Exclusive interview with Silicon Labs: In-depth discussion on the future development trend of Bluetooth 6.0

Bluetooth technology has achieved another milestone this year. In September, the Bluetooth SIG released Bluetooth Core Specification 6.0 and its new feature, Channel Sounding. Compared with the past, Bluetooth has gradually expanded to areas such as low-power data transmission, indoor positioning services, and reliable large-scale device networks.

According to the latest report from the Bluetooth Technology Alliance, the total annual shipments of Bluetooth devices will reach 7.5 billion units in 2028. It can be said that driven by Bluetooth 6.0, the Bluetooth market will continue to grow in the future.

The new standard has just been launched, and it will take a while for products to switch from the old standard to the new standard and give full play to the capabilities of the new standard. At this time, it is very important to choose the right product to cross the new standard.

When the Bluetooth 6.0 specification was launched, Silicon Labs quickly followed up, and its powerful Bluetooth product portfolio and industry-leading Bluetooth architecture now support Bluetooth 6.0 and Bluetooth channel detection. In order to help engineers quickly understand Bluetooth 6.0 technology and thoroughly understand Bluetooth 6.0 from a product level, EEWorld invited Aashish Chaddha, product marketing manager of Silicon Labs, to conduct an exclusive interview.

Aashish Chaddha, Product Marketing Manager, Silicon Labs

The revolutionary Bluetooth 6.0

Bluetooth 6.0 can be said to be the fastest progress in Bluetooth technology in recent years. In summary, Bluetooth 6.0 introduces new functions and features such as Bluetooth channel sounding, decision-based advertising filtering and monitoring advertisers, ISOAL enhancement, LL extended feature set, frame space update, etc., which injects more imagination into Bluetooth.

With a host of new features and developments in sight, the new Bluetooth 6.0 is set to have a significant impact on the performance and efficiency of connected wireless smart devices. This improvement is primarily driven by the introduction of Bluetooth channel detection, which will target two types of applications: positioning and proximity sensing, including applications such as pet and asset trackers, smart locks, keyless entry systems, etc.

Compared with the past, Bluetooth 6.0 has also made great progress in throughput and latency. Aashish Chaddha explained that although the details of the specification update have not been released publicly, an overview of the specification development has been published on the Bluetooth Technology Alliance website, which discusses higher throughput, ultra-low latency HID interface, and operation at 5/6 MHz frequency. Each revision of the Bluetooth specification extends Bluetooth technology to a wider range of applications and scenarios. In future versions, it is foreseeable that this trend will continue, with more features to achieve new topologies, higher throughput, lower power operation, innovative audio features, enhanced positioning services, and more.

How channel detection can disrupt thousands of industries

Channel detection is undoubtedly the signature feature of Bluetooth 6.0, which enables two-way distance measurement between two low-power Bluetooth devices, aiming to revolutionize the accuracy of distance measurement. "Channel detection can effectively meet customers' needs for precise positioning and location tracking of objects and people. This technology has the potential to revolutionize applications such as asset tracking, pet tracking, and object finding by providing real-time and accurate location data," explained Aashish Chaddha.

For consumer applications, channel detection can change the way items and pets are found, as well as the location of critical assets in hospitals. For example, nurses and doctors often face challenges in finding basic life-saving equipment such as EKG machines and infusion pumps, which are often placed on carts and difficult to find between floors. Channel detection can help track these critical assets, ensuring they can always be found when needed.

For industrial applications, channel detection can enhance people's work efficiency. For example, it can enhance asset tracking and management in warehouses and construction sites by creating geo-fences around assets such as power tools. If these tools leave the construction site or predefined boundaries, you will be alerted. For another example, in large shopping malls or retail centers, combining Bluetooth channel detection with electronic shelf label technology can revolutionize indoor navigation. This combination provides precise directions and real-time updates, making it easier to locate specific products, such as clothing or specialty foods, to precise shelves. In busy transportation hubs such as airports or train stations, it can also provide clear directions to the boarding gate or platform, simplifying the navigation process.

Not only that, channel detection can also be combined with other technologies to open up more innovative application scenarios. When used with Angle of Arrival (AoA) and Angle of Departure (AoD) technology, it can improve the positioning accuracy and proximity perception capabilities of applications such as smart locks. AoA and AoD can determine the relative position of objects, while channel detection can measure distance. This combination is very suitable for developing secure entrance equipment.

Judging from the above applications, the channel detection technology seems to have a certain overlap with the ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, so what is the difference between the two? Aashish Chaddha explained that although both channel detection and ultra-wideband (UWB) technologies can optimize the distance measurement and positioning accuracy of low-power Bluetooth (Bluetooth LE) devices, channel detection is a more common solution. Unlike ultra-wideband, channel detection does not require additional hardware components to implement, which makes it easier and more direct to adopt in many applications. In other words, channel detection can bring higher cost-effectiveness and efficiency. In addition, channel detection also has enhanced security features that can reduce the possibility of man-in-the-middle attacks.

How does Silicon Labs view Bluetooth 6.0?

Why was Silicon Labs able to follow up so quickly after the launch of Bluetooth 6.0? Aashish Chaddha explained that Silicon Labs is committed to leading the development of the Internet of Things (IoT) and wireless protocols, and its rapid response after the launch of the Bluetooth 6.0 standard demonstrates this commitment. "We quickly adopted the new standard because we recognize that it is very important to be an early adopter and innovator of standards in the industry. We are able to support Bluetooth 6.0 on existing system-on-chips (SoCs) that are already in mass production, which demonstrates our ability to quickly adapt and integrate new standards."

By continually updating hardware and software to comply with new specifications, Silicon Labs ensures that its own customers have access to the most advanced and reliable Bluetooth solutions. This proactive approach enables Silicon Labs to maintain its leadership in the IoT and wireless protocol space, providing customers with the tools they need to innovate and succeed.

In fact, Silicon Labs' products have achieved good applications in the Bluetooth 5.4 era. According to Aashish Chaddha, Periodic Broadcast with Response (PAwR) is a key feature of Bluetooth 5.4. Silicon Labs describes this feature as a sleeping giant because they believe that it has not yet reached its full potential. In addition to electronic shelf labels (ESL), there are some applications that can benefit from this feature. In addition to ESL, PAwR can also be used for asset management, smart cities, and even for non-critical components in automobiles to prevent data overload in the CAN bus. Now, the market is gradually recognizing the potential of PAwR and exploring its applications beyond ESL.

For this reason, Silicon Labs is confident in the market’s adoption of Bluetooth 6.0 and channel detection technology, as many applications in home, life, industry and commerce can benefit from these new technologies.

How Silicon Labs Makes Bluetooth 6.0 a Reality

Specifically at the latest Bluetooth 6.0 product level, Silicon Labs' power-optimized wireless SoC products BG24 and BG27, as well as the new development kit RB4198A radio board and the upcoming DK2606 dual antenna kit, can help developers build applications using the latest Bluetooth standard.

Silicon Labs is known for developing power-optimized wireless SoCs and MCUs. The BG22 SoC is also a very energy-efficient product, ideal for sensors, switches, plugs, and battery-powered tools. The BG24 SoC has high performance and high integration, with large-capacity flash and RAM, suitable for applications that require a lot of code space; the BG24 supports high output power and is optimized for channel detection. The BG27 SoC has DCDC buck and boost functions and is Silicon Labs' most battery-versatile SoC, supporting a wide range of battery voltages and operating voltages as low as 0.8V; it uses a CSP package for miniature energy-saving sensors.

In addition, Silicon Labs offers a variety of kits to help developers evaluate channel detection technology and develop applications. For single antennas, the RB4198A radio board is available either individually or as part of the PK6036A professional kit, which includes two RB4198A radio boards and the wireless professional kit mainboard. For dual-antenna setups, the DK2606 will be launched in December 2024. The board measures 33 mm x 33 mm, making it ideal for small-form-factor applications such as car keys or asset tracking. The DK2606 also comes with an IMU sensor that detects movement and wakes up the tag, ensuring that the tag does not need to be active all the time; it also includes an RF switch, debugger, connector, button, and LED.