HUBER+SUHNER, a global leader in electrical and optical connectivity, has launched its second-generation 3D metallized plastic waveguide antenna 3D_WGA 4x4 LOP, specifically engineered for next-generation automotive ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) radar applications. Operating across the 76-81 GHz automotive radar band, this compact, high-performance antenna delivers enhanced RF efficiency, reduced packaging requirements, and greater design flexibility.
The 3D_WGA 4x4 LOP antenna is part of HUBER+SUHNER’s 3D-WGA antenna family. One of its standout features is a proprietary interface that enables direct RF coupling to the radar MMIC (Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit). This innovation eliminates the need for high-frequency PCB substrates, significantly enhancing the feasibility of cost-effective radar system designs using standard PCB materials and simplifies the production chain, and leads to lower insertion losses and increased mechanical tolerance.
Despite its compact footprint—only 125 mm² in port area—the 3D_WGA 4x4 LOP antenna supports 4 transmit (TX) and 4 receive (RX) channels, maximizing the signal processing capability of automotive radar systems. With a 15 dBi boresight gain and an azimuth beamwidth of 140° per channel at 10 dB power levels, it supports high-resolution object detection over a wide field of view. It also offers an elevation beamwidth of 20°. This ensures both wide coverage and high angular resolution for accurate target detection and tracking. This is essential for applications such as adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, lane change assist, and autonomous driving.
Other key electrical characteristics of 3D_WGA 4x4 LOP include a side lobe level below -20 dB, which minimizes interference from off-axis signals, and a reflection coefficient (S11) below -10 dB, indicating excellent impedance matching and low return loss. Even under assembly tolerances of up to 400 µm, the antenna maintains outstanding isolation: greater than 35 dB between RX and TX, over 25 dB between RX channels, and more than 28 dB between TX channels. These high isolation values reduce crosstalk and enhance radar resolution, ensuring consistent performance in real-world driving conditions.
As radar becomes a cornerstone of modern automotive safety systems, HUBER+SUHNER's 3D_WGA 4x4 LOP enables higher resolution sensing without adding complexity or cost. Its compatibility with diverse PCB materials and strong isolation characteristics make it a critical component for future-ready ADAS radar modules.
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