bluetooth

COVER STORY

aNt helps athletes find extra edge

bluetooth technologyopens up to ip traffic

insight into a wireless future

the inexorable rise of the appcessory market

QUARTER 1 | SPRING 2014

2 | SPRING 2014 | ulp wireless quarter www.nordicsemi.com

several key events have come together to drive a disruptive change in the ultra low power (ULP) wireless sector. First was the ratification of the Bluetooth v4.0 (now v4.1) specification that includes Bluetooth low energy which was quickly followed by the adoption of native support for the technology by the key mobile operating system vendors. Next was the introduction of highly-

integrated, ARM processor-based, multiprotocol, ULP wireless connectivity solutions in the shape of Nordic’s nRF51 Series chips allied to simple-to-use development kits such as our recently launched nRF51822-mKIT (see this issue page 4) for creating wireless applications.

Another factor that’s pushing ULP wireless connectivity into the mainstream is the rise of ‘crowdfunding’ for companies with good ideas about how a wireless link will enhance a product that might have otherwise found it difficult to raise the required investment. Finally, there’s now a burgeoning “maker” movement of keen hobbyists and amateur engineers - excited about the thousands of potential innovations to which wireless connectivity can be applied - that can use the chips and development kits to realize their ideas.

“We see first time makers using our [chip],” my Nordic colleague David Edwin told technology blog ArcticStartup. “There’s some sort of disruption between crowdfunding and the maker movement, and we’re just helping with the baby steps at Nordic.”

Those “baby steps” include the relative ease with which the nRF51 Series allows non-expert RF engineers to write application software without worrying about linking to, or corrupting, the RF protocol because of the chip’s unique software architecture. The steps also include supply of a Bluetooth low energy (Bluetooth Smart) software development kit for the popular open-source Arduino prototyping platform.

According to Nordic’s CEO, Svenn-Tore Larsen, demand for this type of development kit has exploded. “We shipped nearly 10,000 kits [in 2013 and 2014] including many to non-electronics designers,” he told electronics industry trade magazine Incisor (see this issue page 10).

The upsurge in interest for ULP wireless connectivity - particularly Bluetooth low energy - has encouraged Nordic to further extend its supply channels to include additional web-based catalog distributors. These are companies that stock extensive product lines and from which anybody - from a hobbyist to a professional engineer - can order one chip or a thousand for overnight delivery.

Recently, for example, Nordic announced it had signed a global distribution agreement with Digi-Key Corporation (see this issue page 3). Digi-Key offers more than three million products from over 650 manufacturers and is one of the world’s leading semiconductor and electronic component distributors supported by a great website, and proven customer service and supply chain capabilities.

Ten years ago Nordic was doing well with its proprietary ULP RF technology. But even we could have never predicted how a confluence of strategic events was likely to propel the technology we helped pioneer from a few niches to become one of the fastest growing mainstream wireless technologies.

Yours Sincerely,

J. Darren O’DonnellDirector of Marketing & Sales - Americas

enhanced distribution model meets maker demand for wireless

Sally Ward-Foxton is a freelance journalist specializing in electronics. Here she explores how smartphone growth is accelerating the adoption of Bluetooth Smart

Jack Shandle is a freelance writer specializing in semiconductors. In this issue, he reviews the latest changes to Bluetooth technology and their implications

Svenn-Tore Larsen is Nordic Semiconductor’s CEO. In this issue he explains how 2014 will be a landmark year for Bluetooth Smart due to the rise of the appcessory

Page 16 Page 18Page 9

The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Nordic Semiconductor is under license.

© Nordic Semiconductor 2014

Athletes are honing their competitive edge using Moxy muscle oxygen monitor equipped with ANT+

OpiNiONJ Darren O’Donnell

Contributors

ULP Wireless Q is published on behalf of Nordic Semiconductor by Ecritech

www.ecritech.com

EditorSteven Keepinge-mail: [email protected]

News EditorAndrew Woolls-Kinge-mail: [email protected]

Art EditorTim Plummere-mail: [email protected]

Image EditorNeale Hobdaye-mail: [email protected]

Print & DistributionPrintech Europe

ulp wireless quarter | SPRING 2014 | 3

The latest developments from Nordic Semiconductor

News

www.nordicsemi.com

The Internet of Things (IoT) will grow to an installed base of 26 billion units by 2020 representing a 30-fold increase from 900 million in 2009, according to analyst Gartner. “By 2020, connectivity will become a standard feature, even for processors costing less than $1. This opens up the possibility of connecting almost anything, from the very simple to the very complex, to offer remote control, monitoring and sensing,” says the company’s Peter Middleton.

Internet of Things set to boom

In briefsingle coin cell powers smart watch for up to 11 months

... and IO ComponentsNordic has also expanded its U.K. and Ireland distribution network with the appointment of British distributor, IO Components Limited. IO Components says it aims to become a ‘one-stop-shop’ distribution, contract manufacturing, and test service provider (together with sister company IO Electronics) for ULP wireless. The distributor will help U.K. and Ireland firms with little or no RF experience get their products to market quickly - from initial concept all the way to customer delivery.

Nordic signsDigi-Key ...Nordic Semiconductor has signed a global distribution agreement covering its entire product range, including its Bluetooth low energy solutions, with distribution giant Digi-Key Corporation. Digi-Key is a global, full-service provider of prototype and production quantities of components, offering more than three million products from over 650 manufacturers. Digi-Key has over one million products in stock at any one time and an impressive selection of online design and technical resources.

The Magellan Echo can stream and display smartphone sports app

data for up to 11 months powered by a regular CR2032 coin cell battery.

The compact power source supports a traditional light-weight (44 g) sports watch form-factor and uses Bluetooth Smart wireless technology to connect to the latest smartphone sports

that can also function as an everyday watch.

Magellan has even added additional specialized app support to the device for golf, skiing, hiking, running, and other outdoor activities.

The Magellan Echo is available from major outlets at a U.S. retail price of $149.99 (or $199.99 with optional Bluetooth Smart heart rate monitor).

succeed you can’t stand alone.“But I genuinely believe in what Nordic does.

And it’s that belief that makes it possible to set the bar high, overcome all the inevitable challenges and obstacles, and achieve more than you ever imagined possible.”

Nordic named a ‘tech company defining 2014’ and CEO honored as ‘tech leader of the year’Nordic Semiconductor has been ranked third in a list of “15 Tech Companies That Will Define 2014” by the highly influential financial services company The Motley Fool. And in a separate ceremony, Nordic’s CEO, Svenn-Tore Larsen, has been named “Technology Leader of the Year” by top Norwegian technology magazine Teknisk Ukeblad (TU).

Other companies in The Motely Fool rankings included Broadcom (14th), Sony (13th), Apple (10th), Netflix (9th), Qualcomm (7th), Amazon (5th), and Google (2nd). “Nordic might not be on investors’ radar,” said Erik Bleeker of The Motley Fool, “[but] its focus on ultra-low power wireless communications makes it one of the most intriguing ways to invest in ‘The Internet of Things’.”

Nordic’s The Motley Fool ranking coincided with CEO Larsen being recognized in Norway by TU. “This is a recognition of the environment at Nordic Semiconductor beyond me,” noted Larsen on receiving the award. “I would not be standing here without my engineers. We must fight against our competitors every day and to

Nordic CEO Svenn-Tore Larsen receives his “Technology Leader of the Year” award

apps and GPS functionality. Nordic Semiconductor’s µBlue™ nRF8001 Bluetooth low energy Connectivity IC provides the wireless connectivity.

Magellan say the Echo puts the power of smartphone apps right on the user’s wrist, and includes the ability to remotely control common smartphone functions such as music replay. Yet the product features a sleek design

4 | SPRING 2014 | ulp wireless quarter

News

www.nordicsemi.com

arM mbed development kit accelerates iot sensor design

In brief

Newly-crowned world chess champion and world chess number one Magnus Carlsen - who entered into a three-year sponsorship deal with Nordic last year - took on 20 players in simultaneous matches at CES in January. During the matches, Carlsen’s heart rate was recorded using a wrist-worn heart rate monitor provided by Mio. Carlsen’s heart rate, together with those of the twenty people he played, were wirelessly transmitted to North Pole Engineering’s WASP ANT/Wi-Fi bridge and from there to a large screen (see short video at tinyurl.com/Carlsen-CES).

Carlsen 20-vs-1 chess at CES

Feature-phone sales drop Worldwide sales of smartphones to end users totaled 968 million units in 2013, an increase of 42.3 percent from 2012, according to analyst Gartner. Sales of smartphones accounted for 53.6 percent of overall mobile phone sales in 2013, exceeding annual sales of feature phones for the first time. The company expects smartphones to continue to drive overall sales in 2014 but says that an increasing number of manufacturers will focus on low-cost devices. Sales of high-end smartphones will slow as a result.

Chip sales break record in 2013The U.S.-based Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) reports that the semiconductor industry posted record sales in 2013, climbing 4.8 percent to reach $305.6 billion with December 2013 sales the strongest on record at $26.6 billion. Growth was consistent across most regions. The Americas market grew at three times the rate of other markets, increasing annual sales by 13.1 percent in 2013. Sales also increased in Asia Pacific (7 percent) and European (5.2 percent) markets but fell over 15 percent in Japan.

Nordic Semiconductor and ARM have launched the nRF51822-mKIT ARM mbed

development platform (based on the Nordic nRF51822 System-on-Chip). The platform is claimed to be the first mbed platform for Bluetooth Smart applications and will enable rapid prototyping of wireless products, including smart sensors connecting to the Internet of Things (IoT).

The ARM mbed initiative is a collaborative industry project that plans to nurture the IoT. The initiative delivers tools and fundamental open-source hardware and software building blocks to support the development of ARM-based devices.

The nRF51822 combines a Bluetooth v4.1-compliant 2.4 GHz multiprotocol radio with an ARM Cortex-M0 CPU core on a single

chip optimized for ultra low power operation. The chip offers developers a platform for designing wirelessly-connected sensors that will help turn the IoT from a technological concept into reality.

Nordic and ARM claim developers will be able to start using the nRF51822-mKIT within minutes of unpacking.

The platform includes a Bluetooth Smart API, 31 pin-assignable GPIO, CMSIS-DAP debugger, a Programmable Peripheral Interconnect (PPI), and the ability to run from a single 2032 coin-cell battery for in-situ testing of wireless performance.

The nRF51822-mKIT accelerates prototyping of Bluetooth Smart sensors connecting to the IoT

Scalextric brings smartphone and tablet app racing to slot-cars for the first timeSlot-car giant Scalextric has specified Nordic nRF51822 Systems-on-Chip (SoC) to provide Bluetooth Smart wireless connectivity in its brand new Scalextric RCS (Race Control System). The product won a prestigious “Best New Toys 2014” award at the recent London Toy Fair.

By buying any one of three (RCS One, RCS Air, or RCS Pro) ‘Powerbase’ plug-and-play track accessories Scalextric users will now be able to add all kinds of race statistics and functionality – some of which will directly affect their slot car’s performance – using a free Scalextric-developed app.

The statistics and functionality includes driver names, number of laps and times, fastest lap, fuel levels,

tire wear levels, and customized throttle response.

In addition, Scalextric has developed (optional) ‘Hand Throttle’ wireless controllers that employ proprietary Nordic nRF24LE1 2.4GHz SoCs to provide the wireless

connectivity between the controller and the Powerbase track accessory, and (again optional) pit lanes.

Scalextric RCS will be available later this year and available from all major toy retailers worldwide or direct from Scalextric.

Bluetooth Smart comes to slot-car racing

ulp wireless quarter | SPRING 2014 | 5www.nordicsemi.com

News

The Oregon Scientific ‘Weather@Home’ range of weather stations can send

immediate local weather and home environmental updates to a smartphone app on the owner’s mobile. Embedded sensors in the station and/or wireless sensors located in and around the user’s home collect data which is wirelessly transmitted to the weather station and from there to the smartphone app.

Users can access the information over a station-to-smartphone range of up to 50m (using Nordic nRF8001 chips to provide the Bluetooth Smart wireless connectivity).

Bluetooth Smart development kit targets Arduino-based projects, compatible with ChipKIT shields

weather station is the first to communicate directly with smartphones

The information includes immediate local atmospheric pressure (barometric) and weather forecast updates, plus temperature and humidity readings collected by embedded sensors in the station and/or up to five remote wireless sensors. The remote sensors can be located inside or outside the user’s home and given user-assigned names from the app.

Developed by Hong Kong-based IDT Technology Limited, three models of increasing sophistication are available: The $29 EMR211 (indoor/outdoor temperature), the $39 RAR213HG (adding humidity

and time display/synchronization with smartphone or tablet), and the $59 BAR218HG (adding weather forecast info and moon phase).

“This is the first Bluetooth Smart weather station product family of its kind,” explains Chris Yeung, Product Manager at IDT Technology. “The weather station sends collated

weather and environmental data direct to a smartphone instead of

that data being sent from sensors themselves.”

In b

rief

Nordic Semiconductor has launched a Bluetooth Smart Software Development Kit (SDK) for Arduino-based projects, The SDK is compatible with a range of Arduino, ChipKIT shields that employ Nordic’s nRF8001 Bluetooth Smart connectivity IC, and will port the nRF8001 SDK to an Arduino-compatible set of libraries.

The SDK will be provided as an open-source repository on GitHub for use, modification, and expansion by developers, and includes a range of application examples such as Human Interface Device (HID), UART over Bluetooth low energy, Heart Rate Monitor (HRM), Temperature, and Proximity.

The software interface for the SDK

Nordic is enhancing its internal engineering resources in Japan and building closer cooperation with its Japanese distributors to meet increased demand for support from Japanese OEM and ODM customers. The requirement for additional support is a result of the increasing number of Japanese companies adopting Nordic’s nRF51 Series Bluetooth low energy and ANT+ Systems-on-Chip (SoC), and major ODMs that have designed integrated RF modules based on Nordic SoCs. Nordic’s Japanese staff will also educate and support the FAEs employed by its key distributors in Japan.

Nordic increases support in Japan nRF Toolbox now suits AndroidNordic has released an end-to-end, richly-featured nRF Toolbox for Bluetooth Smart development from radio hardware to app (software program) source code for smartphones and tablets running either iOS and now Android 4.3 or newer. This includes a memory efficient Over-the-Air Device Firmware Update (OTA DFU) feature. nRF Toolbox is a standalone application that can also interact with other Nordic Bluetooth low energy tools as plugins. Customers can tailor their tool usage to fit the exact needs of their end application. nRF Toolbox can store all Nordic apps in one location, and supports both the nRF MCP and nRF Logger apps.

The Bluetooth Smart SDK will be provided as an open-source repository on GitHub

has also been implemented on a variety of microcontrollers and microcontroller platforms such as ChipKIT, Maple, Teensy, and mbed. This makes it easy to move a project that has been prototyped on the Arduino platform to a microcontroller of choice.

This Bluetooth Smart SDK comes with an Arduino shield adapter and is complemented by the Bluetooth Smart BLE Arduino shield from Red Bear Lab. The BLE shield board complies to the Arduino form factor and contains all necessary circuitry to enable an Arduino project to start communicating with Bluetooth Smart Ready products such as iPhone 4S (and later), Android 4.3 smartphones, and computers running Mac OS X or Windows 8.

Oregon Scientific’s weather station collates sensor data and then forwards it to a smartphone app


two of the world’s largest electronics exhibitions, Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and

Mobile World Congress (MWC) provided the forum for Nordic Semiconductor’s design partners to show off some of their latest ANT+ and Bluetooth low energy (including Bluetooth Smart) equipped “appcessories”.

Appcessories combine hardware peripherals with smartphone- or tablet computer-hosted software apps and the market for such devices is booming (see this issue page 9). “The capabilities of ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart technologies are spawning an incredible range of innovative applications that are entering the market at an unprecedented rate,” notes Nordic’s Geir Langeland, the company’s Director of Marketing & Sales.

CES is the world’s leading consumer electronics exhibition and is organized by the U.S.-based Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). The event showcased more than 3,200 exhibitors and attracted 152,000 attendees from 150 countries. The event was held in Las Vegas during January. MWC follows hot the heels of CES convening in Barcelona during late February. MWC is similarly huge, featuring over 72,000 attendees, 1,700 exhibitors, and 94,000m2 of exhibition and meeting space.

Entering a lucrative marketThe theme at the events was “Nordic is all around you” which highlights the rapidly growing and diverse range of applications - including fitness sensors, toys, proximity tags, and remote controls - relying on a Nordic-powered wireless link to communicate with ‘hub’ devices such as smartphones, tablet

such as the “Quad Fighter” and “Mimix”. On the same theme, Moff, another start-up, this time from Japan, demonstrated an interactive toy with sound & voice effects using its own app.

Other products on display included wireless beacons from TKO Mobile, Kontakt, Estimote and Airfy; Blue Maestro’s temperature sensor; Leica Geosystem’s handheld laser distance meter; GN ReSound’s Apple iPhone compatible hearing aid; and Connectedevice’s connected watch.

“The products on the booths at CES and MWC were in general not prototypes,” notes J. Darren O’Donnell, Nordic’s Director of Sales – Americas, “rather commercially available devices that demonstrate both how rapidly ultra low power wireless is spreading and how companies with little or no RF knowledge can now quickly enter this lucrative market using the Nordic nRF51 Series development tools.” Z

Connectedevice, a Nordic design partner, manufactures the Cookoo watch which wirelessly links with Bluetooth Smart Ready mobile products and runs for a year on a watch battery. The Cookoo was demonstrated at MWC

computers and PCs.Nordic’s traditional strength

in sports & fitness monitoring was apparent from the partner products on display at both events. Among the products on show was Mio’s Mio Link, a heart rate monitor in a wristband that transmits continuous heart rate data to fitness apps and sport devices via both ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart. Adidas weighed in with its miCoach Speed_Cell and miCoach X_Cell - the first devices to provide athletes with a complete system to evaluate, train and improve speed, jump height, and reaction time. On the same theme 4iiii showed its new Liiiink product range that employs ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart for use cases like activity tracking, heart rate, and alert notification.

The related “e-Wellness” sector of sensor networks that monitor human physiological parameters - was also well represented with IDT exhibiting an e-Wellness wireless ecosystem

including a fall detector for seniors, plus blood pressure and blood glucose meters.

Checking the climateSensors to monitor the home environment are a rapidly expanding sector and Nordic’s CES and MWC booths paid host to Wimoto’s family of Bluetooth low energy climate- and security-sensors. These Nordic nRF51822-powered devices connect directly to Apple iOS and Android devices, and run for over a year on a single battery. For its part, Belwith Products demonstrated a range of SecuRemote Technology residential access products and secure-home storage based on the nRF51822.

Wireless connectivity promises to revolutionize the toy sector and Nordic’s show booths played host to a range of early products. QFO Labs, a start-up company from Minneapolis, showed a range of high-quality yet affordable and fun toys

“The capabilities of ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart technologies are

spawning an incredible range of innovative applications”

‘Nordic is all around you’ at major international trade eventsDesign partners demonstrate a range of innovative appcessories at Ces and MwC

News extra

To see more on Nordic at CES, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3-xQgaacm8


The latest developments in technology

ulp wireless treNDs

Not all smartwatches are for sports

Smart ring can control and protect smartphones, and tell timeClaimed to be the first in a new class of “smart ring” wearable technology, the unisex and waterproof stainless steel ‘Smarty Ring’ with LED display connects to smartphones via Bluetooth Smart wireless technology using a dedicated app. The device’s compact form factor contains many advanced features and functionality.

Alert features include incoming and outgoing call notifications, SMS texts and email messages, Facebook and Twitter updates, and even a “butt call” warning. Remote control features include the ability

Everything a smart watch can do ... from an unobtrusive ring on your finger

trigger a smartphone’s camera, and various music replay functions.

Clock features include a digital clock with support for up to five time zones, plus a stop watch and countdown timer, and security features include the ability to alert the end user if the distance between them and their phone is greater than 30 meters. The smart ring also comes with a wireless charger and a built-in rechargeable battery that is claimed to be able to run for up to 24 hours on a single charge. For more info or to pre-order go to www.smartyring.com.

Top vendors add ANT+ to more smartphonesTwo major smartphone makers have announced that more high-end models have been endowed with ANT+.

Sony Mobile Communications says that native ANT+ wireless connectivity is embedded into its latest Xperia Z1S, Z1 Compact, Z2 and M2 smartphones, and its Xperia Z2 tablet.

South Korean consumer electronics giant Samsung has also added native ANT+ connectivity into its newly announced Galaxy S5 smartphone and its Samsung S Health 3.0 customer health app. In addition, the Samsung Galaxy S4, Note3, Note 10.1 (2014 Edition), Galaxy Grand 2 (LTE), and the Galaxy J are already enabled with proven ANT+ capabilities and interoperability.

ANT Wireless says that both Sony and Samsung’s decision to embed ANT+ in its latest smartphone and tablet devices gives their customers the ability to wirelessly connect to the over 100 million ANT+ enabled products installed worldwide.

Sony’s latest Xperia M2 smartphone has native ANT+ capabilities

The dual face Ibis smart watch, developed by Finnish company Creoir, is crafted in crystal and stainless steel and designed to look and feel like wearable jewelry, while still integrating all the latest technology.

Features includes a curved OLED display with integrated touch functionality, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth v4.0 wireless technology, an accelerometer, e-compass and ambient light sensor, and the ability to give smart phone alerts and also function as a smartphone remote control.

Creoir says that with the Ibis it is attempting to bring an innovative design-led approach to the nascent smart watch industry. Ibis believes fashion will be important to smart watch buyers. “The demand for smart watches will be driven by both fashion and sport brands,” comments Creoir CEO, Pekka Väyrynen. “And the Ibis exemplifies the fashion brand type of product.”

smart watch looks like jewelry but still features all the tech

to accept or reject incoming calls, make outgoing calls to preset numbers, remotely


The latest developments in technology

ulp wireless treNDs

Bluetooth Smart cycling sensor has a 700-hour battery lifeA Bluetooth Smart cycling speed and distance sensor is claimed to be able to operate for up to 700 hours from a single CR2032 coin cell (watch) battery.

Developed in Taiwan by “urban cycling gear specialist” BioLogic, and retailing for (a suggested) $45.95, the sensor can turn any compatible Bluetooth Smart Ready smartphone into a full-blown

All this sensor needs is a Bluetooth Smart Ready smartphone

cycling computer.The sensor is compatible with

many popular cycling apps, including the company’s own ‘BikeBrain’ for the Apple iPhone.

BioLogic also offer a range of bike mounts to attach iPhone and Android smartphones safely and securely to cycle handlebars.

Ring controls appliances with a single gesture A wearable input device called ‘Ring’ is claimed to allow users to perform numerous tasks with a single gesture in mid air, including typing text, controlling home appliances, and even completing payment transactions.

Ring’s maker, Logbar, says its purpose is to ‘shortcut everything’. It can be activated by users tapping on one side with their thumb. Ring then analyzes and captures gesture data using recognition technology and sends this to a user’s smart device via Bluetooth Smart wireless technology.

This can be used, for example, to safely type and send a text message in mid air while driving, or to activate and control native and/or developer-published ‘Ring store’ smartphone apps (such as music replay).

At the time of writing, an associated Kickstarter campaign had already exceeded its initial $250,000 funding goal, and the product is due to for public release in July 2014 this year.

The LiNX hearing aid from GN Resound receiveshigh quality stereo audio from iOS devices such as an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, without the need for any other intermediary devices.

GN Resound says users can also customize their hearing experience through an accompanying ‘ReSound Smart’ app that can be used to setpreferred volume levels as well as treble andbass tone settings.

The devices also allows users to accesswhat GN Resound terms ‘geo-tagging’ toassign and adjust to the acoustics offrequently visited places like the user’shome, workplace, or favorite restaurants.

The app features a ‘Find My HearingAid’ function to help users pinpointtheir hearing aid(s) if misplaced.

For more information visit www.resoundlinx.com.

iOs compatible hearing aid receives stereo

This hearing aid has its own app and will work with any iOS device

Just an ordinary ring or a full-on universal controller ?

ulp wireless quarter | SPRING 2014 | 9 www.nordicsemi.com

the inexorable rise of the appcessory

after maintaining a relatively low profile after its launch as part of the Bluetooth

Core Specification v4.0 in 2010, Bluetooth low energy really hit the headlines last year.

Key technology and business developments have driven Bluetooth low energy’s rise in the rankings of “technologies to watch”. For example, 2012 saw the launch of Nordic Semiconductor’s nRF51 Series, building on the success of the company’s first generation of Bluetooth low energy solutions, the nRF8001 µBlue™ family. And major OS software vendors such as Apple, Google, and Microsoft announced native support for Bluetooth v4.0 making it much easier for developers to create apps and underpinning consumer confidence in the technology’s future.

The Bluetooth low energy products in the nRF51 Series seem to have hit the “sweet spot” for performance, price, and size for an ultra low power (ULP) wireless technology. Moreover, the comparative ease with which the System-on-Chip’s (SoC) software architecture (which keeps the application code and RF protocol software cleanly separated) and Nordic’s development kits allow designers that are not familiar with RF engineering to add a wireless link to their products has encouraged many new applications.

Companies that have traditionally focused on software apps for smartphones and tablets now confidently extend their offerings to hardware in the form of peripherals (or accessories) that rely on the app to fulfil their function. And traditional hardware companies are evolving their products to use

an interoperable wireless link to take advantage of the computing power of the smartphone.

Just one example of these peripherals (or “appcessories”) is a “fitness bracelet” that gathers data such as physical activity and sleep patterns, and sends the information to the smartphone app for analysis, presentation, and sharing. But there are hundreds more examples ranging from toys, to proximity tags, to DSLR camera remotes. The prospective sales of such appcessories are potentially staggering.

Reaching ubiquityAlthough not every Bluetooth Smart chip will be used for an appcessory, the segment is likely to be the major driver of chip volumes.

For example, analyst IHS is forecasting that worldwide annual shipments of Bluetooth Smart ICs will rise to almost 300 million units in 2018, up from just over 30 million projected at the close of 2013, for a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 55 percent. In 2013, shipments grew nearly 250 percent from nine million units in 2012, and

COMMeNt

2014 will be a landmark year for bluetooth smart and the silicon vendors behind the technology as the wireless peripherals market takes off

value to the initial purchase, appcessories become popular gifts, and as prices for popular products drop to perhaps a few tens of dollars, smartphone owners treat themselves to regular appcessory purchases from discretionary income. Such a situation would easily see each smartphone or tablet user owning perhaps three or four appcessories each.

By 2020, a cumulative total of perhaps 24 billion Bluetooth Smart-equipped products could have been sold into a market that some analysts estimate would be worth $131 billion annually.

There are no guarantees of course, but the appcessories sector does seem to be, like apps themselves, a situation where a confluence of new-hardware and -software, business models, and consumer interest come together to produce a meteoric, if unexpected, success.

Sally Ward-Foxton takes a closer look at the impact the smartphone is having on appcessory growth on pages 16 and 17. For more information about the nRF51 Series please go to www.nordicsemi.com. Z

volumes from 2013 are expected to double this year.

At Nordic we see clear evidence of this trend. During 2013, for example, sales of our Bluetooth low energy solutions rapidly escalate. For example, in the third quarter of last year around 17.5 percent of the company’s revenue came from these chips, compared with just 2.2 percent in 2012. And in 2014 we expect our Bluetooth low energy revenue to triple compared with last year.

But what does escalating chip sales mean for the appcessories sector? Well, 2013 saw the first appcessories hit the market in volume and 2014 is the year that the sector could really take off with over 50 million unit sales forecast.

But that’s nothing compared to what may come. In the next several years smartphone and tablet sales are forecast to surge, with analyst Statista Research, for example, estimating there will be a cumulative total of 6.1 billion mobile devices globally by 2020.

It’s not hard to envisage a world where at least one appcessory is bundled with each mobile device to add

Svenn-Tore Larsen is CEO of Nordic Semiconductor

Surrounded by appcessories: Bluetooth Smart-powered devices are set to become entwined with our lives


rOuNDtable

uK-based trade publication Incisor.TV took advantage of the wireless industry’s

convergence on Las Vegas for the annual CES event to gather a group of senior executives for a debate on wireless technology and business trends.

Participants, including Nordic’s CEO Svenn-Tore Larsen, discussed the Internet of Things (IoT), the smart home, and wireless beacons among other topics. The edited extract below also includes comments from David Bean, CEO, Frontline. The company is a leading provider of Bluetooth protocol analysis test tools and packet sniffers.

Vince Holton, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Incisor.TV, and Lisa Arrowsmith, Associate Director for Connectivity with analyst IHS, asked the questions. The following are some edited highlights of the debate. (A full-length video can be seen at the link given in the box on page 11.)

Lisa Arrowsmith: What were the key trends and developments in wireless during 2013?Svenn-Tore Larsen: Nordic Semiconductor placed a bet on

LA: The important thing is to define what the Internet of Things actually is. We do research on this topic and one of the things we’ve found out is that there are still a number of elements that have to come together before we get true interconnectivity between groups or “silos” of objects. At the moment we see lots of development of the “Internet of my Things” around the cellphone and then on a larger scale things like [connectivity in] smart cities with wider communication across a broader range of application areas. LA: To what extent do we

Bluetooth low energy back in 2006 and last year was the first time it became clear the bet was paying off. If you walk around CES [the huge annual consumer electronics show held in the U.S.] you’ll see many new products in the wearable sector - which is a really big new trend. These are sensor-based products that can connect to the cloud using Bluetooth low energy. It’s so easy to make these products and the market is being driven by the consumer sector.David Bean: One of the biggest catalysts that helped made wearable technologies popular is the adoption of Bluetooth

low energy [operating systems] on smartphones. Android, iOS, Windows, and BlackBerry all offer native support. That makes it really easy for the ecosystem to exist to support those wearable technologies. Vince Holton: Is the Internet of Things currently overhyped?STL: [A precursor] of the Internet of Things has been around for a long time. For example, many of the applications using Nordic chips link back to a cellphone. Things such as heart rate monitors, calorie counters, and activity monitors already link to the Internet [via a smartphone hub].

ULP Wireless Q reports on the debate at the latest incisor wireless roundtable held in las vegas during the world’s largest consumer electronics event

an insight into wireless connectivity’s future

Bluetooth technology is set to play a bigger role in home automation


rOuNDtable

STL: We are driven by the market and monitoring it every day so if we see a need to do this we will. There are trends we are monitoring, but looking at the current situation we see a huge existing market for the technology we are currently very good at.LA: Do you see any trends or disruptive technologies emerging over the next year?DB: I think we’ll be surprised about how people use Bluetooth low energy in 2014. We’ll be sat here in 12 months thinking “wow, I wish I’d thought of that” because it is so easy to develop a Bluetooth low energy product. STL: I think 2014 will be the year of Bluetooth Smart. For example, we have now shipped nearly 10,000 kits through web-based catalogue distributors to non-electronics designers. These are the same designers that are developing the apps. Last year the 50 billionth app was downloaded and now it’s almost as easy with a Nordic Semiconductor design kit and chip to come up with [associated] hardware. And I think hardware is back in fashion. We are going to see a steep introduction of products from small companies and one of them may well come up with the ‘killer app’. Z

works well for. The solutions are already there in your local home improvement store.VH: But is there going to be a “universal” smart home app that allows users to control all the devices in the home from one place even though the devices are purchased from different manufacturers?DB: That should be a vision for the industry for the ecosystem, but it’s going to take time for the industry to work out what are the popular applications and to address some of the flaws like security. VH: Is the balance between standard and proprietary technology changing at Nordic?STL: We’re following what the consumer wants. For example in Q1 2013 just four percent of our revenue was from Bluetooth low energy, in Q3 2013 that had risen to 17 percent and will hit 25 percent by Q4. The consumer does want a standard technology. But we are not seeing much cannibalism of the proprietary products because they are different segments and there are still areas where the lowest-cost and -power consumption - such as low cost computer keyboards and mice - are paramount.LA: How will wireless beacons change the way that we communicate with devices?

need IP [Internet Protocol] addressability at a node level across the Internet of Things?STL: A lot of companies are looking at IP addressability on a silicon radio because there are a lot of applications where it could be useful. For example, in Norway in winter it’s very cold for months and people want to monitor the condition of their [remote] summer property - that requires sensors in the cabin to have IP addressability. VH: The Bluetooth SIG is using the phrase “where the Internet connects” for its next annual conference. Do you think that Bluetooth technology has a role to play in Internet connectivity?DB: Bluetooth [technology] and its associated infrastructure is proven and companies like Nordic Semiconductor are making it easy for companies to take advantage of that with third-party products. Bluetooth works well for applications like home automation. But there is still a question about which technology (or technologies) will form the backbone that will link the silos [in Lisa’s example]. VH: Does Bluetooth technology have a role in the “smart home”?STL: What we are talking about here is the technology, but it is also important to be aware of consumer behavior and what is the next step for them. For example, the next generation of consumers have grown up with smartphones and want to control everything through that device. If they have to do something different, they will skip it. You have to remember that most of the buildings around the world are old, and any technology will be introduced as a refit. I think Bluetooth will play a major role in that refitting because the sensors can be battery-powered [needing no wiring for power] and controlled from the smartphone.DB: There are a lot of applications coming out such as the Bluetooth low energy key locks that let you throw away your keys, or Bluetooth low energy garage door openers. The completely automated home, or even retrofitted home, is some way off, but solving problems for key “pain points” is something that Bluetooth [technology]

“During 2014 we will see a steep introduction of Bluetooth Smart products from small companies and one of them may well be the ‘killer app’”Svenn-Tore Larsen

Incisor magazine and Incisor.TV is produced by Click I.T.

To see the full video of Incisor.TV ’s wireless roundtable go

to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeDKBPZt3KU

Further Information

STL: If you look at the spread of Bluetooth by 2020 we see 6.1 billion smartphones with the technology that can interact with wireless beacons. We often talk about the technology and its benefits relative to alternatives, but it’s the consumers that will decide what is a success. Bluetooth is in smartphones and consumers will use those smartphones to interact with wireless beacons.VH: Do you think low power Wi-Fi could take some of Bluetooth’s market share? If that were the case would Nordic develop low power Wi-Fi products?

DATE: MARCH 2014

Product Line

Product SeriesRF: Radio Frequency

“wireless”

ICsIntegrated Circuits

“chips”

OperatingBand

WirelessProtocol

IC Type

On-chip CPU

On-chip Memory

OTP: One TimeProgramable

Peripherals Applications

Ref. Designs Dev Tools

WL

CS

PW

afe

r-le

vel ch

ip-s

cale

p

ackag

e o

pti

on

So

CS

yst

em

-on

-Ch

ip

Co

nn

ec

tiv

ity

Tra

nsc

eiv

er

Oscillators 2-W

ire

Adc

Aes

Analo

g co

mpa

rato

r

Batte

ry M

onito

r

I2s Mdu

PWM

Real

Time c

lock

Rng

sPI

s/Pd

If

Tem

pera

ture

sens

or

uART

usB

Appc

esso

ries

Pc P

erip

hera

ls

spor

ts &

fitne

ss

gam

ing

cellp

hone

Acc

esso

ries

cons

umer

elec

troni

cs

Auto

mat

ion

Healt

hcar

e

Toys

Wea

rabl

es

2.4-GHz RF

nRF24L

nRF24LE1 2.4GHz Proprietary l 80511kB + 256B RAM

16kB + 1.5kB Flash16MHz / 32kHz Crystal

16MHz / 32kHz RCl l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

PC Desktop, Smart Remote, R/C Toy

nRFgo Dev Kit Prog. Kit

nRF24LE1 OTP 2.4GHz Proprietary l 80511kB + 256B RAM16kB + 1kB OTP

16MHz / 32kHz Crystal16MHz / 32kHz RC

l l l l l l l l l l l l l l lPC Desktop, Smart Remote,

R/C ToynRFgo Dev Kit

Prog. Kit

nRF24LU1+ 2.4GHz Proprietary l 80512kB + 256B RAM

16/32kB Flash16MHz Crystal l l l l l l l l l l

PC Desktop, Smart Remote, R/C Toy


nRF24LU1+ OTP 2.4GHz Proprietary l 80512kB + 256B RAM16kB + 1kB OTP

16MHz Crystal l l l l l l l l l lPC Desktop, Smart Remote,

R/C ToynRFgo Dev Kit

Prog. Kit

nRF24L01+ 2.4GHz Proprietary l – – 16MHz Crystal l l l l l – Eval Kit

nRF24Audio Streamer

nRF2460 (mono) 2.4GHz Proprietary l – – 16MHz Crystal l l l l l l Microphone nRFgo Dev Kit

nRF24Z1 (stereo) 2.4GHz Proprietary l – – 16MHz Crystal l l l l l l l – Eval Kit

nRF51 nRF51822 2.4GHz Bluetooth v4.0+ & Proprietary l Cortex M0

16kB RAM128kB or 256kB Flash


l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l PC Desktop, Smart Remote Eval Kit, Dev Kit l

Sub 1-GHz RF

nRF900Multiband

nRF9E5433 / 868915MHz

Proprietary l 8051 4kB + 256B RAM4 / 8 / 12 / 16 / 20MHz

Crystall l l l l l – Eval Kit

nRF905433 / 868915MHz

Proprietary l – –4 / 8 / 12 / 16 / 20MHz

Crystall l – Eval Kit

Bluetooth low energy

nRF8000nRF8001 2.4GHz

Bluetoothv4.0+

l – –16MHz / 32kHz Crystal

32kHz RCl l l l l l l l l l

PC Desktop, Smart Remote,Smartphone Demo Apps


nRF8002 2.4GHzBluetooth

v4.0+l – –

16MHz Crystal32kHz RC

l lKey Tag,

Smartphone Demo AppsnRFgo Dev Kit

Prog. Kit

nRF51nRF51822 2.4GHz Bluetooth v4.0+

& Proprietary l Cortex M016kB RAM

128kB or 256kB Flash16MHz / 32kHz Crystal

16MHz / 32kHz RCl l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

PC Desktop, Smart Remote,Smartphone Demo Apps

Eval Kit, Dev Kit l

nRF51422 2.4GHzBluetooth v4.0+

& ANTl Cortex M0



l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l Smartphone Demo Apps Eval Kit, Dev Kit l

ANT

nRF24AP2

nRF24AP2-1CH 2.4GHz ANT l – – 16MHz / 32kHz Crystal l l l l l l Smartphone Demo Apps ANT Dev Kit

nRF24AP2-8CH 2.4GHz ANT l – – 16MHz / 32kHz Crystal l l l l l l Smartphone Demo Apps ANT Dev Kit

nRF24AP2-USB 2.4GHz ANT l – – 16MHz Crystal l l l l l ANT USB Dongle ANT Dev Kit

nRF51 nRF51422 2.4GHzBluetooth v4.0+

& ANTl Cortex M0



l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l Smartphone Demo Apps Eval Kit, Dev Kit l

www.nordicsemi.com12 | spring 2014 | ulp wireless quarter ulp wireless quarter | spring 2014 | 13 www.nordicsemi.com

ulp prODuCt seleCtiOn guiDe

Find the chip you need using this latest listing of every nordic product

ultra low power wireless connectivity solutions

More on ANT: www.thisisant.com


aNt appliCatiON

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxMore on ANT: www.thisisant.comFor more information on Moxy go to www.moxymonitor.com; For more on ANT go to www.thisisant.com

Fitness monitoring’s new thresholdwith help from aNt, Moxy’s muscle oxygen monitor precisely identifies which physiological system limits an elite athlete’s performance. ULP Wireless Q reports

the Blue Riband event in men’s athletics is the 100 meters sprint. The discipline combines

strength, grace, and technique. At the Mexico Olympics in 1968, U.S. athlete Jim Hines first broke the 10-second barrier (as recorded by modern equipment capable of timing down to 0.01 seconds) with a time of 9.95 seconds. Set by double Olympic (Beijing 2008 and London 2012) champion Usain Bolt in Berlin during 2009, today’s world record is 9.58 seconds.

Less than half-a-second separate Bolt’s and Hines’ extraordinary performances, but perhaps more remarkable is that since Hines achieved it, the 10-second barrier has now been broken in competition no less than 571 times.

Swimming also underlines the closeness of top competitors with less than three seconds covering the top-ranked male 100-meter swimmer in 2014, Australia’s James Magnussen (47.59 s) from number 55, the U.S.’s Ryan Lochte (50.54 s).

Getting the extra edgeA thousandth of a second at the elite level can mean the difference between gold and silver. Such fine margins explain why athletes will go to almost any length to gain an extra edge. Some turn to performance-enhancing (and illegal) drugs. Most stay on the right side of the law and choose science to better their technique and improve their strength.

Measurements such as VO2max

(which records oxygen uptake per kilogram of an athlete’s weight) and lactate threshold (the point at which lactic acid starts to accumulate in the bloodstream) correlate to fitness levels and can be used to set training zones to improve performance. But these techniques suffer two key disadvantages: They are difficult or cumbersome to carry out

Muscle oxygen saturation measurement allows athletes

to identify which physiological system is limiting performance

The monitor measures saturations at the place the

oxygen is consumed

(requiring expensive equipment, invasive techniques like blood draws, and introducing time delays) and only provide a general indicator of fitness rather than specific information.

But now, U.S.-based Moxy has introduced a device that uses the established real time and non-intrusive technique of near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to measure capillary oxygen saturation and the total hemoglobin at the point the work is being done – the athlete’s muscles.

While NIRS is not new, it was previously the preserve of bulky kit costing tens of thousands of dollars. In contrast, the Moxy muscle oxygen monitor is a compact (61 by 44 by 21 mm) lightweight (39 g) unit retailing for $1200 that’s robust and unobtrusive enough to be used for all sports including activities like rugby and swimming.

The muscle oxygen monitor transmits its data using proven ANT+ wireless technology to a vast range of interoperable devices such as sports watches, smartphones, and PCs for analysis and presentation by the athlete’s preferred choice of third-party software. Muscle oxygen saturation is a key indicator of fitness that, crucially, can identify which physiological system (for example, cardio-vascular, respiratory or muscular) is limiting the athlete’s performance. Armed with such knowledge, the competitor can refine their training program to focus on improving a specific weakness.

Oxygen transportOxygen is moved round the human body by a protein molecule called hemoglobin that makes up about 35 percent of the volume of each red blood cell.

The oxygen breathed in by the lungs binds to the iron-rich heme component of hemoglobin until it is released into the interstitial fluid to help power the functions of the body, such as muscle movement.

Hemoglobin absorbs different wavelengths of (particularly near infrared (IR)) light depending on how much oxygen it is carrying. Poorly oxygenated blood appears to have a bluish tinge and devices such as oximeters (employing NIRS) exploit these color changes to determine oxygen levels.

Such information is typically presented as “oxygen saturation” - the amount of hemoglobin that’s carrying oxygen divided by the total amount in the blood expressed as a percentage - and abbreviated as SxO

2 where “x”

is the measurement-location or –type. (For example, SaO

2 is the

‘a’rterial oxygen saturation while SmO

2 is the saturation in the

More on GSMA mHealth: www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/programmes/mhealthMore on GSMA mHealth: www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/programmes/mhealth


Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

aNt appliCatiON

For more on Nordic’s ANT chips go to www.nordicsemi.com/eng/Products/ANT

‘m’uscles.) In a healthy person, the SaO

2 value is typically between 96

and 99 percent. “It’s important to appreciate

the difference between SaO2 and

SmO2 to understand how the

muscle oxygen monitor works,” explains Roger Schmitz, Moxy’s CEO. “Little or no oxygen is consumed in the arteries so, for example, SaO

2 in the fingertips

[where a pulse oximeter is typically used] is typically the same as that in the main artery closest to the lungs.

“But by measuring oxygen saturation in the capillaries of the muscles you get a clear picture of how the oxygen is eventually used,” says Schmitz. “For example, at the beginning of a test for a cyclist, we see SmO

2 increase

because the heart rate rises and the blood vessels dilate. As the load increases SmO

2 becomes

constant – because the respiratory and cardiac capacity increase to compensate for the oxygen consumed by the muscles. Further exercise pushes the athlete to the point when SmO

2 falls

because more oxygen needs to be extracted from the blood to meet the demand. SmO

2 can drop to

almost zero in some cases.”

ANT+ provides the answerSchmitz explains that the key to the muscle oxygen monitor’s success is down to the fact that - with some clever analysis - the results can indicate which physiological system is limiting performance. For example, the results may show that the athlete’s hemoglobin is “sticky” and hence not easily giving up its oxygen load to the muscles. Changes to the athlete’s breathing pattern could alter the acidity of the blood and hence encourage hemoglobin to release oxygen more easily.

The Moxy muscle oxygen monitor uses ANT+ wireless technology to send SmO

2 and

total hemoglobin measurements to a host device for analysis and presentation.

ANT+, developed by Cochrane, Canada-based ANT Wireless, a Nordic Semiconductor design partner for over a decade, is

The Moxy muscle oxygen monitor is a compact, lightweight unit retailing for under $1200

a proven technology used in millions of devices worldwide.

ANT+ is popular for fitness monitoring because it is optimized for compact, coin cell-powered wireless sensors (such as heart rate- or cycle speed and cadence-monitors) typical of those used to measure performance. Moreover, the 400-plus members of the ANT+ Alliance ensure that the technology is interoperable with thousands of computing devices including major brands of smartphones and tablets.

ANT+ RF protocol software runs on Nordic’s nRF51422 System-on-Chip (SoC) – the world’s first single-chip ANT solution. The nRF51422 is a highly integrated silicon device that includes a multiprotocol 2.4-GHz radio and a 32-bit ARM Cortex-M0 based processor together with 256 kByte of Flash memory.

The combination of proven ANT+ RF software and Nordic’s fifth-generation ultra low power wireless hardware made its selection a simple decision for Schmitz.

“We did consider Bluetooth [wireless technology] initially,” he says. “But we realized we’d have to design our own watch and do a lot more programming in order to make that work. Once I saw ANT+ I knew it was the way to go because there’s such a

large ecosystem in place already. Athletes are familiar with the technology and have a wide range of ANT+ interoperable equipment from which to choose.”

Processing powerSchmitz explains that Moxy’s proprietary algorithm - used to calculate SmO

2 and total

hemoglobin from the NIRS raw data - is very mathematically intensive. Early prototypes of the muscle oxygen monitor used an 8051 microprocessor that wasn’t powerful enough to run the algorithm so raw data was sent through a cable to a PC for computation. The next prototype used an onboard MSP430 processor that could handle the algorithm but demanded a separate wireless chip.

The nRF51422 presented Schmitz with the perfect solution: ANT+ RF software protocol; ultra low power 2.4GHz radio; and integrated ARM processor with plenty of power to run the Moxy algorithm while simultaneously looking after the wireless connectivity. And all in a single device measuring just 6 by 6 mm.

“The nRF51422 ANT chip is an amazing device and I’m thoroughly impressed by what it does,” says Schmitz. “The ARM processor runs the whole show including the algorithm. SmO

2

and total hemoglobin volume is

calculated by the nRF51422 and all we send out over ANT+ are these two items of processed data [every two seconds].”

In addition to praising the chip‘s performance, Schmitz pointed out that the nRF51 Series’ unique software architecture - which cleanly separates the ANT+ RF protocol software from the application code - significantly eased the development process.

He noted that because the firmware developer didn’t have to worry about linking the application code to the RF protocol and then debug, the company saved a lot of time and was able to focus on making sure the algorithm worked perfectly.

“The developer got things working in what seemed like minutes. Within an hour the data was being streamed,” explains Schmitz “There was virtually no time spent debugging the radio or anything to do with sending the data. We were able to concentrate on the things that were unique to our product.”

Working perfectly“What I really like about ANT is it ‘just works’,” continues Schmitz. “Following the ANT-defined procedure for using the muscle oxygen profile ensured that everything worked perfectly first time and since then we’ve had no interoperability problems.”

ANT Wireless released the muscle oxygen profile (an additional piece of software that optimizes the operation of ANT+ for a particular application) for general use last September and, according to Schmitz, three PC- and one Android-fitness app have already adopted it as part of their platforms.

Competition in the world of commerce is just as cutthroat as that of international sport. In both, small but incremental gains add up to the difference between first and second. Schmitz believes that the advantages the Moxy muscle oxygen monitor gains from ANT and Nordic technology helped the product to reach the market more rapidly and will give it that winning edge over its competition. Z

“There was no time spent debugging the radio or data transmission. We were able to concentrate on the things that were unique to our product”

At a glance The smartphone will

become a hub for devices connected to the Internet as part of the IoT

Use of the smartphone as a hub may be less prevalent in the industrial and military sectors

Attach rates for Bluetooth Smart will develop over the next five years, but will be held back by the growth of the low-end smartphone segment at the expense of high-end devices. 16 | SPRING 2014 | ulp wireless quarter www.nordicsemi.com

iNDustrY perspeCtive

One popular vision for a major part of the forthcoming Internet of Things (IoT),

revolves around the smartphone, connected to a network of sensors and actuators, sending and receiving data. The smartphone will be a gateway to the Internet for the sensors, but will also act as a hub using its powerful processor for collecting and crunching data, supervising communication with the wireless devices in its associated network and presenting information to the user.

The concept of the IoT is developing rapidly because wireless sensors and beacons can now be made small, inexpensive and power-efficient enough for almost any application. A key enabling technology for these devices is Bluetooth low energy, part of Bluetooth v4.1. Known to consumers as Bluetooth Smart, it allows the sensors and beacons to easily link to the majority of contemporary smartphones.

For example, SticknFind has developed Bluetooth Smart location tags that can help an owner find anything they are stuck to, such as luggage, keys, even pets. A connected SticknFind smartphone app can track up to 20 tags, with a range of 30m. As well as the growing number of wireless sensors on the market, other consumer electronics devices, such as home appliances and in-car electronics, are making use of the smartphone in the same way.

More than one interfaceUsing the smartphone as a communications hub as well as a human-machine interface (HMI) for these wireless sensors seems like an obvious choice, given

the number of consumers that use mobiles in their daily lives. Most consumers are effectively carrying around a small yet powerful Internet-enabled computer at all times, so it makes sense to take advantage of that.

“The industry wants to capitalize on the fairly intimate relationship between the smartphone and the consumer, to make it the real hub that can control anything around its environment,” says ABI Practice Director Malik Kamal-Saadi. “The smartphone function will move to become a media hub where other devices respond to it. It will become a master device that controls various accessories but also other devices in the home,

how will growing numbers of smartphones accelerate the adoption of bluetooth smart, a key part of the internet of things? Sally Ward-Foxton investigates

riding the smartphone wave

Sally Ward-Foxton is a freelance journalist specializing in electronics

the home cinema for example, or heating, or even controlling other things in the car or in your environment.”

It’s a viewpoint echoed by Nordic Semiconductor’s CEO

Svenn-Tore Larsen in a recent interview with electronics trade magazine Incisor, given (particularly the young) consumer’s dependence on smartphones.

“The population that’s growing up now is growing up with a smartphone,” he said. “They are used to it – they use it for everything... [And remember,] these are the guys that will get the power to buy things in the next 5 to 10 years.”

However, as Lisa Arrowsmith, Associate Director of Connectivity at analyst IHS points out, IoT reaches far beyond consumer applications. The possibilities range from industrial uses to commercial

Generation Y have grown up with the smartphone and will influence the future direction of technology with their buying power



Arrowsmith. “But part of the idea behind the IoT is that by adding intelligence and connectivity to a wide range of devices, you can enable intelligent systems to rapidly make decisions without human input.”

Smartphone growthIHS’s figures put the installed base of smartphones at 1,919 million units at the end of 2013, and over the next five years this is projected to grow to 5,082 million. With more than 5 billion smartphones in the world, will the IoT be able to ride the wave? And will this mean a corresponding upswing in Bluetooth Smart shipments due to its interoperability with modern smartphones?

According to Arrowsmith, this sector is already growing fast.

“Some of our recent research shows Bluetooth Smart has gained traction, with over 40 million ICs shipped last year - compared with 2012, at just under 10 million,” Arrowsmith says. “That’s pretty sizeable growth, mainly driven by sports and fitness monitoring and other wearable devices.”

Arrowsmith predicts that Bluetooth Smart growth will come from a number of different sectors in the coming years, from consumer electronics - such as remote controls - to a range of diverse or niche applications as lots of device manufacturers take advantage of native smartphone support, which makes it easier for developers to work with the technology.

Attaching peripheralsGiven Bluetooth Smart’s affinity with the smartphone, and the number of companies working furiously to introduce “appcessories” (sensor-based accessories that team with an app on the mobile device), how big might the “attach rate” (the number of Bluetooth Smart devices connected to each smartphone) become?

“Some of our competitors are talking about 50 units to each phone by 2020,” Svenn-Tore Larsen told Incisor. “I’m not that bullish, but somewhere between 10 and 50 [is more realistic].”

ABI’s Malik Kamal-Saadi also predicted more modest growth, noting that although more appcessories are being launched every day, the attach rate may not grow as fast as expected.

“Ultimately some gadgets will make their way to the consumer lifestyle and pocket, but not all of

them will make it to the market,” he says. “We are in that phase of excitement and hype about the IoT, but within the next two years the market will likely start to stabilise and you will start to see applications that make more sense to the consumer lifestyle. Not everything you see [today] is going to be successful.”

According to analysts ABI’s estimates, the attach rate for Bluetooth Smart in 2013 was just 5 percent, that is, 1 in 20 smartphones was connected to a Bluetooth Smart accessory or device. This is projected to grow to 25 percent (1 in 4) by 2018. These figures may seem a little low compared to other forecasts, but Kamal-Saadi went on to explain that the smartphone market is split into two distinct segments: high-end and low-end.

Over the last two or three years, growth has predominantly been driven by high-end smartphones like the Apple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, and HTC One. The next wave of growth will come from low-end smartphones, which Kamal-Saadi definesas those priced at $70 orless. These low-endphones may be cheap,but with widescreen

displays and access to the Internet, they’ll look a lot like their high-end counterparts. The crucial difference is that these low-end phones will be predominantly used for accessing the Internet and social networking, with even low-cost (for example, $25) wireless accessories out of reach for users in emerging markets keeping the attach rate low.

“The [overall] attach rate is still low simply because low-end smartphones are growing very fast, and low-end smartphones have almost zero attach rate to them,” Kamal-Saadi explains. “The attach rate for markets like Europe, North America, Japan and Korea [where high-end smartphones dominate], will likely become quite significant within the next few years.”

Kamal-Saadi’s point is that the Bluetooth Smart sensor attach rate will be driven almost exclusively by the high-end smartphone segment.

The proportion of smartphones shipped in 2013 that were high-end was around 22 percent. By 2018, it’s predicted that 25 percent of smartphones shipped will be high-end, and the overall Bluetooth Smart attach rate reaches the 25 percent forecast by ABI, then it follows that every high-end smartphone shipped that year will be connected to at least one peripheral device via Bluetooth Smart, a good foundation for the IoT, in the well-established consumer electronics markets, at least. Z

building controls, smart metering and military or aerospace applications. For some of these implementations, the smartphone is a less appropriate choice for an interface and control device.

“Within these applications, the smartphone does represent a possible user interface,” says

SticknFind has developed Bluetooth Smart location tags that can help you find anything you stick them to, such as luggage, keys, and even pets

Lisa Arrowsmith, Associate Director of Connectivity at analyst IHS

“A key takeaway from someof our recent research is the rate at which Bluetooth Smarthas gained traction, with over40 million ICs shipped last year” Lisa Arrowsmith, IHS



bluetooth Core Specification v4.1, which was adopted by the Bluetooth

SIG in December 2013, makes important evolutionary changes to the v4.0 spec that opened a vast new application space for the technology four years ago by adding support for ultra-low power (ULP) operation for a host of small, low-power devices such as activity sensors.

Some new v4.1 features simply incorporated improvements into the core specification that had previously been made to the v4.0 specification by addenda. (Because the addendum process caused some confusion about what was – or was not – in the specification, the SIG will discontinue the process and replace it with “dot” versions of the specification, a development that will be welcomed by many developers, said Suke Jawanda, the SIG’s chief marketing officer.)

Taken as a whole, v4.1 more perfectly aligns the quite different use cases presented by Bluetooth technology’s long-standing streaming media mode, the more recent ULP operating mode, and Internet Protocol (IP)-connected operation in the future.

Wireless evolutionThe previous core specification (Bluetooth v4.0) notably added ULP capability that enabled communication with sensors and other devices powered by coin-cell batteries. Known as Bluetooth Smart, the low-energy functionality and the restructured generic attribute (GATT) profile were major aspects of a

revolutionary step forward for the technology. But the single-radio, low-energy sensor devices of Bluetooth Smart chips were compatible only with other Bluetooth v4.0-enabled products that have certain software implementations. A technology bridge between the Bluetooth “classic” and Bluetooth Smart implementations was provided in a Bluetooth Smart Ready hub.

Since 2010, product life cycles of mobile phones, PCs, and tablet computers have led to a significant replacement of Bluetooth classic chips with Bluetooth Smart Ready chips. In many instances, the utility of Bluetooth classic chips has also declined due to market

Dual mode topologyFrom a ULP developer’s perspective, the most important single feature of v4.1 is “dual mode” topology that allows a device such as a smartphone to act as a Bluetooth Smart Ready hub and a Bluetooth Smart peripheral at the same time.

The most obvious use scenario will be the ability to pass data from a sensor or smart watch to a mobile phone and then on to a PC if appropriate. Another attribute, which gives developers even greater freedom, is the ability to set up a scatternet.

In its pre-v4.1 mode of operation, Bluetooth enabled communication by creating piconets. But its three-bit address

bluetooth technology opens up to internet trafficbluetooth smart ready devices running the revised version of bluetooth wireless technology will provide greater flexibility. Jack Shandle explains

Jack Shandle is a freelance writer specializing in semiconductors

evolutions. The media streaming capabilities of smartphones, for example, have eroded the market for single-use Bluetooth-enabled devices such as MP3 players.

New products have also come on the market since 2010 and the new core specification addresses design issues that may have accompanied them. The emerging challenges for the technology are best exemplified by the smart watch, which can make substantial demands on the mobile’s battery. Beyond that development, as the sheer number of small “activity devices” equipped with sensors grows the number of potential connections will grow with it, which could have become problematic.

Building a bridge between IPv6 and Bluetooth Smart traffic will be remembered as a critical functionality that began with Bluetooth v4.1



Internet connectionsIn addition to using L2CAP connection-oriented channels for multiplexing, creating this channel is also a requirement when implementing IPv6 communications – an important foundation-building aspect of Bluetooth v4.1. “L2CAP provides a mechanism called Connection-Oriented Channels,” says Archey. “Within Connection-Oriented Channels is the capability of Fixed Channels. Fixed Channels are channels that have dedicated numeric values associated with them. The function of Connection-Oriented Channels and Fixed Channels is a requirement in support of implementing IPv6.”

John Leonard, Tactical Marketing Manager for ANT and Bluetooth low energy solution vendor Nordic Semiconductor, agrees that building a bridge between IPv6 and Bluetooth Smart traffic will be remembered as a critical functionality that began with Bluetooth v4.1. “Right now, there seems to be a lot of confusion about what can actually be done with IP traffic,” he says. “The new core specification is not the end of the story and we do not have a complete picture yet – but it’s a fundamental building block.

“Part of the protocol’s function will be to disassemble IP packets to make them meaningful for Bluetooth Smart as well as reassemble packets moving in the opposite direction,” he adds.

The new specification looks forward to a time when seamless interactions with 4G/LTE will be critically important to Bluetooth technology. LTE coexistence issues such as overlapping bands in Europe, India, and China are addressed. In addition, Bluetooth High Speed technology is enhanced by adding support for the IEEE 802.11n MAC/PHY through an update in the protocol adaptation layer (PAL).

The Bluetooth v4.1 “Features and Technical Descriptions” document provides a succinct source of information for all of the changes and improvements in the new core specification, including some security. Z

slightly, he said, but the real advantage is improved usability.

More efficient data exchangeMaking data exchange as efficient as possible is another design issue that becomes more important with the hub’s ability to connect to multiple Bluetooth Smart devices, each of which might have a significant amount of data to share with the smartphone, tablet or portable computer. In v4.0, data exchange took place across the GATT level that is fairly high up in the protocol stack and each frame contains a sizeable number of header and footer bits.

“Prior to L2CAP [Logical Link Control and Adaptation Protocol] being implemented in Bluetooth Smart, the device sending the data required an acknowledgement from the receiver before sending the next packet,” says Archey. “This dependency caused more

overall overhead in a complete transaction. The efficiency depends on the total number of packets being sent for a complete transaction, and the implementation of the Bluetooth stack by the manufacturer.”

Bulk data exchange scenarios such as downloading stored sensor data – or updating device software - maximizes the value of opening a channel lower in the stack to eliminate the constant retransmission of identical header and footer bits.

As Bluetooth radios find homes in more and more devices, it will become useful to allocate specific channels to avoid crosstalk. In v4.1, a direct channel is opened in the L2CAP layer. This enables multiple applications to utilize the same lower layer links. L2CAP was already part of Bluetooth classic (BR/EDR). Version 4.1 included L2CAP for Bluetooth Smart and Bluetooth Smart Ready.

“Before L2CAP was enabled in Bluetooth Smart and Bluetooth Smart Ready,” says Archey, “an application request from one device to another would be managed in a serial method. A complete operation would need to be finished before the next operation could start.

This is not very efficient. With L2CAP enabled, requests are multiplexed and managed in parallel, which is more efficient especially as the number of Bluetooth connections between devices grows.”

space limits the maximum size of a piconet to eight devices – one hub and seven peripherals, which could negatively affect usability as the Internet of Things (IoT) expands. Now that the device can assume either identity, it is possible for a hub to communicate with many more than eight devices.

Another important change gives developers more flexibility maintaining communication sessions. With v4.0, the interval between connection “advertisements” from a Bluetooth Smart- to a Bluetooth Smart Ready-device was fixed. This meant that when an activity device such as a fitness monitor was physically separated from the hub, the connection could be quickly abandoned and had to be restored manually. Beginning with v4.1, the developer now sets the connection advertisement interval.

“[Bluetooth v4.0] states that advertisers that want to perform connectable directed advertising should transmit a continuous sequence of advertising packets separated no further than 3.75 ms for a duration of 1.28 seconds,” says Chris Archey, Senior Product Manager of the Bluetooth SIG. “The new variant gives advertisers the option of transmitting a train of advertising packets on each enabled advertising channel, at a configurable advertising interval.” Fewer advertisements also reduces power consumption

“The new core specification is not the end of the story - but it’s a fundamental building block” John Leonard

At a glance Bluetooth upgrade

enables scatternets and flexibility for advertising beacon intervals

The upgrade includes more efficient block data transfer for Bluetooth Smart

Foundation technology building a bridge between Bluetooth Smart and IPv6

Smart watch-to-phone connectivity will benefit

from the enhanced version of Bluetooth technology

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Bluetooth v4.1 improves data transfer efficiency

20 | SPRING 2014 | ulp wireless quarter

sixense steM systemgame controller uses electromagnetic field to outclass accelerometer and camera motion trackers for improved response and gestural realism

NOrDiC iNsiDe

According to Forbes magazine, while the latest gaming consoles are significantly enhanced compared to their predecessors, PCs are already much more powerful and capable of producing even better graphics for games. Keen to build on the success of 3D-motion tracking systems pioneered by consoles such as Nintendo’s Wii and later taken to a new level by Microsoft’s Kinect, some PC hardware makers are exploiting the advantages of RF technology to wirelessly link controllers to the host unit. Here we take a closer look at one recent application, Sixense’s STEM System.

Nordic Semiconductor’s nRF51822 multiprotocol Bluetooth low energy/2.4 GHz proprietary RF Flash-based System-on-Chip (SoC) provides the wireless connectivity between up to five electromagnetic avatar tracking or controller modules (for example, head, hands, and both feet) and an electromagnetic field-generating base charging station. Each module communicates its position and orientation every 4 ms to a Nordic-powered USB dongle that plugs into a host PC.

www.nordicsemi.com

The U.S.-based Entertainment Software Association (ESA) reports that spending on gaming in the country reached $20.77 billion in 2012. Content made up the majority of the total at $14.8 billion with hardware and accessories following at $4.04 billion and $1.93 billion respectively.Of users who owned a console, PC, smartphone, dedicated handheld and wireless device,68 percent played games on the console, 63 percent on the PC, 43 percent on the smartphone,37 percent on the dedicated handheld and 30 percent on the wireless device.

According to online encyclopedia Wikipedia, Nintendo’s Wii remote uses accelerometers to detect its approximate orientation and acceleration, and an image sensor, so it can be used as a pointing device. The Sixaxis, DualShock 3, and PlayStation Move controllers for Sony’s PlayStation 3 system have similar motion-sensing capabilities. Microsoft’s Kinect uses cameras to detect the player’s motions and translate them into inputs for the game. The STEM System differs from other systems by using an electromagnetic field to determine motion from modules that wirelessly communicate with a stationary base.

The STEM System provides position and orientation tracking with precision down to the nearest 1 mm (position) and degree (orientation). Thanks to the low latency of Nordic’s wireless technology the data is available to the end application in less than 10 ms. The system knows where each tracking point is located and how it’s oriented at all times relative to the STEM Base.

nrF51822


Code separation simplifies wireless application development

iN the press

In a typical System-on-Chip (SoC) software architecture the object code deals with

the intricacies of the hardware and RF protocol stack and there is a separation between this object code and the application software. However, this separation is compromised during the project implementation because linking tends to ‘merge’ the two software elements. Furthermore, the application and the object code use the same memory space, increasing interdependency.

But what if the RF protocol software and the application code could genuinely be separated both in theory and practice? You could then concern yourself with just the development of your product and not worry about how your software will affect the shiny new factory-supplied code.

Although not unique in the world of electronics, Nordic Semiconductor has exclusively introduced this concept to the ultra low power (ULP) wireless sector with its nRF51 Series of ULP multiprotocol wireless SoCs introduced in June 2012.

The RF protocol software for the nRF51 Series (which is available in Bluetooth low energy, ANT or Nordic proprietary formats) is delivered not as object code, but rather as a separate executable binary file (referred to as a “Soft Device”).

When using an nRF51 Series SoC there is no need for you to link your application code to Nordic’s RF protocol software. That leaves you free to concentrate on developing the application, using an API that eliminates merging with the stack and avoids the branching mechanism where the processor jumps to the location of the

loss. A Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) usually controls the resource scheduling or, if memory resources are scarce, a proprietary scheduler is used. Both cases require some additional software to control execution, and this software has to work perfectly otherwise the wireless communication fails.

Sebastien Mackaie-Blanchi is FAE Manager - APAC with Nordic Semiconductor Z

targeted API function. But flexibility is retained

because the source code of all peripherals, such as timers, ADCs and serial interfaces can be directly controlled by the application. (The nRF51 Series SoC’s 2.4GHz radio is also directly accessible from the application allowing you to implement your own proprietary RF protocol software alongside the stacks available from Nordic if required.)

Breaking the linkThere are many advantages to this new architecture if you are developing an embedded wireless application. First, there is no need for software integration - and the associated time-consuming testing and debugging - because the RF protocol stack executable file is separated from your application executable file. You remain in control of all of the application code and free to make changes to enhance its operation safe in the knowledge that your alterations will have no effect on the stack.

Better yet, the RF protocol stack and the application can run from different locations in

EDNThis article was first published on EDN’s website in November 2013.

To see the article in full go to http://tinyurl.com/mwd25cm

entering the burgeoning bluetooth v4.0 ‘appcessory’ market is now much easier for the non-rF expert engineer. by Sebastien Mackaie-Blanchi

memory (both code and data memories can be separated enabling advanced features like independent memory protection for both software elements).

Furthermore, replacing the application executable file with a new version can be done independently from the RF stack, and replacing the stack with a new version does not require recompiling the application (which does have to happen when the stack is supplied as object code and has to be linked with the application software).

The advantages of the nRF51 Series architecture do not stop at the development cycle; the benefits extend to code execution.

For example, running several tasks requires mechanisms to allocate processor execution resource to the right task at the right time. This is vital because there are real-time constraints imposed by an RF stack; specifically the stack demands that data packets are processed at specific times. Failing to properly execute the proper timings results in lost packets or worse, complete link

Nordic’s nRF51 Series SoCs speed appcessory development


when Nordic Semiconductor’s in-house magazine, ULP

Wireless Q, was launched back in June 2006, Apple was yet to introduce its iPhone. That smartphone hit the market in 2007, and now, seven generations later, over 400 million of the products have been sold. The company followed the iPhone with the launch of a tablet computer, the iPad, in April 2010. Up until October 2013, some 170 million of these 9.7-in screen-sized units had been shipped.

In parallel to the hardware launches, the Cupertino-based company developed its iTunes Store and App Store; online digital media and app shops designed to work seamlessly with its portable devices. 25 billion songs had been downloaded by February 2013 and the 60-billion app milestone was reached in October that year.

Apple’s hardware, digital media outlet, and app store have revolutionized how music- and film-content is purchased and consumed, and are well on the way to doing the same for books and magazines. Consumers enjoy the convenience of digital publications, and publishers are able to use the power of the tablet computer to enhance the reading experience by embedding audio, video, web links, photo galleries and more into their magazines.

As Apple’s mobile product portfolio has expanded so has

ULP Wireless Q. The publication has grown over thirty editions from the original eight-page version to 24 pages. News, analysis, and opinion content have expanded along with full-length features - which now include regular contributions from established semiconductor

regular digital copies of ULP Wireless Q. The digital version of Nordic’s magazine includes all the interactivity you’d expect, including links back to relevant articles archived on the company’s website that you might have missed in previous editions.

To subscribe to the digital version of ULP Wireless Q go to: itunes.apple.com/us/app/nordic-semiconductor-ulp-wirelessq/id806052005?mt=8. Information on how to get the most out of the interactive version is published on the inside front cover of each digital edition. We hope you enjoy the new format.

If you’re not an iPad owner, ULP Wireless Q will continue to be produced in both print and electronic (PDF) versions with previous issues available from www.nordicsemi.com/eng/News/ULP-Wireless-Quarter. Z

industry journalists. Now ULP Wireless Q and

Apple’s technology have converged with the launch of Nordic’s magazine on Apple’s Newsstand. Newsstand can be downloaded from the App Store allowing iPad owners - via a free subscription - to receive

ulp wireless quarter goes digitalYou can now keep up-to-date on ulp wireless for free from apple Newsstand

Digital ulp wireless q

Returns you to the last page you viewed

Tap coverlines to go directly to story

Use scrubber bar to quickly scroll through the issue

Returns you to the contents page

Returns you to the library home page

Links you to NordicSemiconductor website

ULP Wireless Q is now available as a digital version from Apple’s Newsstand with embedded interactivity to enjoy on the iPad

2013 eDitiON arChive NOw available

www.nordicsemi.com

Pratyush Dave

peOple & plaCes

“I find my work for Nordic really engaging, even though it can be quite challenging when the pressure’s on”

Pratyush Dave enjoys traveling and experiencing local cultures

hi, I’m Pratyush Dave and I’m a Field Application Engineer (FAE) for Nordic covering the

Americas, based in sunny Anaheim near Los Angeles.

I joined Nordic just under two years ago. I love digital hardware and embedded software development, which has taken up most of my professional life.

The main purpose of my job is to provide technical support to Nordic’s customers and Americas sales team, including on-site face-to-face training and remote email and telephone assistance. I also develop software demonstrations for individuals and companies evaluating or using our wireless chips to exhibit their capabilities.

I find my work at Nordic really engaging, even though it can be quite challenging when supporting multiple customers simultaneously. But I find being entrusted to work independently, while being part of the wider Nordic ‘work family’, really helps. At Nordic that includes being made to feel your contributions make a difference, and that appreciation drives my motivation levels and desire to come up with creative and effective solutions to technical problems.

through some weekends and put in long hours during the week. But just five weeks later the extra effort paid off: I managed to deliver a detailed design document describing the software functionality, and fully implemented and integrated functional software working on four nRF51822 Eval Kit boards.

The customer and their management loved it, and the customer has since decided to specify the nRF51822 in another product as well, using the same demo software. It felt great to see all that hard work pay-off.

Outside of work I like to combine relaxation and exercise by going on long hikes, skiing in the San Bernardino mountains which are over 2000 meters tall, cycling, and swimming outdoors. I’m also especially passionate about traveling to exotic regions of the world and experiencing local cultures.

Other passions are photography and videography, including video editing, and reading. When I was 10 years old, one of my uncles nicknamed me “professor” because I read so much, and he said jokingly it was why I always seemed to have an answer to every question ! Z

During an early visit, for example, a customer showed a lot of interest in using our nRF51822 SoC in their next design. The use case included a social networking feature in a toy with a Bluetooth Smart control interface. For the project to progress, the customer needed a proof-of-concept to show their upper management within three months.

I was asked if I could do it, and was confident of success. My regular FAE duties still had to be performed, so I worked

ulp wireless quarter | SPRING 2014 | 23

Personal ProfileNAME:

Pratyush DaveJOB TITLE:

Field Application EngineerJOINED NORDIC:

June 2012BASED:

Anaheim, Ca, U.S.INTERESTS INCLUDE:

Hiking, skiing, swimming, cycling, travel

project challenges eased by support of Nordic semiconductor ‘family’

Subscribe to ULP Wireless Quarter:To subscribe (or unsubscribe) to ULP Wireless Q please login to (or create) your Nordic MyPage account at www.nordicsemi.com

BACK ISSUES: A complete archive of all previous ULP Wireless Q issues are available for you to download in PDF format at: www.nordicsemi.com/News/ULP-Wireless-Quarter

The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Nordic Semiconductor is under license.

Nordic Semiconductor leads the world in ultra low power wireless and was instrumental in the development of the Bluetooth® low energy technology (or Bluetooth Smart technology as it will now be marketed to consumers) part of the latest Bluetooth v4.0 specification.

www.nordicsemi.com

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nRF51822-mKITWorld’s first ARM® mbed™ development platform for Bluetooth® Smart applications.

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