Skyworks has announced that its advanced connectivity engines are being leveraged by Nordic Semiconductor for ultra-low power wireless communications. Specifically, Nordic is utilizing Skyworks’ family of fully-integrated front-end solutions in conjunction with their multi-protocol system-on-chip (SoC) for Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) and emerging Bluetooth 5 applications. Together, the combined platform provides superior efficiency - making it ideal for battery-powered Internet of Things (IoT) devices - while delivering a 4x range advantage for connected home and outdoor usage cases.
Bluetooth LE is a critical protocol for IoT, given its upgraded communication capabilities and minimal power consumption requirements. Bluetooth 5 further enhances benefits and supports additional breakthrough features such as extended ranges, higher data throughputs, and improved co-existence, all key elements in an increasingly dense network.
According to a recent report from ABI Research, Bluetooth LE devices are forecasted to reach over 1.6 billion annual shipments by 2023, representing a 27 percent compound annual growth rate between 2018 and 2023 - or tripling in size.
Skyworks’ portfolio is uniquely designed for Bluetooth, Zigbee and Thread interfaces, meeting the growing demand for long-range, low-power and cost-effective products for IoT. For example the SKY66112-11 and SKY66403-11 front-end modules help deliver up to 40 percent reduction in current consumption when compared to certain standalone SoCs. In addition, these modules increase sensitivity up to 6 dB, more than doubling the receive range for typical IoT devices. For more information about the complete portfolio, click here.
