Everyone knows how important radar is for travel, not only in flying but, more recently, in cars with autonomous cruise control (ACC) radar and the collision-mitigation brake system (CMBS). Now a Norwegian sensor developer, Novelda, has announced two radar-based sensor modules aimed at electronic designers who want to create unique consumer electronics for the home.
The modules employ the company's XeThru radar technology that can detect a human's presence just from their chest movement while breathing, allowing a person to be tracked in real-time. Further, the technology can also be used to measure both the rate and depth of breathing. Operating in the 6 to 10 GHz range, the modules can see up to several meters through various surfaces — such as lightweight building materials, duvets, and blankets. Some obvious applications for the technology would be in protecting babies against sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and monitoring adult sleepers for sleep apnea. Another would be saving energy by turning lights and heat on or off in a room depending on whether anyone is there, even if the person is seated and not moving.
The XeThru technology is currently offered in two module versions: the X2M300 and X2M200. Intended for smart home automation, the X2M300 provides instant non-contact presence detection at a programmable distance of 0.5 to 4.8 m. The X2M200 has a range from 0.5 to 2.8 m and is optimized for detecting breathing rate and tracking breathing patterns, but can also detect movement/presence and measure distance. It is not sensitive to body orientation within the 60º field of view.
Both modules use a single PCB design, consume less than 400 mW, and operate over a serial interface with a standardized protocol. Multiple sensors can operate in the same space, and operation is unaffected by dust, smoke, moisture, or darkness. The modules will be available in Q2 2015, with expected pricing for the X2M300 of around $69 ea / 1,000 and, for the X2M200, around $76 ea / 1,000. FCC approval has been granted and ETSI approval is pending.
To ease design-in, a developers’ kit (the XeThru Inspiration Kit) provides two sensor modules and interface boards for connection to a computer. The kit is available now through Novelda’s web shop and, until May 31st, $300 can be taken off the $1,499 list price by entering the rebate code LAUNCHPROMO.
Novelda, www.xethru.com
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