UWB ICs enable emerging use cases for the IoT
Secure ultra-wideband (UWB) technology ICs have been added to NXP’s portfolio. The Trimension SR040 and SR150 ICs deliver “relative position” with a very high level of accuracy, says NXP to enable new IoT use cases such as smart locks and real-time location system (RTLS) tags.
“To accelerate the adoption of UWB and create meaningful new experiences, smart edge devices need to gain spatial awareness, whether it’s a smartphone, car, or different IoT device form factor,” said Rafael Sotomayor executive vice president of BL Connectivity & Security with NXP. “Imagine the possibilities of moving through daily life with fewer barriers as devices anticipate our actions,” he proposed.
UWB technology enables doors to lock and unlock in response to the owner’s presence; cars can be shared with a simple touch of a screen or accessed hands free; smart home automation systems follow their owners intuitively and efficiently from one room to another. Another advantage is that people spend less time searching because misplaced items can be tracked instantly.
A fine-ranging capability will also enable new location-based services and device-to-device IoT applications in consumer products and industrial applications.
The Trimension SR150 adds angle-of-arrival (AoA) technology to increase precision. It is suitable for UWB in larger infrastructures, such as access control installations, indoor localisation set ups, and payment schemes, as well as consumer electronics. For example, several SR150 IC devices can be placed in a room as UWB anchors to help localise people and objects as they move.
The Trimension SR040 is optimised for low power operation, and is intended for use in battery-operated IoT devices, including UWB trackers and tags. It can be integrated with Bluetooth Low Energy or other connectivity controllers in one device.
NXP also offers Trimension OL23D0, an open, customer programmable UWB controller for IoT applications.
Trimension SR150 and SR040 ICs are available in modules and development kits supplied by selected NXP partners.
http://www.nxp.com
