Low power positioning technology extends RivieraWaves Bluetooth IP
Support for Channel Sounding over Bluetooth technology has been added by Ceva to its RivieraWaves Bluetooth IP portfolio. The company said it has been introduced to meet the surging demand for high-accuracy secure positioning in the automotive, industrial and broader IoT markets.
Channel Sounding (previously referred to as HADM or high accuracy distance measurement) is a radical improvement on traditional Bluetooth distance and position measurement techniques, namely received signal strength indicators (RSSI) with angle of signal arrival/departure (AoA/AoD). It has additional security and accuracy compared to previous generations of Bluetooth positioning, as well as a low power profile, which makes Bluetooth-based Channel Sounding suitable for applications such as automotive digital keys. It is also suitable for general applications such as industrial / warehouse / consumer asset tracking, and real-time sport / fitness tracking.
Ceva said that its implementation provides best-in-class decimeter-level accuracy in complex, multi-path real-world environments. This robust, low power architecture, incorporates advanced security mechanisms to defeat distance-spoofing and ‘relay attacks’, said the company, describing these as essential for next generation digital keys and wireless payment systems.
Beyond the demanding secure vehicle entry segment and asset tracking, Bluetooth-based positioning is also experiencing growth in the retail location services segment, especially when coupled with Bluetooth-based electronic shelf label (ESL) systems.
Ceva’s Channel Sounding for Bluetooth will be available for general licensing in September 2023. The company will be demonstrating the technology at MWC Shanghai 2023 (28 to 30 June), booth N2.EMR04 in Hall 2.
Ceva’s RivieraWaves Bluetooth IP platforms provide solutions for both Bluetooth LE and Bluetooth dual mode connectivity, spanning RF, modem, baseband controller, and complete host and profile software stacks. All the latest features of Bluetooth are supported, including LE Audio / Auracast, LE channel classification, PaWR, and other enhancements.
The RivieraWaves Bluetooth IP is widely deployed in consumer, automotive and IoT devices with many of the world’s leading semiconductors companies and OEMs, including smartphones, tablets, beacons, wireless speakers, wireless headsets and earbuds, hearing aids and other wearables.
Ceva licenses wireless connectivity and smart sensing technologies and custom SoCs. It also provides digital signal processors, AI engines, wireless platforms, cryptography cores and complementary embedded software for sensor fusion, image enhancement, computer vision, spatial audio, voice input and artificial intelligence.
