Micro Coaxial Cable factory

How Micro Coaxial Cables Empower Signal Transmission in Autonomous Vehicle Sensors

1. Addressing the Signal Integrity Challenges in AVs
   ‌High-Frequency Demands‌
   ‌Sensor Type‌:
   ‌LiDAR‌: Operates at 905 nm or 1550 nm wavelengths, requiring cables handling 10–100 Gbps.
   ‌79 GHz Radar‌: Demands cables stable up to 110 GHz for precise object detection.
   ‌Issue‌: Traditional cables suffer from skin effect losses (>3 dB/m at 77 GHz) and phase instability (±5°/m).
   ‌Micro-Coax Solution‌: Silver-plated conductors and air-enhanced PTFE dielectrics reduce attenuation to ‌0.8 dB/m at 100 GHz‌.
   ‌Harsh Environmental Conditions‌
   ‌Temperature Swings‌: -40°C to +125°C in engine compartments.
   ‌Vibration‌: Up to 20G acceleration in off-road scenarios.
   ‌Micro-Coax Solution‌: Stainless steel braided shields and fluoropolymer jackets maintain >90% shielding effectiveness (SE) under vibration.
2. Key Applications in Autonomous Driving Systems
   ‌A. 79 GHz Radar Modules‌
   ‌Requirement‌: Transmit 4D point cloud data (range, azimuth, elevation, Doppler) with <0.1° phase error.
   ‌Cable Specs‌:
   Impedance: 50 Ω ±1 Ω
   Bend Radius: 1.5 mm (static), 3 mm (dynamic)
   Example: Rosenberger’s ‌0.47-mm micro-coax‌ used in Tesla’s HW4 radar array.
   ‌B. Multi-Gigabit Camera Links‌
   ‌8K Cameras‌: Generate 12 Gbps data streams for AI vision processing.
   ‌Solution‌: Micro-coax with dual-layer shielding prevents EMI from EV motors, achieving 10^–12 BER (Bit Error Rate).
   ‌C. In-Cabin Sensing Networks‌
   ‌Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS)‌: Transmit mmWave vital signs (heartbeat/respiration) via ‌60 GHz micro-coax‌ with 98% SE.
3. Performance Comparison: Micro-Coax vs. Alternatives
   Parameter Micro Coaxial Cable PCB Traces Optical Fiber
   Bandwidth DC – 110 GHz < 40 GHz >1 THz
   Attenuation @ 77 GHz 1.2 dB/m 3.5 dB/cm 0.2 dB/km
   Bend Radius (Min) 1 mm N/A 5 mm
   EMI Resistance 90 dB SE 30 dB (guarded) Immune
   Cost per Meter
   15
   –
   15–50 $0.1 (PCB area)
   100
   –
   100–300
   Micro-coax balances high-frequency performance, compactness, and cost for AV sensor networks.
4. Innovations Driving Future Adoption
   ‌A. Shape-Adaptive Designs‌
   ‌Example‌: Huber+Suhner’s ‌Radox® Cable‌ uses corrugated Cu-Sn outer conductors, allowing 500,000 flex cycles at 2 mm radius—ideal for steer-by-wire systems.
   ‌B. Cryogenic-Grade Cables‌
   ‌Application‌: Cooling LiDAR processors to -55°C improves SNR; cables with modified PTFE withstand thermal cycling.
   ‌C. Integrated Connectorization‌
   ‌IP69K-Rated Micro-Coax‌: Overmolded IP69K connectors (e.g., TE Connectivity’s ‌MATE-AX®‌) eliminate junction failures in washable robotaxis.
5. Implementation Guidelines for AV Engineers
   ‌Prioritize Phase Stability‌: Choose cables with ±0.05°/m variation for radar coherence.
   ‌Simulate Mechanical Stress‌: Use FEA tools to model cable bending in door harnesses.
   ‌Leverage Hybrid Architectures‌: Combine micro-coax (short links) and fiber optics (long runs) for cost optimization.