HJWave, a specialized RF company in the field of millimeter-wave autonomous driving (mmWave, 30-300GHz), announced on Sept. 1 that they have launched the DWnT radar antenna solution applicable to the RF MMIC DF (Direct Feeding) coupling method that supports autonomous driving.
The DWnT (Double Wide and Tilt) antenna is focused on enhancing performance for full autonomous driving by eliminating constraints that arise when mounting radar on vehicles. It features the ability to perform beam tilt from 20 to 80 degrees, which is essential for full autonomous driving, and minimizes losses in the gap that occurs when RF MMIC is combined with the antenna through a non-contact transition technology.
Furthermore, in line with the trend of Software Defined Vehicles (SDVs) in cars, to secure the price competitiveness of radar, cost reduction through technology has been achieved at the antenna (component) level, and a business model for modules that combine RF MMIC and antennas is being pursued.
HJWave CEO Yoo Tae-Hwan said, “For radar to achieve full autonomous driving, antenna technology that can be applied to RF MMIC in the DF method is becoming an essential technology due to performance, price, and manufacturing issues. The use of Phase Array Antenna, which was previously applied to IF (Indirect Feeding) method MMIC, is no longer feasible. We anticipate explosive demand for the DWnT antenna based on our waveguide injection molding core technology.” He added, “We are currently in close cooperation with two of the top three global RF MMIC companies for the application of DWnT antennas. Among them, we are progressing with a project through a contract with one of them. We expect various achievements, including additional contracts, in the second half of this year.”
He continued, “Through ongoing investments, we are pushing to establish a quality system and manufacturing infrastructure that meets the requirements for supplying to automobiles. This will be completed by the middle of this year. We are also securing technology for antenna types such as integrated radar, PCB integrated antennas, and more, across various millimeter-wave frequency bands (60 GHz, 77 GHz, 79 GHz), which are the future technologies desired by the market and customers. We are also in the process of securing technology for the 140GHz radar antenna that will be used in the era of autonomous driving. From 2024, when patent acquisition and mass production are completed, we plan to further establish strategic cooperative relationships with various SIs both domestically and internationally, thereby positioning ourselves as the number one autonomous driving millimeter-wave RF company in the Asia-Pacific region.”