New Bluetooth low energy spec supports low-power devices

Stephen Withers
Friday, 18 December 2009 09:12

Your IT - Home IT

The latest version of the Bluetooth specification features low-energy technology, expanding the range of devices that could use wireless communication.

A key feature of the Bluetooth Core Specification Version 4.0 is Bluetooth low energy wireless technology.

Bluetooth low energy enables the creation of wireless products and sensors that run on coin-cell batteries. Power consumption is so low that one battery may last for years.

The specification can be implemented in two ways. A dual-mode implementation adds the new functionality to an existing Bluetooth controller design (the new software can also be used with Bluetooth V2.1 + EDR or V3 + HS chips), or manufacturers can design new single-mode chips to take full advantage of the small size and low power requirements of Bluetooth low energy.

Bluetooth low energy is likely to show up in devices such as watches, remote controls, and healthcare and sports sensors. Likely adopters include  the healthcare, fitness, security, home entertainment, automotive and automation industries.

Bluetooth low energy allows data transfer at 1Mbps, using the same frequency-hopping arrangement common to all Bluetooth versions. Despite the low power consumption, it still allows a potential range of over 100m.

"Bluetooth low energy modules for all sorts of new products may now be qualified – this is an important step towards our goal of enabling new markets with Bluetooth wireless technology," said Michael Foley, executive director of the Bluetooth SIG.

"For example, the Continua Health Alliance has already selected Bluetooth low energy technology as a transport for the next version of its guidelines," he added.

Don't be misled by the name - the Bluetooth SIG is an industry association, not a user group. Its promoter members are Ericsson, Intel, Lenovo, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia and Toshiba, and there are also more than 12,000 associate and adopter member companies.

"Our selection of Bluetooth low energy for the Continua Version Two Design Guidelines extends exciting new capabilities to manufacturers and consumers alike, as well as enabling additional use cases within the Continua ecosystem," said Rick Cnossen, president and board chair, Continua Health Alliance.

Continua's goal is to establish a system of interoperable personal telehealth solutions. Promoter members include technology companies such as Cisco, IBM and Panasonic, and healthcare companies such as Bayer HealthCare, GE Healthcare and Kaiser Permanente.