Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology
Ultra-Wideband is a wireless communication technology that has been widely adopted in smartphones and car access systems based on its accuracy and security in the last few years. Going forward, more applications are expected to adopt UWB technology due to its unique capabilities for secured wireless localization and sensing.
Infineon’s Ultra-Wideband technology is complemented by an extensive portfolio of connectivity, security, and computing technologies tailored for consumer-IoT, industrial, and automotive markets. It integrates additional technologies for out-of-band communication via Bluetooth®/BLE and fortifies these solutions with Infineon's advanced security features. This enables Infineon to provide secured, high-performance localization systems across a wide array of applications.
UWB technology overview

UWB is a radio technology that enables precise distance-bounding and localization with centimeter-level accuracy by accurately measuring the Time-of-Flight (ToF) of up to 1000 radio signals per millisecond. UWB technology has therefore unique features for wireless localization and sensing.
1. High immunity from multipath and interferences: UWB uses short duration pulses which means the reflections from different paths arrive at different time paired with UWB‘s wide bandwdith usage makes the system less susceptible to multipath fading. For example, in complex environments like factories, where signals may bounce off metal surfaces and machinery, UWB's wide spectrum usage allows it to maintain signal integrity and minimize the impact of interference from other wireless devices.
2. Centimeter-level accuracy: UWB can measure a signal’s ToF with extreme precision, leading to positioning accuracy within centimeters. In practical applications such as indoor navigation for robots, this allows for precise maneuvers and consistent operation.
3. Angle of arrival measurement with 5° accuracy: UWB technology is capable of determining the direction of a signal with an impressive degree of precision, typically +/-5°. This is made possible by analyzing the signal’s phase‑difference of arrival (PDoA) across multiple UWB antennas. This enables direction-finding of smart devices (for example, tags, earbuds) and point-and-trigger applications easing the control of smart home devices.
4. Low latency ranging and data communication: UWB enables low latency in communication and ranging due to the impulse radio principle, utilizing 2 ns impulses. This is useful for fast signal-acquisition in ranging and for low-latency data communication in applications where latency is critical (for example, gaming, audio).
5. Built-in security with PHY layer protection: UWB incorporates security at the physical layer by using an encrypted and dynamic session-key that changes for every ranging session. In secure access systems such as a keyless car entry, UWB can prevent relay attacks, making unauthorized access challenging for potential intruders.
6. Low power-consumption for a long battery life: UWB is inherently low-power and can be used in battery-operated devices. This enables its usage in applications such as mobile and wearables, but also in asset-tracking for logistics and inventory management in large warehouses. Different standardized topologies allow device specific implementations to better control the battery lifetime.