LitePoint, a provider of communication test solutions, has successfully validated the physical layer (PHY) performance of STMicroelectronics ST64UWB chip family using LitePoint's next-generation ultra-wideband (UWB) test system, IQgig-UWB+. The collaboration confirmed that ST's chips meet the strict requirements of the IEEE 802.15.4ab draft specification, a newer UWB standard, giving developers and ecosystem partners confidence to move ahead with building next-generation UWB products.
The validated ST64UWB chipset family builds on UWB technology already used in hands-free digital car keys. The new IEEE 802.15.4ab amendment adds extended range and greater precision through two new capabilities: multi-millisecond ranging (MMS) and narrowband assistance (NBA). The amendment also strengthens radar-based sensing use cases, such as detecting whether a child has been left in a vehicle, a feature strongly recommended by Euro NCAP, the European vehicle safety rating organization.
As chip vendors race to bring UWB chipsets compliant with the new standard to market, testing that's rigorously aligned with the specification has become essential to ensure devices actually work reliably and interoperate with each other in real-world use. LitePoint's IQgig-UWB+ tester provides that validation, checking the ST64UWB chip family for ranging accuracy, signal integrity, and overall radio performance across automotive, consumer, and industrial applications.
Adam Smith, vice president of marketing at LitePoint, said that as UWB technology evolves to support longer range, higher precision, and new sensing capabilities, chip vendors need a testing partner able to move as quickly as the specification itself develops. He said the work with ST demonstrates the depth of test coverage the market now requires, and that LitePoint is proud to help bring this next generation of UWB chips to market with confidence.
Rias Al-Kadi, general manager of the Ranging and Connectivity Division at STMicroelectronics, said bringing the ST64UWB family to market as the industry's first chipset built for IEEE 802.15.4ab required a testing partner that understood the standard as deeply as ST itself did. He said LitePoint's expertise and its IQgig-UWB+ tester let ST validate its chip's physical layer performance quickly and thoroughly, helping the company become the first to reach the market with a solution customers can start building on today.
The collaboration reflects the complementary strengths each company brings to the UWB ecosystem: ST's leadership in developing chips that extend range and add new sensing capabilities, and LitePoint's leadership in the testing infrastructure the industry relies on to verify that performance. Together, the companies say this gives chipset integrators, module makers, and device manufacturers a validated, standards-ready foundation to build products on.
