March 30, 2021 Technical Requirements for Diversification of 60 GHz Band Radio Equipment

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has today received a partial report from the Information and Communications Council (Chaired by UCHIYAMADA Takeshi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Toyota Motor Corporation). The report specifies some of the technical requirements for the upgrading of 60 GHz band radio equipment within technical requirements for the upgrading of low-power wireless communications systems (inquiry number 2009, dated September 30, 2002).

1. Background

With the spread of millimeter-wave devices, there is an increasing need for systems that use millimeter-waves as low-power sensors in recent years. In particular, the 60 GHz band is license-free, and a very wide frequency range can be used. Therefore, the use of wideband sensors with high-precision positioning functions is expected. Motion sensors that detect the motion of fingertips and biometric information sensors that measure heart rate and heart rate interval by capturing slight motion on the surface of the human body are examples. With consideration of this situation, the technical requirements for the frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) system were examined by the Land Radiocommunication Subcommittee (hereafter referred to as the “Subcommittee”) under the Information and Communications Council in FY2019, and institutional development for the system was completed in January 2020.
The FMCW sensor has the advantages that the detection distance can be relatively long and that the distance and speed can be detected simultaneously. On the other hand, there are drawbacks, such as susceptibility to interference from other sensors and relatively high-power consumption for wireless devices. For a further expansion of the application of wideband sensors, the deliberation on the technical requirements for introducing pulse-type sensors with the advantages of excellent coexistence among sensors and relatively low-power consumption for wireless devices has been conducted. As a result of the deliberation, MIC has today received the partial report from the Subcommittee.

2. Outline of the partial report

The published material is in Japanese only.

3. Future plans

With consideration of the partial report, MIC will promptly make institutional development.