Socionext Launches Next-Gen Radar Sensors for IoT, Smart Home and other Applications

Socionext Inc., a leading provider of advanced SoC solutions for a wide range of applications unveils a new series of radio-wave ranging sensors for smart home and other IoT devices. The SC1230 Series, which can detect location and movement of persons with high sensitivity, low power consumption and low cost, is available now in samples, with volume production scheduled for the first quarter of 2020.

The digital transformation (DX), which seamlessly integrates the physical and digital worlds is becoming essential to realize a super-smart society, dubbed “Society 5.0”, the newly-formed Japanese technological initiative that shifts economic and social focus, blurring the frontier between cyberspace and the physical space. The major elements for digital transformation involve highly-sensitive, compact, low-cost and low power sensing technology which can be implemented to various IoT devices.

The new SC1230 Series is a new line-up of radar sensor products and detects the location and movement of persons with high sensitivity without recording images or sounds. They are highly useful in developing new services and functions based on information about “human behavior”, while also addressing privacy concerns.

Conventional radar sensors required advanced knowledge for handling, and it was also difficult to install them in home-use appliances because of the power consumption and the physical dimensions. The company’s expertise in signal processing and circuit design technologies allows the SC1230 Series to achieve ultra-low power consumption, ultra-compact size, and high-cost performance simultaneously. Incorporating basic signal processing functions into the sensor device reduces the number of external components, and makes it easier to use without requiring specialized knowledge in signal processing. With built-in antenna in a compact package of 9mm x 9mm and power consumption at 0.5 mW, they can be installed anywhere using battery power. The lineup includes two products, the SC1232AR3 which measures the presence and the distance of an object, and the SC1233AR3 which can also detect the direction. Users can choose the right product depending on their applications.

Socionext will continue to explore the potential of new sensing technologies by developing radar sensor products and proposing new applications and solutions. The company aims at expanding the usage of the products not only for home appliances but also for mobile devices and industrial equipment.