New Products | June 30, 2022
STMicroelectronics has introduced its third-generation Bluetooth System-on-Chip (SoC), adding direction finding technology for location-tracking and real-time positioning applications. By determining the direction of a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) signal, the Bluetooth 5.3 certified BlueNRG-LPS SoC can precisely estimate movement and location with centimetre accuracy. It uses Bluetooth-specified technology including both angle-of-arrival (AoA) and…
By Nick Flaherty
Share:
STMicroelectronics has introduced its third-generation Bluetooth System-on-Chip (SoC), adding direction finding technology for location-tracking and real-time positioning applications.
By determining the direction of a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) signal, the Bluetooth 5.3 certified BlueNRG-LPS SoC can precisely estimate movement and location with centimetre accuracy. It uses Bluetooth-specified technology including both angle-of-arrival (AoA) and angle-of-departure (AoD), as computed from signals captured by an antenna array. With this capability, the SoC now enables a wide variety of applications that require indoor navigation, geofencing, and asset tracking, as well as real-time location finding for tools, assets, and goods.
- Renesas, TI square up over Bluetooth LE
- Borda Technology, Silabs team on Bluetooth location services
With its streamlined architecture and I/O peripherals, and program and data memories (192KB eFlash and 24KB SRAM, respectively) sized for lightweight end products, BlueNRG-LPS is ideal for cost-sensitive and high-volume applications. These include general-purpose wireless sensors, medical appliances, keyless-entry systems, remote controls, and smart remote metering. Also integrating a high-efficiency step-down converter and protection circuitry, the SoC further simplifies and reduces the required bill-of-material (BOM) and allows for a much cheaper two-layer PCB design.
The architecture supports the latest Bluetooth LE Power Control specification, which enables fine-tuning of RF output power in 1dBm increments, and up to +8dBm, for longer battery runtime.
Bluetooth Path-Loss Monitoring enhances radio-link quality and prevents interference, ensuring robust connections for improved interaction between devices, even in crowded places, and faster response times.
Support for Bluetooth 5.3 long range, 2Mbps high-speed data rate, periodic advertising, simultaneous connection, and multi-role specifications also ensure superior user experiences with equipment powered by BlueNRG-LPS. There are also dedicated hardware functions and cryptographic IPs to support enhanced security.
The STEVAL-IDB012V1 tool is available to support evaluation and development for the BlueNRG-LPS.
The BlueNRG-LPS SoC is in production now and available in a 5mm x 5mm 32-pin QFN32 package, from $1.60 for orders of 1000 pieces.
https://www.eenewseurope.com/en/st-boosts-bluetooth-chip-with-direction-finding/