Next generation UWB use cases and test requirements

Advanced ranging

Multi-millisecond (MMS) UWB ranging enhances precision and power efficiency by dividing ranging packets into RSF and RIF fragments transmitted in millisecond slots. This allows higher effective transmission power and reduced interference. Both UWB-driven and narrowband-assisted (NBA) configurations are supported, enabling hybrid use of UWB and O-QPSK channels. Multiple one-to-one and one-to-many ranging modes are defined, with options for interleaved or non-interleaved sequences depending on latency and power requirements.

UWB sensing/radar

UWB sensing capabilities are enabled through new SENS packet formats, specialized pulse shapes with minimal sidelobes and standardized CIR data interfaces. Applications include motion detection, vital sign monitoring and environmental mapping. Accuracy is improved using frequency stitching - either intra-packet or inter-packet - with overlapping channel allocations. Pulse design uses ternary codes and predefined timing markers to enhance resolution and object separation.

Wake-up radio

Wake-up radios use dedicated UWB bursts spaced in millisecond intervals to wake devices from low-power states. Wake-up messages consist of synchronized pulses encoded with a start bit and a target device ID, using position modulation for binary representation. The system balances latency and power consumption by varying the number of SYNC repetitions, supporting wake-up periods between 10.25 ms and 102.5 ms.

Low-energy UWB (LE-UWB)

LE-UWB enables efficient, low-complexity communication through mandatory on-off keying (OOK) and optional burst position modulation (BPM). Both modulations use chip-level pulse patterns with rates up to 245.76 MHz, supporting data rates between 5 Mbps and 20 Mbps. Symbols are short and require no RF carrier generation, making LE-UWB suitable for power-constrained and low-latency IoT applications.

New physical layer test requirements

Enhanced UWB features require new test conditions, including constraints on pulse shape accuracy using time-domain masks and cross-correlation requirements. Additional testing for O-QPSK-based narrowband PHYs, dynamic data rate adaptation and sensing pulse compliance is introduced. These tests align with IEEE standards as well as regulatory and certification requirements from bodies such as FiRa, CCC and CSA.

O-QPSK transmit power spectral density (PSD) mask

O-QPSK transmission in NBA MMS ranging must conform to specific spectral power density limits. The transmit PSD is measured with a 100 kHz resolution bandwidth, requiring a -20 dB relative drop beyond ±3.5 MHz from the carrier frequency. Symbol and carrier frequency alignment must meet tight ±20 ppm tolerances, ensuring coherent operation with UWB PHYs.

UWB test solutions

Test instruments such as the CMP200 and R&S®ATS800R support UWB development across all stages - from early research and chipset design to conformance, production and certification. Capabilities include parametric testing, AoA verification, sensing pulse validation and over-the-air (OTA) performance characterization.