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Imec’s 7 June 2018 announcement described a research prototype: a 140 GHz frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar system built in standard 28 nm CMOS, with two antennas integrated on the transceiver chip. It was not a finished consumer radar product. The reported measurements belong to that specific two-antenna, single-input single-output (SISO) prototype; imec’s later MIMO demonstration and its current platform page describe different snapshots.
What imec demonstrated in 2018
At the 2018 International Microwave Symposium in Philadelphia, imec announced what it described as the world’s first CMOS 140 GHz radar-on-chip system with integrated antennas. That “world’s first” wording is imec’s claim in its announcement, not an independently established market-wide finding.
The prototype combined imec’s proprietary two-antenna SISO radar transceiver with an FMCW phase-locked loop (PLL), off-the-shelf analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), an FPGA and a Matlab processing chain. The FPGA handled basic processing such as FFTs and filters; Matlab supported detection, constant false-alarm-rate (CFAR) processing and direction-of-arrival estimation. This distinction matters: the chip was a central radio-frequency component in a larger sensing setup, not a self-contained radar application.
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| Characteristic | Imec’s 2018 reported figure | What it describes |
|---|---|---|
| Process and carrier frequency | Standard 28 nm CMOS; 140 GHz | The prototype technology and operating frequency |
| Antenna gain | Close to 3 dBi | Integrated antenna gain reported by imec |
| Transmitter EIRP | Greater than 9 dBm | Effective isotropic radiated power for the announced design |
| Receiver noise figure | Below 6.4 dB | Receiver noise figure reported for the prototype |
| Transmitter-plus-receiver power | Below 500 mW | Combined transmitter and receiver consumption; imec said duty cycling could reduce it further |
| FMCW PLL chirp | Slopes up to 500 MHz/ms over a 10 GHz bandwidth around 140 GHz | PLL chirp capability, with slope-linearity error below 0.5% |
| PLL power | Below 50 mW | Power reported for the FMCW PLL |
These are announcement-specific figures, not guaranteed specifications for every imec 140 GHz design. The release said the prototype demonstrated critical specifications in 28 nm CMOS; it did not provide an independent test report or evidence of broad commercial deployment.
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How integrated antennas and FMCW fit together
Integrating antennas with the transceiver is a way to make the radar electronics more compact and integrated. In the described architecture, the PLL generates a frequency-modulated carrier, the transceiver transmits and receives radar signals, and the rest of the system processes the returns to estimate targets or motion.
FMCW radar varies the transmitted signal’s frequency over time. Comparing the outgoing sweep with the received reflection produces a beat signal that can be processed to infer distance; changes in the signal can also support motion sensing. The actual range and motion capabilities depend on the full radar design, antenna arrangement, signal chain and processing—not on the chip in isolation.
Rank #2
- ★The LD2450 is a 24 GHz radar module capable of real-time tracking of moving targets within a detection area and outputting information on the distance, angle, and speed of moving targets in the area via a serial port.
- ★It is primarily used in common indoor settings such as homes, offices, and hotels to track the location of moving people.
- ★When installing the unit on the wall, you need to take into account external factors such as air conditioners and electric fans mounted on the ceiling. the maximum tracking range is 8 meters. You should take into account potential obstructions in the application environment as well as overhead obstacles; the recommended installation height is between 1.5 and 2 meters.
- ★The detection zone contains non-human objects in constant motion, such as animals, curtains that are constantly fluttering, or large potted plants positioned directly in front of the air vent. The detection zone contains large, highly reflective surfaces; highly reflective objects positioned directly in front of the radar antenna can cause interference.
- ★If the radar requires an enclosure, the enclosure must have good wave-transmitting properties in the 24 GHz band and must not contain metal or materials that shield electromagnetic waves.
Do not conflate the 2018 prototype with later imec systems
Imec’s subsequent material covers other system configurations and platform descriptions. In particular, the 2019 MIMO system and the current platform page should not be combined with the 2018 SISO measurements as if they were one specification sheet.
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2019: a separate MIMO demonstration
In May 2019, imec described a compact 140 GHz MIMO system for gesture recognition and non-contact vital-sign monitoring. Its announcement reported operation up to 10 m, 15 mm range resolution and 10 GHz RF bandwidth. It also said the system could detect micro-skin movements related to vital signs. Those figures and functions refer to the later MIMO demonstration, not the 2018 two-antenna SISO prototype.
Rank #3
- Design a low-power micro/motion sensing module based on X-band radar chips, with a center frequency of 10.525GHz
- The design adopts fixed frequency, directional transmission and reception antennas (1T1R), integrating functions such as intermediate frequency demodulation, signal amplification, and digital processing
- It has the ability to set delay, facilitate independent parameter adjustment, and has advantages such as no wall penetration, anti-interference, small size, good clutter and high harmonic suppression effect, high stability, and consistency
- The chip integrates algorithms internally, directly outputting detection results without the need for an external microcontroller. In the module pulse power supply mode, the power consumption is at the microampere level, mainly targeting low-cost and low-power applications
- Embedded installation, not affected by temperature and humidity, oil fume, water mist, etc., can be applied to various lamps, such as bulb lamps, down lamps, ceiling lamps, etc. Low power application scenarios, such as visual door bells, cat eyes, door locks, low-power cameras, etc
Current platform page: a broader portfolio snapshot
Imec’s current 140 GHz technology page, accessed in 2026, describes a broader portfolio that includes a transceiver with integrated antennas and a low-power all-digital PLL (ADPLL), designed in 28 nm bulk CMOS. It says imec is considering 22 nm FD-SOI for a future design. The same page gives a 10 × 10 mm² package, +11.5 dBm EIRP per transmit element, 10 GHz bandwidth, range resolution greater than 55 mm and sub-millimeter range accuracy.
The current page’s stated range resolution of greater than 55 mm differs from the 15 mm resolution reported for the 2019 MIMO system and the less-than-15 mm figure in related contemporary materials. Keep each value attached to its own source and platform context; the page’s stated value should not be silently replaced or treated as a correction to the other demonstrations.
Rank #4
- Extended parking protection - Energy Saving Mode 2.0 cuts power use; radar wakes the dash cam on movement so you capture threats like the best car alarm system without draining your battery
- Smarter detection, fewer false alerts - radar senses cars up to 7 meters, ignoring passersby; dash cam saves a 20 second event only if impact occurs, avoiding SD card clutter common with basic car auto alarms
- Easy fit for popular Thinkware cams - compatible with U1000 Plus, U1000, Q1000, X1000; requires hardwiring or OBD power cable for parking mode; pro installation recommended; low-power parking mode disables cloud features
- Made for parking stress - ideal for street parking, garages, and rideshare or fleet vehicles; a stealth alternative to car burglar alarm or car intruder alarms using your dash cam
- Compact, durable, and precise - 48 x 36 x 42 millimeters at 0.126 pound hides neatly; operates from minus 30 to 75 degrees celsius for year-round reliability; elevates any car alarm system with radar accuracy
Where imec positions the technology
Imec presents 140 GHz radar as a platform for high-resolution sensing, including ADAS, in-cabin and health monitoring, gesture recognition, augmented and virtual reality, robotics, smart industry and consumer applications. These are application areas, not proof that the 2018 prototype was deployed in production vehicles or consumer devices. A working people-detection, gesture or vital-sign system also requires suitable antennas, processing, integration and application-specific validation.
For organizations seeking access, imec says its portfolio is available through licensing or bilateral or collaborative R&D. The 2018 announcement named Panasonic as endorsing imec’s open-innovation program; that is not evidence of retail availability or a particular product endorsement. Imec’s statements do not identify a retail version of the chip or a specific purchase channel for individual buyers.
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- In addition to sensitive to the movement of the human body, the static, micro-motion, sitting and lying human body that cannot be identified by the traditional scheme can also be sensitively sensed
- It has good environmental adaptability, and the induction effect is not affected by the surrounding environment such as temperature, brightness, humidity and light fluctuation
- Good shell penetration, can be hidden in the shell inside the work, no need to open holes on the surface of the product, improve the product appearance
- The maximum sensing distance is up to 5 meters, Flexible configuration of the farthest sensing distance and the sensitivity of each distance on the door, to achieve flexible and fine personalized configuration
- With Bluetooth function, you can directly use APP to debug radar parameters without receiving serial ports
Packaging work is a separate part of the system story
In June 2023, imec and AT&S announced a system-integration demonstration pairing imec 140 GHz radar ICs with AT&S’s PCB/module concept. The release describes air-filled substrate-integrated waveguides (AFSIWs) in a multilayer PCB and reports 0.07–0.08 dB/mm loss across 115–155 GHz. Imec characterized this as a five-fold reduction relative to reported planar PCB lines or substrate-integrated waveguides in PCBs and interposers. This is a packaging result from that collaboration, not a measured property of the radar chip alone.
Quick Recap
What the announcement does—and does not—establish
- Established by the 2018 release: imec described a two-antenna 140 GHz SISO radar prototype fabricated in standard 28 nm CMOS and reported specific RF, power and PLL figures for it.
- Established by later imec materials: imec subsequently described a MIMO demonstration and a broader current platform with separate specifications and possible sensing applications.
- Not established by these announcements: independent validation of the reported prototype measurements, market-adoption figures, or broad commercial deployment of the 2018 design.
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