Recently, Powerquark unveiled PQ6207Q, an ASIL-B functional-safety-grade PMIC for mmWave radar. Delivering up to 36V voltage with multiple rails and >80% conversion efficiency in a single chip, it powers automotive radar more efficiently, sharpening image quality and the driving experience. With the launch of PQ6207Q, Powerquark now offers a diversified, one-stop auto-grade PMIC portfolio, covering both camera and radar sensors, giving ADAS and fused-perception systems broader and more reliable support.
Entering the mmWave-radar market to empower fused perception
mmWave radar maintains stable performance in rain, snow, fog and darkness. Together with cameras and LiDAR, it builds fused-perception capability that boosts ADAS performance. In recent years, both the installation volume and the penetration rate of mmWave radar have been climbing steadily.
Automotive radar demands stringent power delivery: stable multi-rail voltages for the RF front-end, DSP and other blocks; high conversion efficiency; low quiescent current; and excellent noise immunity to guarantee operation in harsh environments. Integrating multi-rail outputs, high efficiency, noise suppression and full protection, PQ6207Q gives automotive radar a rock-solid supply. Customers can combine it with Powerquark’s PQ6201Q/05Q camera PMICs for an even more efficient, reliable fused-perception solution.
Multi-rail integration, high efficiency, low EMI
Packaged in a 5 mm × 5 mm QFN-28, PQ6207Q shrinks PCB area and raises integration versus discrete approaches. Its rails include:
OUT1: synchronous high-voltage buck, output voltage 2.5 V–5 V, output current up to 3 A
OUT2 & OUT4: dual low-voltage synchronous bucks, output voltage 0.5 V–3.6875 V, maximum output current 3.2 A per rail
OUT3: boost, output voltage up to 5 V, maximum output current 500 mA
PQ6205Q integrates low-RDS(on) power switches that dramatically cut conduction losses, enabling conversion efficiencies above 80%. The high efficiency lowers thermal noise, sharpening mmWave radar image accuracy and resolution, while preventing the signal-strength variations caused by voltage ripple to keep imagery uniform and precise.
The device operates in a fixed 2.1MHz PWM mode for superior noise immunity and load-transient response. This switching frequency allows the use of all-ceramic capacitors and minimizes external component count, while programmable spread-spectrum frequency modulation further reduces radiated EMI.
Safe, reliable, ASIL-B ready
PQ6207Q meets ASIL-B functional-safety requirements with integrated diagnostics and redundancy. All outputs maintain ±1% accuracy across load, line and temperature. In addition, PQ6207Q features a window watchdog, redundant voltage reference and built-in-self-test (BIST) diagnostics, together with integrated over-temperature and short-circuit protection, fully satisfying automotive reliability requirements.
