Study Case: Utilization of PCBs in Automotive Sensor Applications
In the rapidly evolving world of autonomous vehicles, the role of advanced technology cannot be overstated. Sierra Circuits, a renowned PCB manufacturer, has recently contributed to this revolution by providing highly specialized boards to Keysight Technologies, a leading innovator in connecting and securing the world.
Keysight Technologies is currently using a board built by Sierra Circuits in a polarizer, a crucial component known as a polarization twister, for testing by a major car manufacturer. The PCB, designed with exceptional flatness and stiffness, serves as mechanical support for 11 millimeter-wave polarizing twisters, a testament to Sierra Circuits' commitment to meeting their clients' exacting needs.
The polarization twister is a significant part of a major system being tested for autonomous driving and driver assistance, specifically for radar technology. In fact, the PCB is being used in a mmWave radar emulator, demonstrating Sierra Circuits' expertise in high-speed PCB design.
The collaboration between Sierra Circuits and Keysight Technologies began when Keysight faced challenges in selecting the right boards for their automotive sensor prototypes. Sierra Circuits addressed this concern by ensuring reasonable tolerances, in this case, maintaining a 10-mil accuracy. Moreover, the company demonstrated rapid delivery and turnaround time, with the PCB design being completed on the same day as submission.
Modern automobile designs and autonomous cars rely on a diverse range of sensors to enable engine management, safety, driver assistance, and fully autonomous functionalities. These sensors are often integrated into sensor fusion systems, combining data from radar, LiDAR, ultrasonic, and cameras, enabling robust environment perception and vehicle control in real time.
Sensors, such as radar sensors, LiDAR sensors, ultrasonic sensors, camera systems, position sensors, oxygen sensors, pressure sensors, temperature sensors, and Driver Monitoring Systems, play a vital role in the autonomous vehicle ecosystem. These sensors are designed to detect and measure various entities or functions, providing critical data for interpretation and decision-making.
For those interested in learning more about PCB design for high-speed applications, Sierra Circuits offers the High-Speed PCB Design Guide, a resource that explains signal integrity issues, transmission lines, controlled impedance, high-speed PCB material selection, and high-speed layout guidelines. Additionally, the Design for Manufacturing Handbook from Sierra Circuits, available for download on their PCB manufacturing page, provides valuable insights into topics such as annular rings, vias, trace width and space, solder mask, and silkscreen.
As the future of autonomous vehicles continues to unfold, partnerships between innovative companies like Sierra Circuits and Keysight Technologies will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping this exciting new era.
- In the collaboration between Sierra Circuits and Keysight Technologies, Sierra Circuits demonstrated expertise in high-speed PCB design, as evidenced by the PCB used in a mmWave radar emulator, a crucial component in the autonomous driving and driver assistance industry.
- The High-Speed PCB Design Guide offered by Sierra Circuits serves as a valuable resource for those interested in PCB design for high-speed applications, providing insights into signal integrity issues, controlled impedance, and high-speed PCB material selection, among other topics.
- The automotive industry, being heavily reliant on sensors for functions like engine management, safety, driver assistance, and autonomous driving, will likely continue to leverage advanced technology, finance, and partnerships, such as the one between Sierra Circuits and Keysight Technologies, to drive innovation and growth in the sector.
