u-blox launches new low-power Bluetooth module that combines Bluetooth direction finding, long-range communication and high-temperature operation!

Recently, u-blox (SIX: UBXN), a leading global provider of positioning and wireless communication technologies , announced the launch of the new u-blox NINA-B4 low-power Bluetooth module series. NINA-B4 is equipped with Nordic Semiconductor's latest nRF52833 chip, supporting a series of Bluetooth functions such as long-range communication, Bluetooth mesh and Bluetooth direction finding. The module is tailored for various application scenarios in the fields of industrial Internet of Things, smart homes, buildings and cities, asset tracking and e-health.

As one of the new features of the NINA-B4 series, Bluetooth direction finding is an important upgrade in the Bluetooth v5.1 specification, which can bring high-precision positioning advantages to a variety of indoor applications. NINA-B4 is designed to act as both a transmitter and a receiver in angle of arrival (AoA) and angle of departure (AoD) direction finding applications and indoor positioning applications, which is a benchmark product that is the first of its kind in the u-blox module series.

In an AoA configuration, a fixed beacon equipped with a multi-antenna array detects the angle of arrival of the signal transmitted by the tracking device to determine the location of the tracking device with sub-meter accuracy. In an AoD configuration, the tracking device calculates the departure angle of the signal transmitted by the fixed beacon multi-antenna array to triangulate its own location.

u-blox NINA-B4 supports wireless mesh networks, which enable reliable communication between a large number of connected devices: by "relaying" messages between multiple nodes, the message is finally delivered to the target device. Due to the simplified control of the device group, mesh networks are very suitable for applications such as smart lighting systems in cities and buildings, and such application scenarios will further benefit from the module's operating temperature range, that is, the maximum operating temperature is up to 105°C.

With its support for Bluetooth long-range communication, NINA-B4 is ideal for deployment in harsh working environments. For example, it can be used for configurable devices that support wireless connectivity. In particular, Bluetooth long-range communication not only extends the transmission distance of Bluetooth signals in an interference-free environment, but also enables more stable and reliable communication under adverse conditions (such as in factories and production workshops).

The NINA-B4 series comes bundled with u-blox u-connect software, which features an easy-to-understand user interface to help users configure the desired connection, making it easier and faster to integrate Bluetooth into new and existing products.

In addition, NINA-B4 also uses a powerful Arm® Cortex®-M4F MCU and an open CPU architecture, allowing customers to run their own applications on the module. The first products in the NINA-B4 series will support Zigbee and Thread protocols and come with an internal PCB antenna or a U.FL connector for connecting an external antenna of the user's choice.

Samples of NINA-B4 will be available in December.

/About u-blox/

Swiss u-blox (SIX:UBXN) is a leading supplier of positioning and wireless communication technologies for the automotive, industrial and consumer markets. Its solutions enable accurate positioning of people, vehicles and machines and wireless communication over cellular and short-range networks. With a broad and diverse portfolio of chips, modules and a growing ecosystem of product-supported data services, u-blox is uniquely positioned to help its customers develop innovative solutions for the Internet of Things quickly and cost-effectively. Headquartered in Thalwil, Switzerland, u-blox currently has offices in Europe, Asia and the United States. www.u-blox.com

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