World's first single mode Bluetooth low energy module uses Nordic

bLuetootH Low energy

World’s first single mode Bluetooth low energy module uses Nordic µBlue

Modules help designers put together the building blocks of their fi rst Bluetooth low energy designs much more easily

Google Earth and Facebook shakeup fitness sector ULP wireless technology is hugely popular among professional athletes. But Jack Shandle asks if it can duplicate this success in the mainstream fitness market

ANT: ANT+ WIRELESS SENSORS AND PRODUCTS CAN NOW CONNECT TO SMARTPHONES – PAGE 2

PC peripherals point the way for RF remotesStåle Ytterdal says that the technology required for next generation remotes is already being employed in PC wireless desktop mice and keyboards

www.nordicsemi.com

NEWS • TRENDS • INTERVIEWS • FEATURES • RF DESIGN TIPS • PEOPLE & FACES

ultra low power

Bringing 2.4GHzwireless to themasses nRF24LE1 and nRF24LU1+ now come with one-time programmable (OTP) memory variants making them suitable for low cost products such as toys

SPRING ISSUE 2010

The Bluetooth™ word mark and logo are registered trademarks and are owned by the Bluetooth SIG

French multi-die system-in-package (SiP) design specialist, Insight SiP, has released the world’s first drop-in

single mode Bluetooth low energy module. The module employs the Nordic’s µBlue (“MicroBlue”) nRF8001 connectivity-on-chip solution.

This follows the Bluetooth SIG’s official adoption of Bluetooth low energy in December 2009 as part of the latest Bluetooth Version 4.0 Core Specification.

The Insight SiP ISP091201 is a completelyself-contained and working Bluetooth lowenergy SiP module that requires minimalRF expertise to use in a product. It measures8 by 12 by 1.4 mm.

The nRF8001 µBlue integrates the radio, baseband and lower layers of the Bluetooth low energy software stack (PHY, Link layer, and Host), and the module adds an integrated antenna, crystal and 15 supporting passive components.

The ISP091201 will be fully compliant with FCC and CE EMC requirements and requires no other external supporting components beyond an inexpensive external 8-bit microcontroller (from any vendor and used to run the upper Profile and Application layers of the Bluetooth low energy stack) and on-board 3V power source.

The module is housed in a QFN, LGA package and is miniaturized enough to fit into highly space constrained applications such as watches, health and fitness sensors (for example, pedometer, heart-rate-, blood pressure- , and glucose-monitors), remote controls and key fob-style proximity detectors.

Because Bluetooth low

energy wireless technology is an interoperable standard, the ISP091201 SiP module will be able to communicate with both single mode Bluetooth low energy chips from other manufacturers, and dual mode Bluetooth low energy chips that are likely to become a de facto feature in almost all new Bluetooth-enabled cell phones and computers.

“Product developers don’t need extensive RF experience to design-in our module into their first Bluetooth low energy product,” explains

Diana Moncoqut, the Marketing and Sales Director at Insight SiP.

“This is particularly relevant given that Bluetooth low energy is expected to grow ultra low power wireless into brand new markets and applications where engineers may not have previous experience of RF engineering.”

Further information: For more on Insight SiP’s Bluetooth low energy module please turn to page 8.

“Product developers don’t need extensive RF experience to design-in our module into their first Bluetooth low energy product”

6 95

2 Nordic ULP wireLess QUArTer spring 2010

in brieF

µBlue Bluetooth low energy solution exhibited in Japan


}In February, Nordic exhibited silicon samples of the first

member of its µBlue Bluetooth low energy single mode solution, the nRF8001, plus a µBlue Prototype Kit, at a press event in Tokyo hosted by Continua Health Alliance.

This follows the December 17, 2009 announcement by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) of Bluetooth Core Specification Version 4.0, which includes the official adoption of Bluetooth low energy wireless technology (see page 15 this issue).

Nordic exhibited a complete beta implementation, including host and profiles subsystem, which enables its lead customers to begin hardware and software development of their first single mode Bluetooth low energy applications.

solution include a sub 15mA peak current consumption; fully embedded radio, link controller, and host subsystem; 32-pin 5x5mm QFN packaging; profiles and application examples included within the µBlue SDK, and years of battery operating life for coin cell battery-powered applications (depending on duty cycle).

“We are making the nRF8001 silicon samples and Prototype Kits available to seed the market,” says Thomas Embla Bonnerud, Product Manager for Ultra Low Power Wireless at Nordic. “We believe that Bluetooth low energy is a great technology that will accelerate the market for ultra low power wireless. Nordic Semiconductor will deliver market leading solutions to fuel that growth; the nRF8001 is just the beginning.”

}ANT Wireless says that the Texas Instruments (TI) multi-

protocol WiLink wireless single chip family now supports ANT+. The company explains that handset manufacturers will now be able develop cell phones that are compatible with proven sport, fitness and health personal monitoring wireless sensors and products based on the interoperable ANT+ ultra low power protocol.

This development includes both the newly announced TI WiLink 7.0 quad-radio WLAN/GPS/Bluetooth/FM and existing WiLink 6.0 WLAN/Bluetooth/FM single chip solutions. In addition, the company says existing devices based on WiLink solutions can enable ANT after a

Ant

ANT+ wireless sensors and productsconnect to smartphones

future,” comments Thomas Embla Bonnerud, Product Manager for Ultra Low Power Wireless at Nordic Semiconductor.

“This could not only dramatically expand the

potential market and application potential of interoperable

ANT+ ULP wireless products, but also

makes Nordic’s market-leading ANT/ANT+ chips

– such as the nRF24AP2 – even more compelling for both new and existing customers.”

Nordic Semiconductor is a member of the ANT+ Alliance.

Further information: For more on ANT’s inclusion in handhelds see page 14 this issue.

Nordic will release a feature complete and qualified product after the specification is fully completed.

By providing average current consumption in the microampere range, the nRF8001 sets new power consumption benchmarks for Bluetooth wireless connectivity. Other key features of the highly integrated µBlue nRF8001 single mode slave

simple software upgrade.“This is fantastic news for

all ANT+ supporters like Nordic, and for all end users of ANT+ solutions, because it means that ANT+ products will now be able to connect to cell phones in the

Nordic reports record order inflow in Q4 2009Nordic reported strong growth in revenue and operating profit, plus a record high volume of order inflow in Q4 2009. Group revenue in Q4 2009 was NOK 113.3m, an increase of 64 percent from the prior year. The PC Peripherals business segment grew by 174 percent during Q4 2009 to NOK 67.7m, and represented 60 percent of the company’s total revenues. Much of this revenue increase is said to have been driven by the ongoing conversion of wireless PC Peripherals vendors from older 27MHz technology to Nordic’s 2.4GHz components. “Order inflow accelerated in the fourth quarter, as electronics manufacturers worldwide released new products with Nordic’s wireless components and as the overall market continued to improve,” comments Nordic CEO, Svenn-Tore Larsen.

nRF24AP2 named finalist in top US industry Awards● The nRF24AP2 8-channel single chip ANT solution has been selected from hundreds of nominations to be a finalist in the Networking category of this year’sEDN Innovation Awards.The nRF24AP2 is a class leading combination of Nordic’s transceiver combinedwith ANT Wireless’ ANT protocol stack to produce a 2.4GHz ultra-low power wireless single chip solution optimized for low data rate sensor network topologies in personal area networks (PANs) and practical wireless sensor networks (WSNs).

Smartphones will now be able to

connect to ANT+ sensor products

Make the nRF24AP2 anAWARD WINNER

by voting nowIf you think the nRF24AP2 is a special chip please

vote for it by going to this link and noting your preference

http://tinyurl.com/ykqufpg

THANK-YOU!

www.nordicsemi.com

EDN Innovation Awards.The nRF24AP2

combination

Wireless’ ANT protocol stack to

Nordic ULP wireLess QUArTer spring 2010 3

news &trends

HeALtH & weLLness

Activity monitor product idea wins Bluetooth Innovator of the Year}A small, unobtrusive sensor

product concept that can be clipped to clothing or put in shoes to monitor physical activity levels has won its creator, Edward Sazonov of Physical Activity Innovations LLC, the 2009 Bluetooth Innovator of the Year prize from the Bluetooth SIG (see tinyurl.com/yfumz2j).

In operation, the monitor – called The Fit Companion – will employ Bluetooth low energy wireless technology to transmit measured data with the aim of helping individuals to lose weight by becoming more active. It is also designed to be used both during training workouts and also more regular daily activities like walking or performing chores.

As part of the competition the Bluetooth SIG also chose three


runner-up finalists. The Pool-Mate (the idea of Lisa Durlam and her team at Swimovate) is a Bluetooth low energy enabled wrist watch concept designed for swimmers. The watch would measure distance, strokes, calories

Paper batteries arebetter than lithium ion

bAttery teCHnoLogy

}A paper battery technology that could last through 40,000 charge-discharge cycles – at

least ten times more than conventional lithium batteries – has been developed by a team of scientists at Stanford University in the US.

Batteries based on this technology were produced by coating ordinary paper with ink made of carbon nanotubes and silver nanowires to produce a conductive, flexible, and cheap storage device.

“The nanotubes are a special one-dimensional structure with very small diameters,” explains Yi Cui, Assistant Professor of Materials and Science Engineering at Stanford.

The small diameter helps the nanomaterial ink stick strongly to fibrous paper, making very durable batteries and supercapacitors.

Cui had previously created nanomaterial energy storage devices using plastics. His new research is said to show that a paper battery is more durable than the plastic devices because

}A body-worn, wireless “digital plaster” vital signs monitor is

currently being trialed in patient settings in a milestone Imperial College, London, study.

Developed by British specialist in ultra low power (ULP) wireless infrastructure solutions for body monitoring, Toumaz Technology, the wearable Sensium™ digital plaster wireless body monitor is powered by a small thin battery and is said to continuously monitor multiple vital signs, including temperature, heart rate, and respiration. The plaster is also designed to be disposed of and/or replaced after a working lifetime of several days for hygiene reasons.

Toumaz says that the focus of the trial is to verify that the physiological data acquired by its wireless digital plaster within a clinical setting is equivalent to that acquired using current “gold-standard” monitors in use in hospitals. As these typical involve equipment that is bulky, expensive and fixed, they obstruct patient mobility.

In contrast, because the Sensium digital plaster is body worn, lightweight and wireless, it is also unobtrusive. This means patients can enjoy the independence of being able to get out of bed and move around when they wish, while still being continuously monitored.

Data collected by the wireless digital plaster can also be automatically integrated into a patient’s electronic medical record via a power-optimized wireless operating and network system developed by Toumaz called Nano Sensor Protocol (NSP).

If the trial proves successful, the wireless digital plaster would be applicable to a wide range of patient monitoring applications in and out of hospital environments and could be extended to measure other parameters such as motion, blood glucose levels, and blood pressure. (See tinyurl.com/y8cn9pj).

Wireless body monitor “plaster” in clinical trial

the ink adheres more strongly to paper. This includes being able to crumple or fold the paper battery, and soak it in acidic or basic solutions, without the performance degrading.

“The only thing we haven’t tested yet is what happens when you burn the paper,” adds Cui.

If successful, such paper batteries would allow whole new generations of ultra lightweight and portable ultra low power wireless products and sensors to be developed as the battery could conform to the shape of any device or even be painted onto walls.

Bing Hu, a post-doctoral fellow at Stanford, applies a nanomaterial ink to ordinary paper that can then be charged to create a battery

burned and other performance data and transmit it to the Internet via a next generation Bluetooth low energy-enabled mobile phone.

The Fertility Manager and Body Monitor (developed by Michael Köhler of Edumotion) is a small coin cell powered digital thermometer that will be able to transmit temperature data to a mobile phone via Bluetooth low energy for processing with fertility management software.

Finally, the Flare Snowsport (invented by Patrick Coulbourne of Antware) transmits fitness data such as heart-rate from body worn Bluetooth low energy nodes.

The competition, which Nordic Semiconductor sponsored, drew more than 250 application ideas for Bluetooth low energy specifically in fitness, healthcare and sports.

www.nordicsemi.com

A Bluetooth low energy enabled wrist watch idea for swimmers came runner-up in the 2009 Bluetooth Innovation World Cup


editoriAL“Bluetooth low energy will revolutionise wellness monitoring, enhance fitness activities, and provide the optimum solution for RF remote controls, but there are surely thousands of applications beyond these” Geir Langeland

Dear Reader,Last December the Bluetooth SIG announced that Bluetooth low energy had been adopted as part of Bluetooth Version 4.0. Bluetooth low energy has been “on the drawing board” since June 2007 as an ultra low power extension of Classic Bluetooth and will enable compact, coin cell-powered devices to communicate with other suitably equipped Bluetooth devices.

This is an exciting development because it means the Bluetooth low energy specification is drawing closer to completion. The next milestone will be the finalization of the Host Controller Interface. When the Bluetooth low energy specification is fully completed, we will shortly thereafter finalise our first Bluetooth low energy solution. This will be a proud moment for Nordic that will reflect many years’ hard work by our dedicated R&D and engineering team, and goes all the way back to our early membership of the Nokia-led Wibree Alliance that forged the early specification for an interoperable ultra low power (ULP) wireless standard.

And before that, Nordic pioneered the ULP wireless connectivity sector and built its reputation by offering class-leading ULP 2.4GHz silicon solutions including software, reference designs and development tools. Our proprietary devices today hold enviable market share in the PC peripherals sector and are making significant in-roads into many other segments.

But Bluetooth low energy won’t be the first time Nordic’s offered interoperability. The nRF24AP2 (and its predecessor the nRF24AP1) – running ANT Wireless’ ANT software and interoperable ANT+ managed networks technology – is a proven solution that provides seamless wireless communication between ANT+ products from different manufacturers. It is regarded as a de facto standard among manufacturers making wireless sensors and computers for the cycling sector. The nRF24AP2 is also making waves in the fitness sector.

But the rollout of Bluetooth low energy will be the first time a Nordic device will join the large, and rapidly expanding, Bluetooth ecosystem. We will soon supply a family of transceivers – benefiting from our extensive ULP wireless connectivity heritage – that will be able to communicate with cell phones, smartphones, netbooks, tablet computers, desktop computers, printers, portable navigation devices… in fact any electronic device that employs one of the next generation of Bluetooth chips. This provides our existing and future customers with a huge new market at which to target their Nordic-powered wireless products.

That’s not all. What’s really exciting is the potential for ULP wireless product sectors that don’t even exist yet. We’re the experts in the field, but even Nordic can only make educated guesses about which applications will benefit from Bluetooth low energy. We’re confident this technology will revolutionise wellness monitoring, it’s bound to enhance fitness activities, and could provide the optimum solution for RF remote controls, but there are surely thousands of applications beyond these.

Yours Sincerely,

Geir LangelandDIRECTOR OF MARKETING & SALES

Semi sector stages remarkable recovery

Few in the semiconductor sector mourn the passing of

2009 – but things could have been much worse. Depending

on which report you read, the market was down anywhere

between 10 and 15 percent compared to 2008. For example,

according to the US-based Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA),

the market in 2008 was worth US$250 billion whereas last year’s

global chip sales were US$220 billion (a decline of 12 percent).

Closer inspection of the figures for 2009 reveals a “V”-shaped

performance: a rapid decline with a remarkably speedy recovery.

No one thought things would get better so quickly. Only 12 months

ago, predictions were dire, forecasting a decline in 2009 sales

(compared with 2008) of 25 to 30 percent – with 2010 flat and no

real recovery until 2011.

According to a research bulletin from analysts IC Insights, in

just four quarters, the semiconductor industry endured the most

volatile quarterly swings in its history. Q408 to Q109 set the record

for the fastest ever decline in shipments, while Q209 to Q309 set

the record for the fastest ever sequential quarterly growth. The

semiconductor market for Q409 was a remarkable 47 percent

higher than it was in Q109.

For the semiconductor sector to be down only 10 percent over the

year during the worst global recession since 1946 is unprecedented. In

fact, some sectors actually grew. According to IC Insights, the NAND

flash memory market, for example, surged by 20 percent in 2009. In

addition, microprocessor shipments reached an all time high in Q409

(at almost US$10 billion).

Although 2009 wasn’t as bad as predicted, it wasn’t good. What

businesses want to hear is that 2010 will be better – fortunately, that’s

precisely what the analysts are saying. Again it depends on your

choice of expert; some are saying 2010 will rebound 13 percent to hit

around the US$250 billion last seen in 2008, others that growth will

be a more modest 10 percent. For 2011 the outlook is sunny: forecasts

are for a further rise of at least 10 percent to reach a highest ever

semiconductor market total of US$262.3 billion.

During 2009, cell phone shipments were only down by 5 percent at

year end. And in the bellwether PC market, shipments didn’t grow, but

they didn’t decline either. However, both these markets are predicted

to increase at double digit rates during 2010 providing a huge boost

for semiconductors. So while there may be some tough months

ahead as the world’s economy stabilizes, the semiconductor sector’s

medium-term prospects look very bright indeed.

After a tough 2009 the semiconductor sector is predicted to return to growth

www.nordicsemi.com


wHAt’s new FroM nordiC

Low cost OTP transceivers extend wireless connectivityThe nRF24LE1 and nRF24LU1+ transceivers now come with one-time programmable (OTP) memory variants that make economical sense in low cost products like toys

nrF24Le1 otp & nrF24Lu1+ otp

Nordic’s flagship nRF24LE1 integrates an ultra low power (ULP) radio core, mixed signal 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) and flash memory in a

compact single chip; its sister product, the nRF24LU1+ adds a USB 2.0 compliant device controller. The chips are suitable for most applications with the exception of products where low cost is critical.

However, with the launch of the nRF24LE1 OTP and the nRF24LU1+ OTP, the capabilities of these leading transceivers are now available to designers of highly cost constrained products.

To reduce the cost of these chips (the nRF24LU1+ OTP, and, 4 by 4mm and 5 by 5mm nRF24LE1 OTP are priced at USD$1.30 and the 7 by 7mm nRF24LE1 OTP is priced at USD$1.50, both in 10,000 unit shipments) Nordic has replaced the flash memory with a one-time programmable (OTP) alternative. Apart from this change, the nRF24LE1 OTP and nRF24LU1+ OTP have the same key features as the existing nRF24LE1 and nRF24LU1+ products

Targeting consumer productsThe OTP variants complement the company’s existing products by targeting the highest volume consumer segments of the ULP wireless market such as entry-level wireless PC peripherals (mice and keyboards), remote controls, and toys.

Fierce price constraints for low end products in these sectors that do currently have wireless connectivity has restricted manufacturers to cheap but technically inferior 27MHz transceivers: now with the release of the nRF24LE1 OTP and nRF24LU1+ OTP, 2.4GHz technology is within their budgets.

The devices feature Nordic’s nRF24L01+ radio, enhanced 8051 microcontroller, lower power oscillators, hardware AES security, and a wide range of application peripherals and interfaces. Both chips integrate 16kBytes of program OTP memory and 1kByte of data OTP memory. With a fully integrated charge pump the OTP memory is writable from the chip’s MCU enabling the data OTP memory to be used for emulating non-volatile memory when required (e.g. to retain pairing information during a battery change).

The devices are tuned for ULP operation. For example, current consumption of the nRF24LE1+ OTP while transmitting is 11.1mA (at 0dBm output power) and peak receive current is 13.3mA (at 2Mbps). Average current is in the microampere range (for a typical low duty cycle operation).

“The pricing of these chips will accelerate the adoption of ULP wireless solutions into products that may once have not been able to enjoy the benefits of wireless connectivity on the basis of cost,” says Thomas Embla Bonnerud, Nordic’s Product Manager for Ultra Low Power Wireless. “In addition, brand new market segments will now be able to take advantage

of ULP wireless technology (i.e. the ability to be powered by small, coin cell (watch) batteries). This includes being able to use Nordic’s full range of development tools, reference designs, and the Gazell protocol stack. With these two products, ULP wireless has never been more accessible.” ■

Further Information: For detailed technical information on the nRF24LE1 OTP please go to this link: http://tinyurl.com/yc6udtb. For the nRF24LU1+ OTP please go to http://tinyurl.com/yeqegdz.For Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the devices please refer to the Technical FAQ web pages at http://faq.nordicsemi.no/faq/index.html.

“With these two products, ULP wireless has never been more accessible”

The low cost nRF24LE1 OTP allows toy manufacturers to migrate from 27MHz to

technically superior 2.4GHz wireless connectivity

www.nordicsemi.com


Google Earth and Facebook shake up fitness kit paradigmULP wireless technology has been enthusiastically adopted by professional athletes, but how can it become a player in the mainstream fitness market? By Jack Shandle

Jack Shandleis a freelance

writer specializing in semiconductors, wireless, and other

high-techtopics

} Ultra low power body sensing technology appears stuck in niche markets

} Fitness equipment manufacturers harness the motivational power of Google Earth and Facebook

} ULP technology is well-positioned to move “virtual exercising” to a new level

AT A GLANCE

FeAt

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e Fitness AppLiCAtions For uLp wireLess

Having proven its worth in premier sporting events such as the Tour de France and the Olympics (see ULP Wireless Quarter Summer 2009, page

14), wirelessly connected sensor technology is getting ready for its next leap forward – into the mass market.

For world-class athletes, ULP wireless provides the critical communications link between body sensors and a data collection node – typically a high-end sports watch from vendors such as Garmin, Polar, and Suunto – to record physiological data on the athlete’s performance. When downloaded to a PC, this physiological data – along with mechanical data collected in real time from sensors on the athlete’s bike – is used to identify areas for improvement and create targeted practice routines.

The technology is sophisticated enough to be used during competition, most notably in the 2009 Tour, to micro-manage the athlete’s energy reserves. Nine of the top ten riders in the event relied on monitoring systems that depend on ULP communications.

The market for world-class athletes is however, admittedly a small one. Now that the technology’s bundle of sensors, wireless, and PC software has been proven in rigorous field testing, however, it seems ready to be adopted by a much larger market – fitness equipment for the average person.

However, the difference between world-class athletes and average people who toil away on fitness machines every day is profound. For serious athletes, exercise and improving performance are ends in themselves. For the rest of us, exercise is a way to keep one’s weight down, look younger, be healthier.

Is a technology that lets athletes analyze performance in fifty different ways really all that appealing to the average workout non-fanatic? Probably not, if the history of everyman’s exercise kit means anything.

For the mass market consumer, diverting

attention away from the fact that you are exercising seems to be a critical consideration. Just as important is motivation. Exercise regimes can’t succeed without it.

Virtual worldsEnter Web 2.0 with its customizable virtual worlds and social networking. Fitness kit manufacturers are already tracking the scent. Motivation is a big part of the formula and comes in three forms: competition, support and interactivity.

All three are being offered by Icon Health and Fitness of Logan UT, the largest manufacturer and marketer of fitness equipment in the

world, whose in-home exercise brands include NordicTrack, ProForm and HealthRider.

NordicTrack’s latest models, for example, provide infinitely customizable interactivity by connecting to Google Earth. Users can explore the world’s cities virtually from their NordicTrack X7i Incline Trainer by registering on Icon’s fitness web site, www.ifit.com, and selecting a route. Other features allow users to track miles, calories and other fitness parameters as well as maintain workout profiles and fitness records. (See graphic page 7.)

Another drawback of fitness equipment is that people tend to reach plateaus, which initiates boredom that can undermine the will to work out regularly. Active support from a coach or friends is a good antidote to this syndrome. To bring this support into the home, Icon interfaces to the social networking site Facebook. Friends can plan virtual tours together, set goals, and motivate each other to go the extra mile.

Because all of Icon’s products are wall-powered, ultra low power performance in the electronic systems is not a requirement,

Body sensor technology developed for premier athletes is coming soon to a fi tness gym or home near you

www.nordicsemi.com


FeAt

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e

to cross the chasm into the mass market, according to Brian Macdonald, director of the ANT Wireless division of Dynastream Innovations Inc., Cochrane, Alberta, Canada.

It was the ANT+ software stack running on Nordic Semiconductor’s nRF24AP1 that was the choice of many of the teams competing in the 2009 Tour de France discussed above.

Dynastream, a subsidiary of Garmin, Inc., has already penetrated the fitness gym market in fitness equipment manufactured by Nautilus, Woodway, and Concept 2 by displacing an older technology. Replacing the existing heart monitor and other sensors in the equipment with a subsystem based on the ANT/Nordic technology combination does not add any extra cost, says Macdonald.

Garmin’s FR60 sports watch is the first product designed specifically to connect

seamlessly with fitness equipment over the FITe1 digital interface that was recently adopted by a number of sports equipment makers. (See ULP Wireless Quarter Winter 2009, page 14.)

FITe1 enables an automatic, wireless connection between heart rate monitors, bicycle power meters, sports watches, and, of course, the control panel of the exercise equipment itself. The FITe1 standard is supported by the ANT+ software stack. Together with Nordic Semiconductor’s latest nRF4AP2 chips (the successor of the nRF24AP1), the software creates a system that is so immune to radio frequency interference (RFI) it can support more than 80 devices in close proximity.

In the world of wireless standards and protocols, ANT+ does have competition in the form of the recently adopted Bluetooth low energy wireless technology (part of the Bluetooth Core Specification Version 4.0). “The Bluetooth low energy standard will be a breakthrough for the mass market,” says Marco Suvilaakso, Group Product Director for Polar Electro Oy, a leading manufacturer of sports watches.

The widespread acceptance of Classic Bluetooth combined with added capabilities that support Bluetooth low energy (so called “dual mode”) – and its IP gateway functionality allowing direct connection the Internet – will generate interesting opportunities for manufacturers of wrist devices and other low-energy devices, he says.

Bluetooth low energy will enable exercise data to be uploaded to a web site, for example, and a natural progression will see smaller sports sensor manufacturers migrate to Bluetooth low energy because of its existing extensive eco-system and built-in Bluetooth compatibility.

Meanwhile, Timex and Adidas are integrating ANT technology into their fitness products, says ANT’s Macdonald, and iPhone apps that support the ANT+ protocol are becoming available.

iPhones are still a small segment of the cell phone market but Dynastream has initiatives in the broader cell phone market as well. The introduction of cell phone baseband chips that can configure themselves to switch between communications protocols makes it feasible to support the ANT+ protocol on chip with little or no added cost.

A leading cell phone IC design company now supports ANT+, says Macdonald, and as these phones begin to penetrate ANT+ will grow its market share. ”Even an attach rate of a small percent on a billion cell phones is a large number,” he says. ■

Icon Fitness interfaces Google Maps with exercise equipment to allow users to select their own routes and monitor their performance.

says Darren Ashby, director of electrical engineering at Icon. A Wi-Fi module connects the NordicTrack to a home (or gym) wireless network. In addition to exercise-related data, the wireless link supports firmware upgrades that will keep the equipment up to date as Google maps and Facebook add capabilities.

At launch in December 2009, the Google maps application already had an impressive level of sophistication. After selecting a city, users draw their own routes interactively. Progress along the route is updated according to exercise intensity on the NordicTrack. Photos of buildings on the route can be viewed and a graphic overlay displays data such as distance travelled, elevation, elapsed time, and calories consumed.

Icon’s suite of Internet enabled equipment also provides an “Everything Counts” feature that enables users to estimate calories expended during the day in non-exercise machine activities. After selecting an exercise type, sliders are used to estimate the intensity and length of the workout.

Enter ULP wireless The Everything Counts interface appears to be a door swinging open to mass-market adoption of the ULP body sensor technology that has proven popular with elite athletes.

Instead of just estimating calories expended, ULP wireless-enabled sports watches can collect physiological data (such as heart rate) and mechanical information (such as power generated at a bicycle hub) through the day and download it to a PC or website later.

The technology has taken the first steps

Garmin’s FR60 sports watch is designed to seamlessly connect with fi tness machines over the FITe1 digital interface

www.nordicsemi.com


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The race is onLooking to beat you r competition to market with a Bluetooth low energy product? A module from Insight SiP will compress project timescales. Diana Moncoqut explains

ABOUTTHE AUTHOR:

Diana Moncoqutis Marketing

and Sales Directorat Insight SiP

bLuetootH Low energy ModuLes

It’s an exciting time for ultra low power (ULP) wireless connectivity. Adopted by the Bluetooth SIG in December 2009, Bluetooth low energy is a key component of the

Bluetooth Core Specification Version 4.0, the latest version of the Bluetooth standard (see page 15 this issue).

There are still some details of the specification to be ironed out, but developers can start designing in earnest safe in the knowledge that there won’t be any fundamental changes to Bluetooth low energy’s Link Controller. The Link Controller covers the Physical Layer (PHY), Link Layer (LL), and Host Controller Interface (HCI) elements of Bluetooth low energy.

Bluetooth low energy will allow electronic device manufacturers to add interoperable, robust wireless connectivity to compact devices powered by tiny batteries (for example CR2032 coin cells). In fact, the potential of this new technology is so huge that it’s going to tempt many product manufacturers who have little or no experience of RF engineering to experiment with wireless connectivity. By employing a module, those manufacturers can ease their path to market.

The advantages of a moduleRF modules are a good solution for designers looking to add wireless connectivity to a product without a complex and time consuming development cycle. The company I work for – Sophia-Antipolis, France-based Insight SiP – designs and manufactures modules that are impedance matched, include antenna and are tested for range and robustness of communication. They will also be tested to US FCC and European CE electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements.

By choosing a module, engineers don’t need to get involved with the RF side of a design when developing, for example, a proof of concept. That saves time and money.

With clever design, it’s possible to accommodate a module in a similar amount of PCB area to an equivalent transceiver (and

supporting peripheral components). For example, InsightSiP’s latest Bluetooth low energy module measures just 8 by 12 by 1.4mm.

However, modules do cost more than the equivalent discrete components although when the savings made in expensive design hours are factored in they become a much more favorable option. And this is without accounting for the several thousand dollars saved because the modules will have FCC and ETSI compliance approval.

If volumes do increase and the additional cost of the module becomes significant, it can be replaced with less expensive discrete components. Because InsightSiP’s Bluetooth low energy module is based on Nordic’s reference design, the reference design can simply be substituted in the space vacated by the module.

Nordic insideThe Insight SiP ISP091201 is the world’s first Bluetooth low energy module – released just two months after adoption of Bluetooth 4.0 by the Bluetooth SIG.

The module is based on Nordic’s µBlue reference design that was made available to selected customers in November 2009. Nordic also developed a master single mode emulator that allowed Insight SiP to test the communication link of its module. As a result, the module requires minimal engineering overhead in order to incorporate it into a product as a fully functional wireless connection.

The module uses Nordic’s µBlue nRF8001, a single mode, Bluetooth low energy slave connectivity-on-chip solution. The device is housed in a 32-pin 5 by 5 mm QFN package and boasts sub 15mA peak current consumption and microamp average current consumption. Because of this modest power demand, products using the nRF8001 will benefit from years of battery operating life from tiny coin cells (depending on duty cycle). ■

Further information: For more on Insight SiP’s modules go to www.insightsip.com. For more information on µBlue go to tinyurl.com/ygzkq7d.

Nordic’s µBlue nRF8001 is a single mode Bluetooth low energy slave connectivity-on-chip solution

Insight SiP ISP091201 module is based on Nordic’s proven µBlue reference design

www.nordicsemi.com

“The Insight SiP ISP091201 is the world’s first Bluetooth low energy module”


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PC peripherals point the way for RF remote controls Look no further than the wireless desktop for the technology of tomorrow’s remote controls. Ståle Ytterdal explains

rF reMote ControLs

Even though RF remotes have obvious advantages over traditional infrared (IR) – for example, faster response, non-line of sight control, and extended

range (see ULP Wireless Quarter Winter 2009, pages 6 & 7) – these are still not enough to justify RF’s extra cost for basic remote control. For simple “point-and-click” operation, an inexpensive IR remote control is satisfactory.

However, the forthcoming revolution in media access requires the advanced functionality of an RF link. Consumers already have access to a huge array of digital content, including dozens of cable channels, video stored on the hard disks of set top boxes (STBs), music and photo libraries stored on PCs, or movies cached on remote servers. In the future, content will be distributed via the Internet, Local Area Networks (LANs) or Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) connections instead of the old broadcast networks.

Accessing this content with a traditional IR remote will be the ultimate exercise in frustration. The IR remote’s basic one-button-one-operation and step-by-step navigation, does not meet the requirement of fast access. Convenient access demands a remote control with advanced navigation interfaces such as touch screens, touch pads, movement sensors, track balls or joysticks. How will RF wireless connectivity provide the solution? The answer can be found by looking to the PC sector.

Learning from the PC experienceFor a remote control to support advanced navigation it requires low latency (for fast response to user inputs), data integrity (assured by advanced protocols), and low power consumption (because such a remote is likely to be used more actively than a traditional device).

These are exactly the demands that wireless desktop peripherals such as mice, keyboards, and joysticks have faced for years. It’s no coincidence that these same requirements are shared by a modern entertainment system, given the PC’s growing role as the centre of home

entertainment and the use of PC peripherals instead of remotes to control CE equipment.

Unfortunately, mice and keyboards designed for the office desktop don’t migrate naturally to the living room. To suit that living space, the functionality of multiple PC peripherals must be merged into one remote control unit – with a sleek, easy-to-use interface.

It is notable that of the several technologies vying for a share of the huge market for remote control of consumer electronics (CE) appliances – proprietary alternatives such as Nordic’s, IEEE802.15.4-based RF4CE, and the just released Bluetooth low energy (see this issue page 15) – only one has any significant penetration into the wireless PC peripherals, and that’s Nordic 2.4GHz technology.

Nordic has been a supplier to the wireless PC peripherals market since 2002. No other company, or wireless connectivity standard, has a higher adoption in this sector than the company. Nordic is shipping millions of chips per month to PC peripheral makers and its

2.4GHz technology is fast making inferior 27MHz technology obsolete.

The company has used its experience in wireless PC peripheral connectivity to develop and manufacture the nRF24LE1 System-on-Chip (SoC). This device integrates an nRF24L01+ transceiver, 8-bit microcontroller, and flash or OTP memory on a single chip; when running the Gazell protocol stack, it’s a good solution to meet the tough performance and cost demands of a modern remote control.

The nRF24LE1 provides features for advanced navigation, remote data transfers, and advanced pairing schemes while simultaneously handling up to five remote devices. In addition, it’s immune to other 2.4GHz radio sources – a feature that’ll be increasingly important as CE manufacturers build high-speed wireless connectivity into their DVD/Blu-Ray players, TVs, and STBs. ■

Further information: For more on the nRF24LE1, go to tinyurl.com/5lmcvg.

ABOUTTHE AUTHOR:

Ståle Ytterdal is Nordic

Semiconductor’s Director of

Marketing & Sales – Asia

Rapid access to a vast array of media is beyond the traditional IR remote control but well within the capabilities of RF

www.nordicsemi.com

“Convenient access demands a remote control with interfaces such as touch screens, touch pads, movement sensors, track balls or joysticks”

Digital Circuitry

(Other)Analog Circuitry

RF Circuitry

Power supply


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Combining an analog RF link with digital circuitryAdding an analog wireless connection to a predominantly digital board is complicated. ULP Wireless Quarter describes the challenge

Nordic’s nRF24xxx family of single chip transceivers is a relatively easy way to add ultra low power (ULP) wireless connectivity to an

electronic product. All a designer needs is a printed circuit board (PCB), nRF24xxx radio, a suitable microcontroller (some Nordic chips such as the nRF24LE1 now even include an integrated microcontroller) and an antenna to construct a wireless communication link. But if the analog RF circuit is being added to a predominantly digital circuit, things can get a little more challenging.

Digital signal lines typically swing between ground and peak power supply voltage, which for most applications means a peak-to-peak amplitude of around 3 volts. Digital signals also typically switch in a matter of nanoseconds. Due to the relatively large amplitude swing and fast switching time, digital signals contain many high frequency components, regardless of the switching frequency.

In contrast, the analog circuit features an input signal from the antenna to a radio receiver of around 1µVrms. The difference between the digital and RF signal can therefore be as large as six orders of magnitude (or 120 dB). If the analog and digital circuits are not sufficiently separated or adequately shielded, the weak RF signal can be swamped and corrupted, compromising radio performance or even causing a malfunction.

Handle with careThe high frequency components of digital signals can couple between adjacent lines on a PCB if the signal line is routed adjacent to a sensitive analog signal. The most susceptible nodes of RF devices are the loop filter of a phase locked loop (PLL), the external inductor of a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), crystal reference signals, and the antenna terminals. These parts of the RF circuit demand special handling.

Because digital devices operate using signals of several volts in amplitude, they are generally immune to power supply noise. Conversely, because analog circuits operate using microvolt signals they are extremely sensitive to power supply noise; especially noise comprising spikes and other high frequency components. Power supply routing for designs with analog circuits (including RF circuits) requires more care than with a solely digital design. At the very least, auto routing should be avoided.

It is also important to note that microcontrollers (and other digital circuits) tend to draw most current in pulses according to the clock frequency.

Unless the power supply is decoupled, this behavior will lead to voltage spikes on the power supply line that can cause serious malfunctions should the spikes reach the power pins of the RF circuit. The answer is to separate power lines to analog anddigital circuits (known as star routingof VDD (see Figure 1 below)).

Figure 1: Separate power lines to analog and digital circuits to avoid power spikes affecting RF section

All a designer needs is a PCB, nRF24xxx radio, a suitable microcontroller and an antenna to construct a wireless communication link – but nearby digital signals can create a serious challenge

Center of “star”

www.nordicsemi.com


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“Because analog circuits (including RF) operate using microvolt signals they are extremely sensitive to power supply noise”

circuits, because this radiation can affect other sensitive analog circuits. For example, many microcontrollers use a built-in analog-to-digital converter (ADC). If the antenna of the radio transmitter is located near or on the PCB, the transmitted high-frequency signal might be picked up by the sensitive analog input of the ADC creating anomalous signals (because any PCB trace line functions as an antenna, receiving or emitting RF signals). For example, the RF signal could be rectified by the electrostatic discharge (ESD) diodes at the ADC input, resulting in an offset.

RF design tricksThe ground plane establishes an efficient zero volt-reference node to which circuit elements can be decoupled. The zero volt terminal of the power supply should be coupled directly to this ground plane. There will be no signal interference between any nodes that are de-coupled to the ground plane because of its low impedance.

It is recommended that PCBs assembled with surface mount components should have all signal routing on the component side, with the ground plane on the opposite side. The ground plane should preferably cover the entire surface of the PCB (except where there are PCB mounted antennas). If a multilayer PCB is used, the ground plane should be adjacent to the component layer.

It’s also a good idea to fill any space in the signal routing layers with ground planes. These ground planes must then be connected to the main ground plane with multiple plated through vias. However, it must be noted that an adjacent ground plane will change the characteristics of inductors, influencing the designer’s final choice of inductance and position of these components.

All connections to the ground plane must be as short as possible. A via should be placed close to every grounded pad. Never let two ground pads share one via, as this can lead to cross talk between the two pads due to the impedance of the via itself.

In the next ULP Wireless Quarter we will consider the use of de-coupling capacitors, star routing of power, shielding, and special precautions for on-board loop antennas. ■

Further information: This feature is based on a white paper entitled “Design-in of RF circuits” available from www.nordicsemi.com. The second part of this feature will appear in Ultra Low Power Wireless Quarter Summer 2010 issue.

Negative to groundRF circuits should always have a ground plane connected to the negative power supply. (A digital designer will find this requirement difficult to understand, as most digital circuits function well without a ground plane.) If this is not done, obscure circuit behavior can occur because at RF frequencies even short lines add inductance. As a coarse rule of thumb, the inductance

will be about 1nH per mm of length. For an RF circuit operating at 434MHz, for example, a 10mm PCB line will introduce an inductive impedance of 27 Ohm. Without a ground plane, ground lines will likely extend a number of centimeters and the resultant inductive impedance will ruin RF performance.

It’s also vitally important to take into account electromagnetic radiation from RF

It’s a good idea to fi ll any space in the signal routing layers with ground planes to avoid coupling between digital and analog signal lines

www.nordicsemi.com


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Easing the challenge of RF designIt’s important to know what affects a wireless link’s performance says Jay Tyzzer(This item is a summary of a technical article that appeared in two parts on RF DesignLine, January 2010)

}The very mention of RF design is usually enough to scare all

but the most confident designer. However, the availability of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components and reference designs has made wireless system design a little easier. Nonetheless, the engineer still needs to acquire some fundamental knowledge about the parameters that influence a wireless link’s performance.

A critical issue is communication reliability; how will parameters such as sensitivity, output power, adjacent channel selectivity and operating frequency influence system performance? In other words, what is the probability of transmitting/receiving an error free data packet in the presence of other radio sources or obstructions that could interfere with the signal?

One challenge is the effect of multipath fading. Signals can travel along different paths from transmitter to receiver (see Fig 1.). As these paths are likely to be of different length, multiple copies of a single signal from the transmitter will arrive at the receiver at different times. This causes “delay spreading” of the original signal in the time domain.

The delay spread puts a constraint on the maximum transmission capacity of the channel. If the period of the data pulse is shorter than the delay spread, it’s possible

two consecutive transmitter pulses are received at the same time, preventing the receiver distinguishing between them (this is known as inter-symbol interference (ISI)). A parameter known as coherence bandwidth is a measure of the maximum bandwidth that can be transmitted for a channel without danger of ISI. Coherence bandwidth is defined as 10 percent of the reciprocal of root mean square (rms) delay spread.

If one or both radios are moving (or if there are moving objects such as people or machinery in the area

This article was originally published in two parts on RF

DesignLine. The online magazine is published by CMP

ABOUT THE AUTHORJay Tyzzer is a senior applications

engineer with Nordic Semiconductor based on the US

West Coast

TO SEE THE ARTICLE ONLINE GO TO:

To see the article online go to: http://tinyurl.com/yepk3fc

(part 1) and http://tinyurl.com/yempakq (part 2)

but the radios are stationary), due to the Doppler effect, the frequency received at the transmitter can be higher (for approaching radios) or lower (for radios moving apart) than the baseband frequency. The relative movement alters the various path lengths between the transmitter and the receiver and in turn causes frequency shifts on the various signal paths. The effect is known as “frequency spreading” in the signal spectrum. The coherence time (Tc) determines whether frequency spreading causes fast or slow channel fading. ■

RF design is usually enough to scare all but the

most confi dent designer

Fig. 1Signals arriving at the receiver after travelling along paths of different length can cause signal fading

www.nordicsemi.com


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The (peripheral) value of Bluetooth low energy in leisure, health and workAn extension to classic Bluetooth will open up new markets (This item is a summary of an article that appeared on Analog DesignLine Europe, November 2009)

}Initial applications for Bluetooth low energy wireless technology

include leisure, healthcare, entertainment and office. So, for example, a person taking a workout could use their smartphone equipped with a Bluetooth dual mode chip as the centre of a Personal Area Network (PAN) comprising Bluetooth low energy-running shoes, -heart rate belt and -sports watch. It’s also possible that this data could be sent to a suitably equipped GPS unit that could then make predictions about where the user will be in the future based on their current rate of progress.

Alternatively, the sports watch could communicate with a single

mode Bluetooth low energy chip in a gym’s rowing machine, and pass on the data to a cell phone. Bluetooth low energy could also be used to monitor heart rate and blood pressure and then wirelessly connect to a cell phone that could then send an SMS message to a physician. Or a runner could log heart rate, distance and speed and send it to friends’ cell phones for them to beat on their own runs. Or a wine maker could record temperature and humidity from sensors in a vineyard as he strolls around inspecting plants.

In the entertainment sector, Bluetooth low energy wireless technology could be used to replace IR remote controls. Replacing IR with

This article was originally published on Analog DesignLine Europe. The online magazine is

published by CMP

RF endows a remote control with lots of new functionality. It’s not hard to imagine a user browsing the web while on the move for the schedules of their favorite TV programmes. Then, with one press of a button when the user returns home, the Bluetooth dual mode chip in their cell phone could connect wirelessly with the single mode chip in a set-top box and/or TV, and the week’s viewing could be automatically programmed. If the user then wants to modify their selection, there will be no need to retrieve the traditional remote control from the back of the sofa, the user can simply make the changes by controlling the EPG directly from their cell phone. ■

ABOUT THE AUTHORThomas Embla Bonnerud is Nordic’s Product Manager for

Ultra Low Power Wireless

Remote controls: A new battleground for RF wireless connectivityRF vendors are lining up for a share of the remote control market (This item is a summary of an article that appeared on TechOnline India, January 2010)

}Remote controls are an integral part of family life. Yet,

compared to the equipment the controllers operate, the technology is distinctly “last century”. The average household has perhaps six or seven remotes, each featuring a confusing array of buttons, slow response and limited range. Perhaps most frustrating of all, these infrared (IR) based devices must have a clear line-of-site to the target appliance to work.

The contenders are lining up to grab a share of a potentially enormous market. The competitors are proprietary solutions such as Nordic’s nRF24LE1 and Gazell protocol, the Bluetooth SIG’s

the interoperable side, things are less certain.

On paper, both the Bluetooth SIG and the RF4CE Consortium have decent technology at their disposal. RF4CE has perhaps taken an early lead by basing its hardware on an existing standard while the Bluetooth SIG is still ironing out the intricacies of its Bluetooth low energy technology. RF4CE also has the backing of some of the biggest names in consumer electronics and many vendors manufacture the hardware. That said, IEEE802.15.4-based technology has struggled to meet market penetration predictions. Will the remote control sector be a battle too? ■

teCHonLine indiA


To see the article online go to: http://tinyurl.com/yasmrn7

This article was originally published on TechOnline India.

The online magazine is published by CMP

ABOUT THE AUTHORChim Chan is Nordic’s Regional Sales Manger for Greater China


To see the article online go to: http://tinyurl.com/yhx7hre

Bluetooth low energy technology and the RF4CE Consortium’s IEEE802.15.4-radio using a customized protocol.

Proprietary solutions will almost certainly continue to carve out a sizeable niche where performance and cost are critical and interoperability is not. But on

www.nordicsemi.com

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Handhelds incorporate ANTBy Brian Macdonald, Director, ANT Wireless FOCUSFOCUS

In a recent interview in this newsletter (see ULP Wireless Quarter, Winter 2009, page 9) I alluded to ANT being supported in multi-protocol chips for use in cell phones and

other handheld devices. I was so excited at the prospect of ANT being embedded in the device we all carry in our pocket that I couldn’t resist hinting at what was around the corner. But now it’s official; at the recent Mobile World Congress, held in Barcelona, we announced that ANT is now supported on the Texas Instruments (TI) WiLink family.

ANT provides a simple, low cost and ultra low power (ULP) solution for short range wireless communication in both point-to-point and more complex network topologies with multiple masters.

As well as ANT, WiLink integrates WLAN 802.11n, GPS, FM transmit/receive, and Bluetooth wireless connectivity in a small form factor device. WiLink is used in cell phones and handheld devices to enhance their wireless connectivity beyond the primary cellular link. The latest generation WiLink 7.0 device will have ANT built in and legacy WiLink 6.0 devices can employ ANT after a simple software upgrade.

According to Eran Sandhaus, a director of marketing with TI: “Working with ANT and the established ANT+ ecosystem allows us to expand today’s smartphone applications with an improved, more connected user experience.”

The digital hubWith the agreement between ANT and TI, handset manufacturers will now be able develop “digital hubs” – cell phones that are compatible with proven sport, fitness, and health personal monitoring wireless sensors and products based on the interoperable ANT+ ULP protocol.

There are already seven million ANT-enabled devices on the market, most powered by Nordic’s nRF24AP1 (and latterly nRF24AP2) chips running ANT software. The nRF24AP2 sets new benchmarks for ULP wireless current consumption. Compared to the earlier nRF24AP1 (see ULP Wireless Quarter, Winter 2009, page 5), the chip features a peak current (of 17mA) that’s 20 percent

lower and average current that’s reduced by 75 percent.

The ANT protocol stack running on the nRF24AP2 supports up to eight channels – allowing more sensors to be connected to one digital hub at the same time. Nordic’s chips support the ANT+ managed network alliance platform that makes ANT+ products interoperable with a growing list of OEMs.

A world of new applicationsHandhelds equipped with WiLink will connect with sensors such as heart rate monitors, speed & distance pods, bike cadence monitors, bike power meters, weight scales, activity (calorie) monitors, blood pressure monitors, and blood glucose monitors, among others. More sophisticated devices such as the Garmin FR60 sports watch (see ULP Wireless Quarter, Winter 2009, page 14) will also seamlessly connect to the user’s cell phone. (One manufacturer, iTMP, has already released an nRF24AP2-based dongle that plugs into an Apple iPhone or iPod touch to enable those devices to connect with sensors.)

This wireless link opens up a whole new set of applications. For example, a person taking a workout could use their smartphone equipped with a WiLink chip as the centre of a Personal Area Network (PAN) comprising ANT equipped-running shoes, -heart rate belt, and -sports watch.

Equipped with a suitable software application, the computational power of the smartphone could be used to calculate the efficiency of the workout and parameters such as calories burned. The cell phone could then upload this data to the user’s social networking websites for friends to congratulate them on a good workout.

This potential excites Thomas Embla Bonnerud, Nordic’s Product Manager for Ultra Low Power Wireless.

“The inclusion of ANT in cell phones could not only dramatically expand the market and applications of interoperable ANT+ ULP wireless products, but also makes Nordic’s ANT/ANT+ chips – such as the nRF24AP2 – even more compelling for new and existing customers,” comments Bonnerud. ■

Keen runners can now link foot pods and heart rate monitors directly to their ANT-equipped cell phones

“Handset makers can now develop cell phones that are compatible with products based on the interoperable ANT+ protocol”

www.nordicsemi.com

The long wait is over, in an announcement made at the end of 2009, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) ended months

of speculation and formally adopted Bluetooth low energy1.

The SIG, the organization charged with driving development of Bluetooth wireless technology and bringing it to market, embraced the low energy form of the technology as part of Bluetooth Core Specification Version 4.0. Bluetooth low energy is described by the SIG as “a hallmark feature of the new specification”.

The SIG says Bluetooth low energy will open entirely new markets for devices requiring low cost and low power wireless connectivity. Sectors such as healthcare, sports and fitness, security, and home entertainment will be enhanced with the availability of small coin-cell battery powered wireless products and sensors now enabled by Bluetooth.

“The race is on for product designers to be the first to market; Bluetooth low energy modules for all sorts of new products may now be qualified,” says Michael Foley, executive director of the Bluetooth SIG. “This is an important step towards our goal of enabling new markets with Bluetooth wireless technology.”

The specification allows two types of implementation, dual mode and single mode. In a dual mode implementation, Bluetooth low energy functionality is integrated into an existing Classic Bluetooth controller. Additionally, manufacturers can use current

Classic Bluetooth technology (Bluetooth V2.1 + EDR or Bluetooth V3.0 + HS) chips with the new low energy stack, enhancing the development of Classic Bluetooth enabled devices with new capabilities.

Single mode chips, which will enable highly integrated and compact devices, will feature a lightweight Link Layer providing ultra low power (ULP) idle mode operation, simple device discovery, and reliable point-to-multipoint data transfer with advanced power-save and secure encrypted connections at the

lowest possible cost.Nordic Semiconductor was an early

member of the Nokia-led Wibree Alliance, the organization that started the development of an interoperable ULP wireless standard in October 2006. That organization merged with the Bluetooth SIG in June 2007. Since then Nordic has played a key role in the development of the specification. ■

REFERENCES1. http://tinyurl.com/ybtdkmz

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The Bluetooth SIG adopts Core Specification Version 4.0 which includes the low energy version of the popular wireless connectivity technology

Bluetooth low energy officially releasedbLuetootH Low energy

The race is on for designers to bring

their fi rst Bluetooth low energy

products to market

“Bluetooth low energy is a hallmark feature ofVersion 4.0 of the specification”

µBlue speeds development}Nordic Semiconductor is helping selected

customers rapidly develop their Bluetooth low energy-based products with its µBlue (“MicroBlue”) nRF8001 single mode slave solution.

The company is supplying a complete beta implementation, including host and profiles subsystem, which enables engineers to begin hardware and software development of single mode Bluetooth low energy applications.

The µBlue nRF8001 is a single mode slave solution in a 32-pin 5 by 5mm QFN package incorporating a fully embedded radio, link controller, and host

subsystem. The device features sub 15mA peak current consumption and microamp average current consumption allowing it to operate for years from acoin cell battery.

“We can provide our lead customers with something that enables them to get started developing end-products,” explains Thomas Embla Bonnerud, Nordic’s Product Manager, Ultra Low PowerWireless (pictured right). “We believe that Bluetooth low energy is a great technology that will accelerate the market for ULP wireless.”

www.nordicsemi.com

The People & Facesbehind Nordic Semiconductor

John soJOB TITLE:seNior FieLd APPLicATioN eNGiNeerJOINED NORDIC:MAY 2006BASED:HoNG KoNG, cHiNAINTERESTS INCLUDE:coUNTrYside driVes, rAdio coNTroLLed cArs, reAdiNG, MoVies

Hi, my name is John So and I’m a Senior Field Application Engineer based in Hong Kong.

I joined Nordic about four years ago, coming from Freescale Semiconductor where I mainly supported their cell phone chipset solutions.

My job is to deliver technical support to Nordic’s customers in Asia Pacific to ensure their product development projects run smoothly and they are able to make full use of any Nordic solution they employ (for example, the wireless protocol). I also train the support and sales engineers working for our distribution partners.

One of the things I really enjoy about my job is that it challenges me to know my stuff. I am required to support every technical aspect of the design process that can be affected by the inclusion of a ULP wireless link – from the radio hardware in a Nordic chip up to the firmware inside its embedded MCU.

Because of the rate of development in ULP wireless and the ever expanding range of products in which Nordic solutions are employed, no two customer challenges are ever the same. This applies equally as much to the big, global brand names and their design partners as it does to smaller local customers and design houses. This is where the value of high quality, local support comes in.

Last year, for example, one of our biggest customers ran into a problem at the RF approval stage for a wireless product that was otherwise performing well, including a good wireless communication range. The problem was, however, that without the approval the product could not go to market. Given that it was a global consumer product within a fiercely competitive segment, this meant the customer risked shortening an already small window of sales opportunity.

I therefore flew to their development lab in China and stayed there for a whole week – working closely with our fantastic technical teams in Norway – until what proved to be a fairly unique and unusual problem was solved, much to the customer’s relief and satisfaction. The product was launched worldwide soon after, and has sold well ever since.

Outside of work, an ideal weekend for me might include a long drive in the countryside; making a radio controlled scale model; going radio controlled car racing (with a car I built), and then perhaps reading or watching a movie. I find this all takes me far away from the pressures of the week and leaves me feeling ready to do it all over again by Monday morning.

John So

Thomas søderholmJOB TITLE:BUsiNess deVeLoPMeNT MANAGerJOINED NORDIC:JANUArY 1999BASED:osLo, NorwAYINTERESTS INCLUDE:GAdGeTs, cross coUNTrY sKiiNG, BiKiNG, rUNNiNG

Hi, my name is Thomas Søderholm and I’m the Business Development Manager for Personal Area Networks (PANs) based in Oslo.

I’ve worked at Nordic for over 10 years. When I joined the company in early 1999, I originally worked as a digital designer for three innocent years, before moving to the dark side... sorry, into sales, and becoming a regional sales manager in Europe for six years before taking on my current role.

Today my job is to drive and champion the development and adoption of Nordic’s products in the wireless PAN arena which ranges from the sports and fitness segment (watches, bike computers, and related ULP wireless sensors) through to the consumer health and medical (for example, wireless blood glucose monitors).

This means I have to become a reasonable expert in a range of end application markets and products, and continuously report market intelligence back to the sales and product teams. I also maintain close links with all Nordic’s PAN-related customers and because of my sales background can support our sales teams and distribution partners when required.

As a gadget freak with a keen sports interest (see below), I genuinely love the end products it’s my job to target. And I’m not the only one, given how fast the PAN market is growing, although I think this is also in large part due to the increasing awareness of its value to the health and wellbeing of entire populations.

One of the things I really like about my job is getting to work with all the major players in the wireless PAN field and some really great people. That’s not to say it’s easy. We have to meet all kinds of challenges – big and small – technical and commercial. But I know I can rely on my Nordic colleagues – from R&D and support to sales and management – to solve any customer challenge we may face.

Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my wife and three children (one girl and two boys aged 2 to 7), and doing outdoor sports when I can. These include cross country skiing in the winter, and biking and running in the summer. This also allows me to test out the latest wireless sports gadgets (in which Nordic’s customers tend to keep me well supplied – strictly for work-related research only of course).

Beyond this, I am constantly involved in the small task of refurbishing our family home, so I’ll leave it to you to guess where any remaining free time I do have currently goes.

Thomas Søderholm

“My job is to drive and champion the development and adoption of Nordic’s products in the PAN arena which ranges from the sports and fitness segment through to consumer health and medical.”

PLEASE FORWARD THIS NEWSLETTER TO ANY COLLEAGUES OR CUSTOMERS WHO MAY FIND IT USEFULTo subscribe (or un-subscribe) please e-mail: [email protected]

“My job challenges me to know my stuff. I am required to support every technical aspect of the design process that can be affected by the inclusion of a ULP wireless link.”

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Documents

World's first single mode Bluetooth low energy module uses Nordic