NXP announces secure ultra-wideband ranging technology

NXP has announced a new ultra-wideband (UWB) ranging technology that solves security, precise sensing and spatial measurement for wireless devices.

The technology has a unique combination of 2D and 3D precise positioning, while also having low power consumption.

NXP Semiconductors (NASDAQ: NXPI) announced at its annual Silicon Valley Developer Conference that it will bring a new ranging and precise sensing experience to its ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, which can bring new upgrades to markets including mobile, automotive, Internet of Things (IoT) and industrial, creating a new spatial environment dimension for wireless devices.

"NXP's UWB has triggered unprecedented new application areas," said Kurt Sievers, president of NXP. "The technology can not only understand outdoor and indoor motion and relative positioning, but its real-time robust accuracy can effectively improve factory efficiency, conduct interactive games or use applications such as AR/AI on mobile phones. It marks our entry into a new era of intuitive on-demand applications."

About NXP UWB technology

The new generation of UWB is a major development step for existing wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS. It can process contextual information (such as the location of the UWB anchor, its movement, and the distance from other devices) with unprecedented accuracy of several centimeters, enabling decision-making and management of devices with high granularity.

NXP UWB enables accurate localization capabilities: doors and entrances will open when approaching them; lights, audio speakers and any other connected devices with sensors will be able to follow consumers from one room to another, and smart connection technology will be more intuitively integrated into people's lives.

NXP UWB technology advantages include:

UWB higher bandwidth channels provide higher instantaneous accuracy than existing wireless technologies in challenging environments, achieving accuracy of several centimeters.

UWB enables delay-sensitive applications such as access control, games and AR through effective time-of-flight calculations.

UWB adds a new level of security to car keys, which can prevent relay attacks by distinguishing between real signals and relay/spoofed signals.

NXP's UWB technology is built on NXP's emerging connectivity portfolio, including NFC, 5G RF Power and the acquisition of Marvell's Wi-Fi and Bluetooth assets.

NXP is making the solution available to its early access partners and will demonstrate UWB capabilities at NXP Connect 2019.