Coilcraft’s high-quality ultrasonic transformers are key components that help achieve wide-ranging, accurate ultrasonic distance sensing. They offer fixed inductance values that are stable up to 125℃ ambient (AEC-Q200 Grade 1), which is critical for accurate and reliable system performance, especially in automotive and industrial environments.
The demand for high-quality ultrasonic sensors is being fueled by advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and automated driving systems. Automotive OEMs are leveraging this technology as a cost-effective solution for short-distance object detection in applications such as parking assist and collision warning. Other application areas include medical, energy, and manufacturing.
Typically, tunable-inductance transformers have been used with ultrasonic transducer drivers. But these transformers have a weakness: The inductance tends to drift as temperatures rise, possibly creating system instability. Coilcraft’s WA8351-AL SMT transformer has a fixed inductance value and is stable up to an ambient temperature of 125°C. Our solution is optimized for TI’s PGA460-Q1 automotive ultrasonic signal processor and transducer driver. For parking assist systems, the PGA460-Q1 can detect objects from less than 10 cm to more than 7 meters — a much wider range than today’s typical requirements for such systems. Three PGA460-Q1 transducer drivers are employed to achieve long-distance ranging, meaning object detection at a distance from 25 cm to 2.5 meters. (See TIDA-01597 reference design for details.)
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