Radio Wave Technology
Developing both hardware and softwareFrom antenna components to millimeter wave sensing
The transmission and reception of radio waves is a foundational technology that is indispensable to the use of communication devices such as televisions, radios, and smartphones. Recent years have seen an increase in demand for high-volume, low-latency, and wide-area communications, needing high level transmission and reception technology in higher frequency bands. At the same time, radar technology—a representative example among radio wave sensing technologies—is connecting people, society, and vehicles through communications as we move toward the practical application of autonomous driving. Due to these factors, radio wave technology is continuing its evolution toward a new era.
Alps Alpine has been working on the development of radio wave technology since the very start of Japanese television broadcasting. Since then, we have conducted technological development on short wave and long wave bands based on the technologies we have amassed in the microwave domain. And recently, we have been promoting the use of higher frequencies in the millimeter wave band.
Alps Alpine produces radio technology that is the first of its kind in Japan, and first in the world
The first radio frequency product released by Alps Alpine was the first television tuner in Japan, commercialized in 1954. After that, the company had success with the mass production of UHF tuners, and later pioneered the technological evolution of the microwave band, with products such as cordless phones, functions for locking and unlocking automobile doors and trunks as well as starting their engines using long wave bands, wireless controllers for game consoles, and tuners used for digital terrestrial broadcasting.
In particular, the year 2000 saw progress in technological innovation on the use of radio waves for communication with the popularization of the Internet and the market release of smartphones. We were the first in the world to acquire Bluetooth® module certification (a certification that is needed to prove that a product is Bluetooth® compatible), and we played a role in the development of the Bluetooth® market. Our technical capabilities in the field of Bluetooth® devices for in-vehicle use are renowned around the world. They have been incorporated into our current flagship product, Wireless LAN/Bluetooth® for in-vehicle use Combination Module, which offers new value such as connecting with a smartphone for hands-free calling and compatibility with high quality wireless audio.
Alps Alpine has been able to respond to the needs of the era with best solutions because nearly 90% of the products we deal with in our radio business are manufactured domestically in Japan. This means that each of our development, design, and manufacturing functions are close together, allowing us to coordinate effectively and rapidly complete products. And in the manufacturing stage, we are promoting automation to produce large volumes of highly dependable, superb products.
Building up millimeter wave technology with the know-how we have accumulated and state-of-the-art evaluation systems
The antenna is an essential device for transmitting and receiving radio waves. It directly influences the signal transmission efficiency and quality in radio wave equipment. Alps Alpine has been developing, designing and conducting mass production of antennas for various purposes and in various frequency bands, in particular automotive BS antennas and GPS antennas, and also including wireless LANs, automotive ETC equipment, digital terrestrial receiver devices, and wireless controllers for game consoles.
Based on the long history we have built, we have recently focused on the development of millimeter-wave antennas in the higher frequency range. Millimeter wave technology makes possible high-volume, high-speed data transmission and highly correct detection, but performance evaluations are difficult to conduct on this frequency band. Therefore, Alps Alpine is focusing on building evaluation technologies at the same time that we are developing millimeter wave band products.
In radio wave sensing technology, highly accurate controls are a must, and the performance of communications and sensing using millimeter waves depends greatly on the quality of the antenna. Alps Alpine is engaged in the design of the optimum antenna elements, power feed lines, and radio lenses for millimeter wave products, and is moving ahead with the development of products suitable for various applications.
Alps Alpine actively incorporates evaluation technology to ensure product performance. At our company’s largest radio wave evaluation center in the Tohoku region, we have the capabilities to detect weak electromagnetic signals and measure radio waves with high levels of precision, and are working to measure and evaluate various performance factors related to millimeter wave products and thereby improve their quality.
Providing safety and convenience with automotive use sensors for the interiors and exteriors of vehicles
Currently, one of the technology fields that Alps Alpine is focusing on in particular is radar sensors for automotive applications. This technology uses millimeter waves and offers products with high range and angle resolution, smaller size, and lower power consumption. We are developing a variety of products, such as perimeter detection sensors outside the vehicle that spot obstacles, and occupant detection sensors inside the vehicle that help prevent children from being left inside the vehicle. We are also commercializing kick motion radar sensors that open and close doors by using millimeter-wave radar sensors to detect foot gestures.
Alps Alpine is pioneering new fields in addition to hardware technology for antennas and radar sensors. We are also focusing on the development of proprietary millimeter-wave sensing algorithms. There is a great deal of extraneous noise in the actual use environment of radio wave products, yet Alps Alpine maintains high quality and reliability by handling both hardware and software in-house.
Since the time of its establishment, Alps Alpine has had an ongoing commitment to manufacturing craftsmanship and a willingness to take on new challenges—and this is the culture that has developed our radio technology. We will continue to offer the optimum solutions to meet the expectations of our customers.