New-Tech Magazine - Europe | January Digital edition

Why Choose Embedded Multiradio Solutions for M2M and IoT Applications?

Pelle Svensson, U-blox

D

uring the last few years, integrated circuit vendors

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

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,

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

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