BLE module extends the range of Bluetooth to 400m

16th March 2016

Nat Bowers

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Cypress Semiconductor has introduced a BLE module solution that extends the range of Bluetooth to 400m, eight times that of current Bluetooth solutions. The EZ-BLE PSoC XT/XR module’s extended range opens up the use of Bluetooth connectivity to home automation, industrial and smart city applications. E.g., it enables a parking meter to receive payments via the Bluetooth connections on smartphones, while also reporting in to a central hub that covers a city block.

The EZ-BLE PSoC XT/XR CYBLE-224110-00 module is available in a small 9.5x14.5mm, 32-pad footprint. The module is hailed as the industry’s first with an extended temperature range from -40 to +105°C, enabling robust operation in outdoor and industrial environments.

Additionally, Cypress has introduced the EZ-BLE PRoC CYBLE-222014-01 module that is claimed as the industry’s first to enable all three key features of the Bluetooth 4.2 standard: data length extension, privacy and enhanced security (all three of which are critical for IoT applications). The module is drop-in compatible with Cypress’s 128/256kB flash memory Bluetooth 4.1 modules. Cypress is demonstrating the new long range module, along with the Bluetooth 4.2 module, at the Bluetooth World 2016 event in booth number 202 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

Cypress is also demonstrating an implementation for lighting applications that is compliant with the latest proposal from the Bluetooth Smart Mesh Working Group. Mesh networking extends the range of Bluetooth by allowing devices to send data to and receive data from multiple neighbouring devices - a critical capability for many IoT applications.

Dave Solda, Senior Director, Module Business Unit, Cypress, commented: “At Bluetooth World, Cypress is showcasing both our ability to push the envelope in terms of range and performance and our ability to help our customers leverage the full benefits of industry standards, such as Bluetooth 4.2. Our long range EZ-BLE PSoC XT/XR module coupled with our upcoming Bluetooth mesh solution enables customers to develop innovative products that can simultaneously communicate with billions of Bluetooth-enabled mobile devices and a wide-area Bluetooth network in a cost effective manner.”

Cypress’s BLE modules deliver unmatched ease-of-use for drop-in wireless connectivity, along with the integration and programmability of its PSoC 4 BLE Programmable System-on-Chip or PRoC BLE Programmable Radio-on-Chip solutions. Cypress’s modules integrate an ARM Cortex-M0 core, Cypress’s industry-leading CapSense capacitive-sensing technology, two crystals, an on-board antenna, metal shield and passive components.

Cypress has simplified the BLE protocol stack and profile configuration into a new royalty-free, GUI-based BLE Component - a free embedded IC represented by an icon - that can be dragged and dropped into designs using Cypress’s PSoC Creator IDE. Application details for Cypress’s BLE Component are embedded in PSoC Creator with examples of all supported BLE profiles and hundreds of example projects for mixed-signal system designs. PSoC Creator enables complete system design in a single tool, accelerating time-to-market. Cypress provides additional design support with multiple development kits.

The EZ-BLE PSoC XR/XT CYBLE-224110-00 module will be sampling in April 2016 and the EZ-BLE PRoC CYBLE-222014-01 Bluetooth 4.2 module will be sampling in March 2016.