DENSO Corp. has developed a 24-GHz submillimeter-wave rear and side radar sensor to help enhance vehicle safety systems. Toyota began using the sensor in its 2018 Camry released this past July.

The sensor is strategically built into the rear bumper of the vehicle to detect other vehicles likely to enter the driver’s blind spot to the rear and side, as well as vehicles approaching from the rear on the left and right when reversing. The sensor is part of a larger system that helps drivers identify and navigate around other vehicles when changing lanes or reversing out of a parking space, and controls the autonomous emergency braking function to avoid imminent collisions.

To enable accurate detection whether moving forward or reversing, a phase shifter switches the sensing direction and range of the submillimeter-wave radar sensor. Radio wave transmission and receiving and phase shifter functions also run through separate integrated circuits to reduce the size of the sensor.