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What is Millimeter-Wave Detection?

Millimeter-wave detection is a radar technology that can detect objects and provide information on their distance, speed, and angle. This contactless sensing technology operates in the frequency range of 24GHz to 300GHz. Due to its short wavelength, it offers millimeter-level ranging accuracy and can penetrate non-metallic materials like plastic, drywall, and clothing. It is also unaffected by environmental conditions such as rain, fog, dust, and snow.

Measurement Range and Accuracy of Millimeter-Wave?

Creatrol's millimeter-wave sensors can detect human movement within the required range in real-time, accurately identifying motion to control the activation and deactivation of smart devices. The sensing range of millimeter-wave radar depends on the "target object," "detection environment," hardware configuration, and antenna design, requiring specific application testing and evaluation.

How Does Millimeter-Wave Differ from Common Sensors?

Millimeter-wave sensors are theoretically suitable for various radar applications. Compared to radar using 5.8G/2.4G/sub-1G/sub-10G electromagnetic waves, millimeter-wave sensors have lower transmission power and better sensing performance. Unlike infrared, ultrasonic, laser, and camera sensors, millimeter-wave sensors have different detection environment requirements and can complement these common sensing technologies to maximize sensing needs.

Is Millimeter-Wave Sensor Sensitivity Affected by Weather?

Millimeter-wave sensors emit electromagnetic waves and do not rely on medium propagation. With their inherent wavelength characteristics, they possess high energy penetration and diffraction capabilities. They are insensitive to non-metallic material obstructions and have been experimentally verified to effectively penetrate materials like drywall, glass, plastic, and dry surfaces, unaffected by rain, fog, or dust.

Are Millimeter-Wave Sensors Commonly Used for Traffic Speed Measurement?

No, millimeter-wave radar is not the only method used for traffic speed measurement. Common methods include inductive loops embedded in the road, ultrasonic, infrared, laser, millimeter-wave radar, and video speed detection. The "electronic eyes" commonly used in traffic monitoring often combine millimeter-wave radar with high-speed cameras to capture images.

How Does Millimeter-Wave Radar Measure Speed?

Millimeter-wave radar speed measurement is based on the Doppler effect. When there is relative motion between the emitted electromagnetic waves and the target, the frequency and phase of the radar return signal change accordingly. The radar calculates the target's speed relative to the radar by detecting the phase difference in the intermediate frequency signal.

Can Millimeter-Wave Signals Penetrate Glass? Will It Weaken the Reflection Signal?

Millimeter-wave signals can penetrate glass, but the penetration capability depends on the frequency and thickness of the glass. While some signal attenuation may occur, millimeter-wave sensors can still effectively detect glass-type transparent obstacles, reducing collision risks. This is particularly useful for robots like drones and vacuum cleaners that often fail to recognize glass using optical sensors like cameras and infrared.

What Are the Measurement Ranges for Distance and Angle in Millimeter-Wave Sensors?

The distance measurement range and angle detection capability of millimeter-wave sensors depend on the specific sensor design and application. For example, in gesture recognition applications, which require high bandwidth and are typically short-range, the sensors can achieve high precision. Creatrol's millimeter-wave sensor SoC supports a 4GHz frequency sweep bandwidth, enabling precise short-range measurements. The distance accuracy is determined by bandwidth and signal-to-noise ratio, independent of the distance to the target.

Product and Functionality

Detection Principle of Your Sensor

Our radar operates using the FMCW method, whereas infrared sensors utilize the pyroelectric method.

What Distinguishes Your Radar Technology?

Our radar technology employs 24G FMCW (Frequency-Modulated Continuous-Wave) radar, which operates at a higher frequency compared to the 5.8G Doppler radar used by some sensors. This higher frequency enables millimeter-level detection with significantly greater precision. When combined with our proprietary algorithms, it ensures highly accurate detection results. Additionally, our sensor features an integrated light meter function. The light-sensing chip measures real-time illuminance, providing more accurate readings of indoor light levels than sensors that rely on photoresistors. This function is fully digital.

Principle of the Radar Breathing Presence Sensor and Its Naming

The core detection component of our radar sensor is the 24G millimeter-wave radar. Coupled with our exclusive computational algorithms, it can precisely detect the expansion and contraction of the chest during human respiration, thereby accurately determining the presence of an individual within a space. This capability enables more precise and intelligent scene settings, which is the basis for its designation as a breathing presence sensor.

Inability of Infrared Motion Sensors to Detect Breathing Presence

Infrared sensors function by detecting moving heat sources. The subtle chest movements associated with breathing are insufficient to trigger an infrared sensor.

Detection Capability Under a Thick Blanket

Yes, it can detect an individual sleeping in bed under a thick blanket. Provided that the sensor is installed correctly and the radar is within 2 meters of the chest, it can penetrate a blanket of normal thickness.

Millimeter-Wave Breathing Presence Sensors: Potential for Inadvertent Activation by Pets

The likelihood of inadvertent activation by pets is contingent upon the installation distance and the size of the pet. Based on empirical testing, pets weighing less than 3 kg are generally undetectable when the sensor is installed at a height of 2.5 meters.

Signal Penetration through Various Materials

The signal penetration capabilities are influenced by the material properties and distance. Given that the sensor operates at a 24G high-frequency, its penetration ability is relatively limited. For ordinary gypsum board partitions, glass, and wooden doors, the sensor typically cannot penetrate effectively if the distance exceeds 2 meters (penetration beyond 2 meters is generally not feasible).

Radiation Emission and Power Consumption

The sensor emits minimal radiation. The power consumption during normal operation does not exceed 0.5W.

Scene Selection & Deployment FAQ

How to ensure no false alarms when sensors are installed in complex airflow environments such as air conditioner outlets and exhaust fans?

The product utilizes "multi-modal dual-verification fusion detection" and built-in "environmental self-learning algorithm (Background Noise Learning)" to intelligently identify and dynamically filter out fixed environmental noise such as exhaust fan blade rotation and cold/hot air flow disturbances, significantly reducing false trigger rates.

  • Dual Technology Collaboration: Combines 24GHz millimeter-wave radar with pyroelectric infrared (PIR) self-calibration judgment to effectively avoid false triggers of lighting systems caused by single environmental temperature differences or tiny air currents.
  • One-Click Environmental Self-Learning: The device supports collecting on-site environmental baseline noise and actively shields background interference sources through algorithms.
  • Engineering Layout Recommendations: It is recommended that sensors avoid direct alignment with air outlets and maintain a 1.5–2 meter safe distance from high-frequency vibration/airflow equipment to achieve optimal signal-to-noise ratio.

What advantages do millimeter-wave radar have over traditional infrared (PIR) sensors? How to achieve "always on when stationary" in offices and meeting rooms?

Compared to traditional PIR infrared motion sensors, Creatrol's millimeter-wave presence sensors have improved micro-motion detection accuracy by several times, solving industry pain points such as "lights off when people are present" and false turn-offs in office sedentary and micro-movement scenarios. Traditional PIR is only sensitive to "displacement movement," while millimeter-wave radar, relying on FMCW (Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave) technology and high-frequency micro-motion algorithms, can stably capture even subtle chest movements caused by typing, reading, or even breathing.

Comparison Dimension

Traditional Infrared Motion Sensor (PIR)

24GHz Millimeter-wave Presence Sensor

Detection Mechanism

Detects human infrared radiation displacement changes

Detects millimeter-wave reflection frequency shift (FMCW + Creatrol Eagle Eye Algorithm)

Detection Limit

Detects obvious displacement and large walking movements

Can detect stationary sitting, weak typing, breathing fluctuations

Recommended Applications

Stairwells, corridors, aisles

Private offices, open workspaces, meeting rooms, patient rooms, bathrooms

Core Selection Conclusion: For high-value scenarios such as meeting rooms and open workspaces where "sitting still and working" is the primary activity, millimeter-wave presence sensors are a mature upgrade solution to replace traditional PIR and eliminate "employees frequently waving to trigger lights on."

What mainstream building automation and smart home protocols does the product support? How to integrate with third-party systems?

The product features an open protocol ecosystem (different product series support different protocols), natively supporting standard KNX, DALI-2, Modbus-RTU and 0-10V analog control, and provides Tuya ZigBee module support for seamless integration with Crestron, Mailian, and major central BMS systems.

  • Standard Bus Direct Connection: KNX and DALI-2 versions comply with industry-standard message protocols, supporting quick import of database and group address configuration through standard commissioning software (such as ETS).
  • Industrial/ICS-Grade Integration: Supports Modbus-RTU protocol, with one-key confirmation/protocol switching via handheld remote control (*8# mode), facilitating integration with PLCs and building monitoring screens.
  • Standardized Technical Documentation: For wireless and IoT scenarios, complete standard DP function point mapping tables are available to shorten the commissioning cycle for system integrators.

Is on-site sensor commissioning complex for large-scale engineering installations?

The device supports "no ladder climbing, no disassembly" handheld infrared remote control rapid configuration. Engineering personnel can complete one-click dispatch of sensing distance, illuminance threshold, delay time, and protocol mode on the ground, with single-point commissioning averaging less than 1 minute.

  • Handheld Remote Rapid Commissioning: Farewell to traditional dial switch disassembly commissioning; simply enter function codes to complete parameter synchronization and protocol switching.
  • Bidirectional Status Feedback: The sensor confirms command receipt through multi-frequency indicator light flashing, facilitating construction personnel to verify settings remotely.
  • Factory Preset Ready-to-Use: Standard factory parameters cover 80% of general indoor space requirements, with basic sensing work completed upon power-on.

What is the "Constant Illuminance (Daylight Harvesting)" function? How much energy can it save for buildings?

The constant illuminance mode utilizes a built-in digital illuminance sensor chip to real-time perceive ambient natural light illuminance, dynamically compensates and adjusts lighting output power through DALI or 0-10V signals to always maintain indoor illuminance constant, typically reducing lighting energy consumption by 25%–40% for office and commercial spaces.

  • Hierarchical Illuminance Management: Supports separately setting "occupied constant illuminance value" and "unoccupied dim/off threshold," balancing visual comfort and energy-saving requirements.
  • Smooth Dimming Curve: Simulates natural light slow linear increase/decrease, with no flickering or visible abrupt jumps during dimming.
  • Green Building Compliance: Meets LEED, WELL, and other international green building standard requirements for daylight harvesting and zoned lighting energy saving.

Why is 60GHz millimeter-wave radar a safer solution than cameras for fall detection and vital sign monitoring?

As a typical Privacy-First Sensing and Contactless Monitoring technology, 60GHz millimeter-wave radar does not collect any optical images, nor does it require elderly people to wear wristbands or other devices, physically eliminating privacy leakage and forget-to-wear risks. It is the preferred solution for fall and bed-leaving monitoring in high-privacy areas such as dry zones of bathrooms and bedrooms.

  • Privacy Compliance Security: Completely based on electromagnetic wave dot matrix computing for posture and velocity vectors, not involving facial or body image information, fully complying with stringent personal privacy protection compliance standards.
  • Contactless and Maintenance-Free: Solves monitoring blind spots caused by elderly people unwilling to wear wristbands, forgetting to charge them, or removing them while bathing.
  • Environmental Avoidance Recommendations: Avoid placing under ceiling fan blades (to prevent mechanical rotation from blocking algorithm tracking); for bathrooms, it is recommended to deploy in the dry area outside the shower compartment to ensure long-term electrical stability.

How to quickly select sensors for common building spaces?

Perform scenario-based selection according to space stay attributes and functional requirements: Use economical PIR infrared motion for corridors; use 60G millimeter-wave presence sensors for meeting rooms/workspaces; use DALI constant illuminance sensors for public energy-saving areas; configure fall detection radar for elderly care scenarios.

Application Scenario

Core Requirements

Recommended Product Solution

Recommended Protocol/Interface

Corridor / Stairwell / Garage

People-triggered lighting, large-range motion detection

Dual-verification motion sensor / Infrared curtain

Dry contact / 0-10V / KNX

Workspace / Private Office

Occupancy detection, sedentary stationary detection, avoid false light-off

ToF distance sensor / 24G millimeter-wave presence sensor

DALI-2 / Modbus / KNX

Window-side Office / Classroom

Automatic dimming energy saving combined with natural daylight

24G breathing presence sensor

DALI-2 / 0-10V

Elderly Care Bedroom / Bathroom Dry Zone

Fall alarm, unattended stationary alarm, privacy protection

60G millimeter-wave fall detection sensor

KNX / RS485 / ZigBee / Wi-Fi

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