Dialog Bluetooth Low Energy SoC adds new features to help slow the spread of COVID-19

     Dialog Semiconductor, a supplier of highly integrated battery management, AC/DC power conversion, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and industrial ics, announced the availability of its latest Wireless Ranging (WiRa™) software development Kit (SDK). Adds highly accurate and reliable wireless ranging capabilities to its DA1469x Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) SoC family.

     Due to the global spread of COVID-19, the need for more accurate and reliable wireless ranging and tracking technology has become even more pronounced. As organizations around the world move toward manageable return-to-work programs, they are looking for a solution that can help ensure a safe distance between employees and more accurate and efficient close contact tracing to ensure workplace safety and employee peace of mind.

     Current solutions for ranging and positioning in the Bluetooth Low Energy market are based on measuring the strength or power of the received radio signal, called received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) measurements. However, this received signal power measurement itself has some inherent flaws, as it is very sensitive to the effects of objects blocking or reflecting radio signals in the radio path.

     Dialog's latest Wireless Ranging SDK successfully overcomes the shortcomings of RSSI with a proprietary radar-like implementation that greatly improves wireless ranging accuracy between BLE connected devices. By interweaving BLE packets with interactive fixed-frequency signals, the 2.4GHz radio on the DA1469x chip generates the signals needed for phase-based ranging. High-resolution on-board sampling of radio waves provides a high-quality IQ sample as a signal input for ranging. The data processing algorithm filters out the noise, interference, reflection and other signals in the data to produce the shortest air signal path as an accurate distance output.

     Dialog's protocol stack and WiRa™ software implementation, compatible with the Bluetooth Low Energy specification, require no hardware modifications or external host processors, ensuring the coexistence of Bluetooth communication and ranging processes.

     Sean McGrath, senior vice President, Connectivity and Audio Technologies Business Unit, Dialog Semiconductor, said: "Dialog's Bluetooth Low Energy solutions are already being used in a wide range of products to help slow the spread of COVID-19. "By adding unique precision wireless ranging capabilities to the DA1469x SoC family, we hope to accelerate the global deployment of more track-type applications and products in the coming months to help slow the spread of COVID-19."