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uring the last few years,
integrated circuit vendors
have released various multiradio
devices that offer two or more wireless
technologies in one physical package.
This has led to the development of
multiradio modules that typically
include Classic Bluetooth, Bluetooth
low energy and Wi-Fi. Multiradio
solutions enable product innovation
for the Internet of Things (IoT)
in many and varied applications
including telematics, usage-based
insurance, manufacturing, connected
cities, healthcare, asset management,
building and home automation,
security systems and smart energy.
Multiradio devices reduce size,
implementation cost and final product
cost but, aside from these rather
obvious benefits, there are many
others. Pre-certified modules will
reduce the time and effort involved
in securing type approval from the
various radio regulatory authorities for
the finished product. The complexities
of wireless co-location, where several
antennas operate in close proximity
within the same small device, are
already taken care of too.
Also, multiradio devices permit a
single physical implementation for a
range of products. They can make
use of external technology discovery
and proximity detection, perhaps via
Bluetooth low energy beacons, and
they can be used as cost-effective and
compact gateways for the IoT.
Why size matters
Smartphone manufacturers are
particularly focused on reducing
the size and cost of their products.
Handsets need to integrate several
wireless protocols (in addition to the
cellular) to fulfill their goals of being
multi-tasking units: Classic Bluetooth,
Bluetooth low energy, Wi-Fi (2.4
GHz and 5 GHz), FM radio, satellite
navigation and, in some recent models,
NFC. Instead of embedding several
discrete radios, possibly from different
vendors, designers can dramatically
reduce the wireless implementation
size and cost by adopting a single
multiradio solution instead. Printed
circuit board size, complexity and cost
are all reduced too.
Lowering the cost of both
implementation and the
final product
Multiple discrete radios mean more
components, more circuit board real
estate and more testing. There are
many fewer external components
in a multiradio. Multiradio modules
may also include LNAs (low-noise
amplifiers),
antenna
matching
components, oscillators, crystals
and more components that would
otherwise be external to the radio
device.
Most multiradio solutions also
implement a common antenna
D
Why Choose Embedded Multiradio Solutions
for M2M and IoT Applications?
Pelle Svensson, U-blox
22 l New-Tech Magazine Europe