Bluetooth mesh sensor platform enables OEMs to provide professional smart lighting

Hynek Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.'s smart lighting solution implements Bluetooth mesh to connect sensors and smartphones through Nordic nRF52832 SoC

OSLO, Norway – August 26, 2021 – Nordic Semiconductor announces that Huizhou Hytronik Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. (Hytronik) has selected Nordic’s nRF52832 Bluetooth® 5.2/Bluetooth® Low Energy (Bluetooth LE) multiprotocol system-on-chip (SoC) to provide Bluetooth mesh connectivity for its ecosystem of professional smart lighting solutions. The platform is designed for lighting manufacturers or building/project managers to provide Bluetooth mesh networking in large commercial/industrial smart lighting applications.

The Bluetooth 5 devices that make up the Hynek solution (including motion sensors, LED drivers, dimmer/receiver nodes, clock keeper and repeater modules, quick connect boxes, and gateways that support remote access/monitoring ) all integrate the "KMB01" proprietary module based on the Nordic nRF52832 SoC to become a node in the Bluetooth mesh network. Bluetooth mesh network connectivity enabled by the Nordic SoC allows batch commissioning of devices and easy configuration/control of sensor parameters for all luminaires in the network via a Bluetooth 4.0 (and higher) smartphone or tablet using the associated "Koolmesh" iOS and Android applications. Through this app, users are able to set the desired brightness, synchronize configuration settings to all luminaires, create static/dynamic scenes and schedules, deploy other smart lighting features and functions, and perform over-the-air device firmware updates (OTA-DFU). Alternatively, users can remotely manage the entire lighting system and view detailed luminaire/energy data and analytical information from the web dashboard Koolmesh supported by cloud connectivity via the "HBGW01" gateway.

Hynek’s solution’s sensors can be integrated into a wide range of new or existing luminaires, enabling lighting manufacturers to implement wirelessly controllable sensor-equipped lighting fixtures with minimal RF engineering expertise. The integrated Bluetooth 5 module based on the Nordic nRF52832 SoC features a powerful 64MHz, 32-bit Arm® Cortex® M4 processor with floating point unit (FPU), which can support advanced features implemented by sensors running in mesh networks. The powerful and robust Bluetooth mesh network then provides the Unik Intelligent Lighting Platform with luminaire grouping capabilities. Bluetooth mesh allows devices within a low-power Bluetooth network to communicate directly with companion devices without the need for a central hub device. Such management control systems extend communication range, flexibility, and reliability. Key applications for Bluetooth mesh networks include professional lighting installations, beacon management backends, and industrial monitoring.

Hynek motion sensor technologies include high-frequency (HF) microwave, passive infrared (PIR), or a combination of the two. The company says these motion sensors have a variety of form factors to meet almost all applications, from high-bay to low-bay, from IP20 to IP65. Typical application product kits include "HCD038/BT + SAM20" HF microwave sensor or "HIR63" PIR built-in detachable motion sensor, "HCD405/BT" built-in integrated motion sensor, "HBHC25" stand-alone PIR motion sensor, and optional "HBP02" touch panel to determine whether to turn on/off or brighten/dim the lamp. In addition, daylight sensors (photocells) can read the lumen value of ambient daylight and provide further lighting control functions. For example, deep environmental learning algorithms enable lamps to calculate the artificial light generated by adjacent lamps to help achieve the most accurate constant light, maximize energy savings and enhance user experience.

Nordic's nRF52832 combines an Arm Cortex M4 processor with a 2.4GHz multiprotocol radio (supporting Bluetooth 5, ANT™, and proprietary 2.4GHz RF software) with -96dBm RX sensitivity, 512kB flash, and 64kB RAM. The nRF52832 SoC provides Bluetooth 5 support, including 2x raw data bandwidth (2Mbps); eight times the broadcast capability with advertising extensions (increasing the advertising packet payload to 251 bytes), and improved channel coexistence algorithms. The powerful processor and ample memory in this SoC can support Unique Solutions' advanced mesh software. In conjunction with Nordic's nRF Connect SDK software development kit or nRF5 SDK for Mesh and nRF52 DK development kit, a complete Bluetooth mesh development solution is available.

“When we were looking for a suitable Bluetooth mesh solution for our smart lighting platform, we found that Nordic could provide the complete technical documentation, reference designs, nRF5 SDK and fast local technical support we needed during the R&D phase,” said Cheng Yifeng, Marketing Director at Hynek Intelligent Technology.

“Bluetooth mesh enables grouping capabilities that are essential in the professional lighting control industry. The reliability and scalability of Bluetooth mesh networks opens up countless application possibilities and provides maximum flexibility for project site deployment.”