New-Tech Europe Magazine | Aug 2018

Conquering wireless connectivity challenges with simple, low-power proprietary wireless solutions

Adithya Madanahalli, Würth Elektronik

Wireless connectivity design challenges The first challenge is the choice of the frequency of operation. The 2.4 GHz ISM band’s global availability and high bandwidth make it an attractive frequency band to address the global market. However, the over-crowded spectrum and limited range are often the pitfalls of this frequency band. Several other unlicensed bands including 169 MHz, 433 MHz, 868 MHz and 915 MHz, often referred to as sub- GHz, intrinsically provide extended range at the cost of lower data rates. Alternatively, the use of licensed spectrum with technologies like GSM or LTE offers the due reliability for the premiums paid. The challenge here is to choose the right frequency, keeping the range, throughput as well as local regulatory requirements, including transmitting power, duty cycle and channel spacing of the application in mind.

Introduction We are in the midst of the information age, where data has become the currency of the world. Data from varied sources are accumulated, aggregated and analyzed at a scale previously unseen. The network of interconnected devices, the veins and arteries of this information mechanism, are going through exponential growth. According to a Forbes magazine report, the number of connected devices would reach 75.4 billion by 2025. Advances in the field of wireless communication technologies brought about the revolution of mobile communication in the past two decades. In today’s world, wireless connectivity still acts as the catalyst driving modern technological developments forward. From smart cities to automated manufacturing, connected homes and next-generation healthcare,

wireless connectivity has been the key factor enabling the emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT). Ease of deployment, flexibility, mobility, improved performance and enhanced reachability are some of the benefits offered by the integration of wireless connectivity into an application. The mobile phone, a device that has become so commonplace today, that the complexity of the systems and technologies involved are often easily forgotten. As a system designer either looking to take your next big idea wireless or trying to replace an existing wired link in your industrial system, you will inevitably ask yourself this simple question: how much effort does it take to design and implement a wireless link into your application? To answer this question is to prudently list the challenges faced to perform this task.

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