The design gives small, low-power radar sensing. It can see wide areas, find people accurately, and easily fit into smart devices with less space.
The TIDEP-01040 reference design from Texas Instruments is built around the IWRL6432W, a single-chip 60GHz mmWave radar sensor. It features a four-layer PCB constructed using Isola FR408HR material, with a layout optimized for compact size and low power consumption. The antenna is placed on the bottom layer and the radar chip on the top, minimizing the footprint while supporting a wide ±60° field of view in both azimuth and elevation. The design integrates key components like a 40MHz crystal oscillator, quad-SPI flash for program storage, and an antenna array with two transmitters and three receivers.
The design includes an onboard XDS110 debug probe and a 60-pin connector for high-speed LVDS data capture. It also supports USB-based power distribution and level shifters to translate I/O voltages from 1.8V to 3.3V for host communication. A smaller version of the design is available without debug and evaluation interfaces. This compact version retains core elements such as the radar sensor, antenna array, QSPI flash, and XTAL, and uses a 14-pin connector to provide SPI, I2C, and RS232 interfaces—ideal for system integration in tight spaces.
These features allow the design to deliver three key advantages: low power consumption, reduced bill-of-material (BOM) cost, and compact size. The simplified schematic and BOM-optimized layout help reduce both complexity and manufacturing costs. The use of fewer components directly contributes to a lower BOM, which is especially valuable in high-volume consumer applications. The small form factor is critical for integration in space-constrained devices like TVs, monitors, notebooks, and photo frames, where sensor modules often need to fit within narrow bezels.
Some of the key features reference design include:
- Uses a single 1.8V power rail
- Made with a 4-layer PCB
- Size of standard design: 89mm × 37mm
- Size of small version: 12.6mm × 39mm
- Built with low-power, low-cost 60GHz radar (IWRL6432W)
- Supports UART, SPI, I2C, and RS232 communication
- Includes XDS110 debug probe and 60-pin header for LVDS data
- Field of view is 120°
- Detects people up to 15 meters straight ahead
- Uses 4GHz bandwidth
In terms of application, the reference design is ideal for motion detection, presence sensing, and gesture recognition. These functions often require devices to stay active continuously or for long periods, making power efficiency a key requirement. Radar-based sensing also offers strong performance across lighting conditions and environments—unlike camera or lidar systems, radar can function effectively in the presence of dust, smoke, glare, or darkness.
Ultimately, this reference design provides a reliable, low-cost, and power-efficient sensing solution for smart home, personal electronics, lighting systems, and building automation. Its compact size, flexible integration options, and robust radar performance help designers build intelligent features into next-generation consumer and industrial products.
TI has tested this reference design. It comes with a bill of materials (BOM), schematics, assembly drawing, printed circuit board (PCB) layout, and more. The company’s website has additional data about the reference design. To read more about this reference design, click here.
