging applications today, UWB and Bluetooth Low Energy have long complemented each other. In UWB deployments, the 2.4GHz Bluetooth Low Energy radio is usually used for initial device discovery and authentication, and then the UWB radio is activated to achieve secure and accurate ranging.

How to more efficiently manage the simultaneous connection of multiple devices and ensure that every link on the production line can enjoy high-speed, low-latency wireless networks is an indispensable condition for the efficient operation of smart factories. Qorvo's unique ConcurrentConnect technology allows a single device to support multiple wireless protocols at the same time, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, etc., thereby greatly improving the flexibility and compatibility of the system. Qorvo's new SoC solution QPG6200L , which uses CocurrentConnect technology , can ensure seamless communication and interoperability of multiple wireless standards. It has a built-in security module and has passed PSA Level 2 certification, which can resist common software attacks and enhance the security of industrial IoT applications. In terms of connectivity, Wi-Fi 7 technology, with its multi-link operation (MLO) technology, can ensure that data transmission will not be interrupted even if a certain frequency band or channel encounters interference.

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For the application of Industry 4.0, industrial robots are not only executors on the production line, but also smart nodes in the intelligent manufacturing system. The intelligence of industrial robots is reflected in their "perception" ability.

Qorvo's Sensor Fusion solution integrates MEMS sensors, ASIC chips, mechatronics structures, and software, subverting the operation mode of traditional physical buttons. It has excellent waterproof, dustproof, oil-resistant, and 3D touch features, and can achieve precise touch input in any environment, helping smartphone solid-state buttons and personal portable devices represented by wearables and electric toothbrushes to achieve integrated and seamless product design. This is crucial for industrial robots that need to work in complex environments.

Qorvo Sensor Fusion Solution

Through this technology, Qorvo can achieve accurate recognition of touch applications on different materials, especially in 3D touch. Compared with traditional capacitive solutions, Qorvo's solution can provide more dimensional input, such as controlling volume or lighting by force, thereby enhancing the user experience. It has the characteristics of high precision , high sensitivity , high linearity , and ultra-low power consumption , and can transform traditional touch buttons into a stylish, intelligent, and reliable operating interface.

At present, Qorvo Sensor Fusion solution has been successfully put into mass production, which comprehensively improves the operating experience of the touch panel. Its waterproof and dustproof characteristics are particularly suitable for applications in the fields of industry, automobiles, power tools, consumer electronics and smart home .

With the development of Industry 4.0, industrial robots also have their own KPI: how to achieve precise control with lower power consumption. Facing this technical challenge, Qorvo's innovative technologies in motor control, BMS, PMIC and other fields have injected new impetus into the development of industrial automation.

In terms of motor control , Qorvo provides intelligent, integrated and programmable solutions. Its product line covers applications with different voltage levels of 40-52V, 70V, 160V and 600V , supporting BLDC and PMSM . Qorvo's motor controller designed specifically for brushless DC motors (BLDC) has brought unprecedented convenience to industrial applications with its highly integrated features. For example, Qorvo's new PAC series motor controller for high-intensity and durable equipment integrates a number of advanced safety functions, including brake control, drive disablement, cycle-by-cycle current regulation, VDS detection, enhanced gate drive, sampling and holding filtering, and configurable AFE watchdog timer . It ensures the high reliability of the system, can better meet the Class B functional safety protection requirements, and provide solid protection for the safe and stable operation of industrial equipment.

In terms of power management , Qorvo's BMS solution focuses more on integrated design. By integrating algorithms such as Fuel Gauging, SOC, and SOH into the chip, the accuracy and speed of data acquisition and calculation are effectively improved, and the flexibility of the battery management system is enhanced. Integrating high-performance MCU and analog front end (AFE) into a single chip not only simplifies the system architecture, but also improves system performance, reliability, and intelligence. This is also the industry's first BMS solution that can support precise management of up to 20 strings of batteries with a single chip . In the future, Qorvo will launch BMS SoC products equipped with BLE to further expand the application scope and capabilities of wireless BMS.

Qorvo Power Management Products

Qorvo's SiC devices have also demonstrated strong potential in the industrial market. Qorvo's SiC JFET, with its unique stacked cascode architecture , continues to set new low records for SiC FET R _{DS(on) . In} ZVS soft switching applications , Qorvo SiC JFET devices can significantly reduce the on-resistance of the device, making the on-resistance of Qorvo SiC FET per unit area more than twice that of the closest SiC MOSFET structure . Qorvo's devices can reduce turn-off losses by 74% with their faster voltage change rate, and the thermal conductivity of its silver sintering chip mounting technology is six times that of traditional welding technology, which can significantly improve thermal performance.

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With the advancement of Industry 4.0, industrial robots will play an increasingly important role in intelligent manufacturing. Qorvo's technical solutions not only meet the current wireless connection and perception needs, but also provide a solid foundation for future intelligence and efficiency. Qorvo will continue to promote the development of industrial robots, promote the rapid development of industrial automation, and usher in a new industrial era!