Weartech-Comms / Bluetooth / Wireless Archives - Page 18 of 19

Wireless VR/AR haptic glove allows gamers to “feel” digital objects

Fri, Jan 03, 2020

At CES next week, BeBop Sensors will announce the Forte Data Glove, claimed to be the first virtual reality (VR) haptic glove integrated and exclusively designed for Oculus Quest, Oculus Link, Oculus Rift S, Microsoft Windows Mixed Reality, HTC Vive Cosmos, HTC Vive Pro, HTC Focus Plus, and Varjo VR headset technology. It is also the first haptic glove for the HTC Cosmos and for the Microsoft Windows mixed reality headsets, including HP, Lenovo, Acer, Dell, and Samsung, through integration with the HP Reverb. In addition, it is believed to be the first haptic VR glove to fully support Oculus Quest Link, which allows Oculus Quest to leverage the graphics capabilities and processing power of a VR computer for higher end VR interaction, says BeBop Sensors.

Described as the first affordable, all-day wireless VR/AR (augmented reality) data glove, the VR headset/data glove fits in a small bag for portability and requires almost no set-up, bringing VR enterprise training, maintenance and gaming to new areas. The Forte Data Glove ushers in the next generation of VR, says BeBop Sensors, by allowing people to do real practical things in the virtual world with natural hand interactions to feel different textures and surfaces.

A nine degree inertial measurement unit (IMU) is integrated, to provide low drift and reliable pre-blended accelerometer and gyro sensor data. Six haptic actuators are located on four fingertips, the thumb and the palm.

Up to 16 haptic sound files can reside on the glove and new files can be rapidly uploaded over Bluetooth or USB.

The sensors are fast, operating at 160Hz, with instantaneous (sub six millisecond) response. By providing touch feedback, the user experiences a more realistic and safer training for business and enhanced VR gaming experiences, says the company.

Hand tracking ties natively into each system’s translation system, with top-of-the-line finger tracking supplied by Bebop Sensors’ fabric sensors. Haptic feelings include those for hitting buttons, turning knobs, opening doors for touch sensations in VR/AR.

The universal open palm design fits most people and the glove can be cleaned, is hygienic and breathable with waterproof sensors.

The glove targets enterprise, as well as location-based entertainment (LBE) gaming markets, including VR enterprise training, VR medical trials/rehabilitation, robotics and drone control, VR CAD design and review and gaming.

BeBop Sensors will be at CES in Las Vegas, (7 to 10 January, 2020) Booth 22032 LVCC South Hall.

http://www.bebopsensors.com

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Infineon showcases smart security

Wed, Nov 27, 2019

At Trustech 2019 (26 to 28 November) Infineon is exhibiting its hardware-based security for digital identification and contactless payment.

Firstly, it will be showcasing Secora ID, a Java Card solution optimised for electronic ID. Based on Infineon’s security controllers, Secora ID comes with an operating system targeted to be certified according to highest security standards, standardised applets and a selection of packages. There will be a live demonstration showing how easily it can be integrated into ID projects and adapted to local needs.

For contactless payment systems, Infineon’s new generation of SLC3x security chips are based on a 40nm geometry which provides performance and scalability for a vast array of smart card applications as well as payment wearables. Smart card manufacturers and payment solution providers will benefit from an Arm-based architecture, Infineon’s contactless expertise, creating what Infineon describes as the industry’s most advanced security controller portfolio.

Biometric authentication for drivers is also featured. Infineon and Next have been working on reference platforms since November 2018, working together to accelerate the adoption of biometric smartcards. Next Biometrics’ fingerprint sensor technology for dual interface smart cards uses a secure element from Infineon. The biometric card module developed by Next operates seamlessly throughout the standard ISO/IEC 14443 near field communication (NFC) range.

Smart ticketing will also be represented with Infineon’s standardised ticket and payment solutions. This includes limited use tickets over seasonal and yearly passes to sophisticated versions for multi-application implementations. Infineon has recently become a gold member of the Calypso Network Association (CNA) and been named member of the board of directors of the CAN, underling the company’s commitment to provide a comprehensive transport ticketing portfolio based on open standards.
Infineon will be exhibiting and demonstrating its security products at Trustech 2019 in Cannes, France from 26 to 28 November, booth RIV C 050.

The company will also be presenting on topics such as “Security by Design” or “JAVA Card”.

http://www.infineon.com/security

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Bluetooth low energy module from u-blox includes direction finding

Thu, Oct 31, 2019

Features such as direction finding, long range and operation up to +105 degrees C make up the u-blox NINA-B4 series of standalone modules. They are designed for indoor positioning applications and for deployments in harsh environments.

The u-blox NINA-B4 Bluetooth low energy modules are based on Nordic Semiconductor’s recently announced nRF52833 chip. The module enables Bluetooth long range, Bluetooth mesh, and Bluetooth direction finding for applications in the connected industry, smart homes, buildings, and cities, asset tracking, and healthcare.

Bluetooth’s new direction finding feature, part of the Bluetooth v5.1 specification, brings the benefits of high precision positioning to indoor applications, says u-blox. NINA-B4 is the first u-blox module designed to act as both a transmitter and a receiver in angle of arrival (AoA) and angle of departure (AoD) direction finding and indoor positioning applications.

In AoA-based implementations, stationary beacons equipped with multi-antenna arrays determine the angle of arrival of signals emitted by a tracking device to pinpoint the tracker’s location with sub-meter level accuracy. When AoD is used, the tracking device triangulates its position by calculating the angle of departure of signals from the stationary Bluetooth beacons’ multi-antenna arrays.

The NINA-B4 enables wireless mesh networks for robust communication between large numbers of connected devices. The networks relay messages from node to node and, by simplifying the control of groups of devices, can be used in smart lighting systems in cities and buildings. These applications also further benefit from the module’s enhanced operating temperature range (up to +105 degrees C).

Bluetooth long range is also a feature for the NINA-B4 series, making it suitable for deployments in harsh environments, e.g. to enable wirelessly connected and configurable equipment. Long range not only increases the distance that Bluetooth signals can travel in undisturbed environments, it also makes communications more robust and reliable in unfavourable ones, such as in production plants or on factory floors.

The NINA-B4 series is supplied with u-blox u‑connect software. It provides an interface to configure the required connectivity to integrate Bluetooth into new and existing products.

There is also a powerful Arm Cortex-M4F microcontroller with an open CPU architecture. This allows customers to run their own applications right on the module. Supporting Zigbee and Thread, the first members of the NINA-B4 family have an internal PCB antenna, or alternatively, are supplied with a U.FL connector for an external antenna of choice.

Samples of the NINA-B4 will be available in December.

http://www.u-blox.com

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Nordic introduces Bluetooth 5.1 SoC for multi-protocol applications

Tue, Oct 22, 2019

Temperature-qualified, the nRF52833 SoC joins Nordic’s nRF52 series. The multi-protocol SoC includes a Bluetooth 5.1 Direction Finding-capable radio for low power Bluetooth Low Energy, Thread, Zigbee, and 2.4GHz proprietary wireless connectivity. It is qualified for operation across a -40 to +105 degrees C temperature range.

The nRF52833 features a powerful 64MHz 32bit Arm Cortex-M4 processor with a floating-point unit (FPU) and includes 512kbyte of flash and 128kbyte of RAM, suitable for use in commercial and industrial wireless applications including professional lighting, asset tracking, smart home products, wearables, and gaming.

The SoC’s memory capacity also supports a dynamic multi-protocol capability, suitable for applications such as professional lighting where concurrent Bluetooth Low Energy and Bluetooth mesh, Thread or Zigbee support enables provisioning, commissioning, and interaction with a lighting mesh network from a smartphone using Bluetooth Low Energy. The temperature range also enables the nRF52833 to operate in professional lighting applications which typically feature elevated ambient temperatures, adds Nordic.

The nRF52833’s radio is capable of all Bluetooth 5.1 Direction Finding features and its memory can support both receiver and transmitter roles for angle-of-arrival (AoA) and angle-of-departure (AoD) applications. Direction Finding enables positioning applications that not only rely on received signal strength indication (RSSI) but also the signal direction. Applications include real-time location systems (RTLS) and indoor positioning systems (IPS).

The nRF52833 includes full-speed USB, high-speed SPI, and +8dBm output power. The increased output power together with Bluetooth 5 technology’s long-range (LoRa) feature enables the nRF52833 to be used in smart home applications.

The SoC includes up to 42 general-purpose I/Os (GPIOs) and a range of analogue and digital interfaces such as an NFC-A Tag, ADC, UART, SPI, TWI, PWM, I2S, and PDM. Additionally, a two-stage LDO voltage regulator and a DC/DC converter with a 1.7 to 5.5V input supply range allows the nRF52833 SoC to be powered by coin cells, rechargeable batteries, or the on-chip USB.

The nRF52833 is supported by the S113 or S140 SoftDevices, Nordic’s Bluetooth RF protocol stacks. The S140 is a qualified Bluetooth 5.1 stack and includes support for 2Mbits per second throughput, Bluetooth LoRa and improved coexistence through Channel Selection Algorithm #2.

The nRF5 SDK for Mesh and nRF5 SDK for Thread and Zigbee are scheduled for release in Q4 2019.

An nRF52833 development kit is for Bluetooth LE, Bluetooth mesh, 802.15.4, Thread, Zigbee, and 2.4GHz proprietary applications running on the nRF52833 SoC. It is compatible with the Arduino Uno Rev3 standard.

The SoC will be made available in three packages: a 7.0 x 7.0mm aQFN73 with 42 GPIOs, a 5.0 x 5.0mm QFN40 with 18 GPIOs and a 3.2 x 3.2mm wlCSP with 42 GPIOs.

nRF52833 engineering samples are available now with volume production due Q4, 2019.

http://www.nordicsemi.com

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Wireless VR/AR haptic glove allows gamers to “feel” digital objects

Infineon showcases smart security

Bluetooth low energy module from u-blox includes direction finding

Nordic introduces Bluetooth 5.1 SoC for multi-protocol applications

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