Silicon Labs' Bluetooth® Channel Sounding Provides Sub-Meter Accuracy to Drive Secure Fine Ranging

Rhea-AI Summary

Silicon Labs (NASDAQ: SLAB) has announced support for Bluetooth® Channel Sounding technology on its xG24 platform. This breakthrough enhances the accuracy and security of Bluetooth device-ranging capabilities, offering sub-meter accuracy and secure fine ranging. The technology uses Phased-Based Ranging (PBR) and Round Trip Time (RTT) for precise distance measurements between devices.

Silicon Labs is introducing new hardware solutions, including the xG24 Radio Board and Pro Kit, available now, and the xG24 Dev Kit with dual antenna PCB design, coming in December 2024. These solutions cater to various application complexities, from basic to advanced, and are AEC-Q100 qualified for automotive use.

Positive

• Introduction of Bluetooth® Channel Sounding technology with sub-meter accuracy
• Launch of new xG24 Radio Board and Pro Kit for product prototyping
• Upcoming xG24 Dev Kit with dual antenna PCB design in December 2024
• AEC-Q100 qualification for automotive applications
• Expected qualification for Bluetooth® Core Specification v6.0 by year-end

Negative

• None.

Tech Expert

Silicon Labs' introduction of Bluetooth® Channel Sounding technology marks a significant advancement in wireless connectivity. This innovation addresses key limitations of current Bluetooth positioning systems, particularly the inaccuracies associated with RSSI-based methods. The sub-meter accuracy achieved through Phased-Based Ranging (PBR) and Round Trip Time (RTT) techniques represents a substantial leap forward in precision.

The technology's potential applications span diverse sectors, from consumer electronics to industrial and automotive domains. Notably, the AEC-Q100 qualification opens doors for automotive implementations, potentially disrupting the market for keyless entry systems. The dual-antenna hardware solution, slated for release in December 2024, promises even greater accuracy and could become a game-changer for location-based services and IoT applications.

While the innovation is promising, market adoption and integration into existing ecosystems will be critical factors to monitor. The success of this technology could potentially strengthen Silicon Labs' position in the IoT connectivity market.

Market Research Analyst

Silicon Labs' Bluetooth® Channel Sounding technology presents a significant market opportunity. The global Bluetooth IoT market is projected to grow rapidly and this innovation could capture a substantial share. Key growth drivers include:

• Increasing demand for precise indoor positioning systems
• Rising adoption of IoT in industrial and commercial sectors
• Growing automotive applications for secure access control

The technology's cross-sector applicability is particularly noteworthy, potentially opening new revenue streams for Silicon Labs. However, competition from other positioning technologies like Ultra-Wideband (UWB) should be closely monitored. The success of this innovation could positively impact Silicon Labs' market position and potentially lead to increased revenue growth in the coming years, particularly if it can establish itself as the go-to solution for high-precision Bluetooth applications.

Financial Analyst

While specific financial figures aren't provided, this technological advancement could have a positive impact on Silicon Labs' financial performance. The company's strategic focus on IoT and wireless connectivity aligns well with market trends, potentially driving revenue growth in the medium to long term. Key financial considerations include:

• Potential for increased market share in the growing IoT connectivity sector
• Diversification of revenue streams across multiple industries
• Possible boost in high-margin product sales, potentially improving profitability

Investors should monitor the adoption rate of this technology and its impact on Silicon Labs' revenue mix. The planned release of advanced hardware solutions in December 2024 could be a catalyst for accelerated growth in FY2025. However, R&D expenses may increase in the short term as the company continues to innovate and refine the technology.

Breakthrough Hardware and Software Boosts Bluetooth Device Ranging Accuracy and Security

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Silicon Labs (NASDAQ: SLAB), a leader in secure, intelligent wireless technology for a more connected world, today announced its support for Bluetooth® Channel Sounding technology on the xG24 platform.

Bluetooth® Channel Sounding is a new protocol stack designed to enable secure and precise distance measurement between two Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) connected devices. By offering true distance awareness, Bluetooth® Channel Sounding enhances the accuracy and security of Bluetooth device-ranging capabilities.

"In a world where location awareness is critical, Bluetooth® Channel Sounding revolutionizes proximity and location capabilities, propelling Bluetooth technology into a new era," said Ross Sabolcik, Senior Vice President of the Industrial and Commercial Business Unit at Silicon Labs. "With a legacy of empowering developers with the full potential of Bluetooth technology, Silicon Labs' latest hardware and software create an accelerated path to groundbreaking Bluetooth products equipped with Bluetooth® Channel Sounding."

Bluetooth Channel Sounding Enhances Accuracy and Security for Distance Awareness

By helping to estimate the distance between two devices, Bluetooth Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) opened the door for a new wave of applications. From solutions to help locate devices like phones or tablets to digital security enhancements like geofencing, Bluetooth technology has enhanced the convenience and simplicity of everyday tasks. The challenge, however, is that Bluetooth RSSI has relied on estimations to determine location. RSSI is also susceptible to issues like multipath and obstruction which can significantly reduce accuracy. Bluetooth® Channel Sounding addresses this by improving the accuracy to sub-meter and enhancing the security of Bluetooth device ranging capabilities.

Bluetooth® Channel Sounding uses Phased-Based Ranging (PBR) to deliver precise distance measurements between two devices and a secondary ranging method called Round Trip Time (RTT). The independent distance measurements from RTT can then be used to verify and cross-check the PBR measurements. This cross-verification process helps detect anomalies to ensure applications are secure, which is critical when developing access control solutions for hospitals and industrial buildings that must grant or deny access based on proximity.

With PBR and RTT, Bluetooth® Channel Sounding can be used in home and life applications like smart locks, locating consumer electronic devices, and pet trackers, as well as industrial and commercial applications like geofencing, vehicle keyless entry, and access control – all while delivering accurate, secure, and dependable Bluetooth ranging services. With advanced distance estimation techniques, Bluetooth® Channel Sounding can also be used to triangulate the position of commercial infrastructure like wireless access points or luminaires to either meet regulatory requirements or save human labor and costs.

Additionally, Bluetooth® Channel Sounding offers a more convenient and flexible ranging solution for applications that already use Bluetooth LE. In such cases, it can be implemented without the need for extra hardware and design space.

Silicon Labs New xG24 and Antenna Hardware Solutions Support Channel Sounding

Silicon Labs' new xG24 Radio Board and Pro Kit, available to order now, provides a fast and efficient way to create and prototype products using Bluetooth® Channel Sounding for precise distance estimation. The kit includes a BRD4198A EFR32xG24 2.4 GHz +10dBm Radio Board, a Sleeve Dipole Antenna, and reference designs.

Additionally, the xG24 Dev Kit, available in December 2024, features a dual antenna PCB design, and a Channel Sounding visualizer tool that allows customers to effortlessly view distance measurements in real time, streamlining the implementation of Bluetooth® Channel Sounding in their products and applications.

Silicon Labs offer customers new and advanced hardware solutions for developing products of varying complexities that support Bluetooth® Channel Sounding:

• Single Antenna hardware has fewer antenna paths and limited multipath information, making it more suitable for basic Bluetooth® Channel Sounding applications, where lower power consumption and reliability in simpler environments are prioritized over precise distance measurement.
• Dual Antenna hardware will be available for order and use in December 2024. The dual antenna hardware offers higher accuracy, better spatial and enhanced multipath resolution, and is ideal for advanced applications that demand precise distance estimation such as key fobs and tags. The small form-factor of this board makes it ideal for size-constrained applications. The antenna diversity also heightens signal quality and robustness.

Silicon Labs' hardware solution is AEC-Q100 qualified, making it a suitable choice for automotive applications like Passive Entry and Passive Start systems.

Qualification to version 6.0 of the Bluetooth® Core Specification for xG24 host stack and link layer are expected by the end of the year. The qualified stack will support intra-event antenna switching for optimal Non-Line-of-Sight performance and supports Channel Sounding when xG24 is operating in either NCP (Network Co-Processor) mode with an external application MCU (microcontroller unit) or SoC (System on Chip) mode with an integrated application MCU. 

Get Started with Bluetooth® Channel Sounding with Silicon Labs

Silicon Labs customers can leverage comprehensive software and hardware solutions, as well as a patent-pending distance estimation algorithm, to develop products that use Bluetooth® Channel Sounding for various day-to-day applications in settings like the home, industrial, commercial, or connected health. To learn more about Bluetooth® Channel Sounding, please visit:

• The Silicon Labs Bluetooth® Channel Sounding blog
• The Silicon Labs Bluetooth® Channel Sounding page
• Watch the Bluetooth® Channel Sounding Tech Talk

About Silicon Labs
Silicon Labs is a trailblazer in wireless connectivity for the Internet of Things. Its integrated hardware and software platform, intuitive development tools, and unmatched ecosystem support make Silicon Labs the ideal long-term partner in building advanced industrial, commercial, and home and life applications. Silicon Labs leads the industry in high performance, low power, and security with support for the broadest set of multi-protocol solutions.

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SOURCE Silicon Labs

FAQ

What is Bluetooth® Channel Sounding and how does it improve device ranging?

Bluetooth® Channel Sounding is a new protocol stack that enables secure and precise distance measurement between two Bluetooth Low Energy connected devices. It improves ranging accuracy to sub-meter levels using Phased-Based Ranging (PBR) and Round Trip Time (RTT) techniques, enhancing both accuracy and security compared to traditional RSSI-based methods.

When will Silicon Labs (SLAB) release the xG24 Dev Kit with dual antenna PCB design?

Silicon Labs plans to release the xG24 Dev Kit with dual antenna PCB design in December 2024. This kit will feature a Channel Sounding visualizer tool for real-time distance measurements.

What applications can benefit from Silicon Labs' (SLAB) Bluetooth® Channel Sounding technology?

Bluetooth® Channel Sounding can be used in various applications, including smart locks, locating consumer electronics, pet trackers, geofencing, vehicle keyless entry, access control in hospitals and industrial buildings, and triangulating the position of commercial infrastructure like wireless access points or luminaires.

Is Silicon Labs' (SLAB) new hardware solution suitable for automotive applications?

Yes, Silicon Labs' hardware solution is AEC-Q100 qualified, making it suitable for automotive applications such as Passive Entry and Passive Start systems.