SiP uses Bluetooth for direction finding
Suitable for indoor and industrial positioning applications, the Anna4-B4 module is a compact, Bluetooth low energy SiP by u-blox.
The compact Bluetoth 5.1 SiP features Bluetooth long range, Thread and Zigbee, as well as Bluetooth direction finding. Anna-B4 targets applications in harsh environments such as smart lighting networks and industrial circuit breakers as well as indoor positioning use cases in manufacturing sites, warehouses, hospitals, and smart cities.
The module measures 6.5 by 6.5mm including its integrated antenna. It integrates the Nordic nRF52833 chipset and supports Bluetooth mesh, long range, and direction finding, Thread and Zigbee protocols. Operating temperature is up to 105 degrees C, and the SiP is globally certified.
The Anna-B4 is available in two variants. The Anna-B412 is delivered with the u-connectXpress command application programming interface (API) based on industry-standard AT commands for accelerated time to market. Security includes secure boot which helps prevent malicious attacks by ensuring that only authenticated and authourised firmware and updates can run on the device.
There is also the Anna-B402, which features a powerful open CPU architecture for custom applications and adds support for the Zigbee and Thread wireless communication protocols. In addition to enabling concurrent communication over multiple wireless protocols, the module lets product developers build using these protocols using one single module.
Anna-B4 can be used in smart lighting networks that co-ordinate light intensity in response to presence detection and ambient light sensors using mesh technology.
Indoor asset tracking can benefit from Anna-B4’s small size, low power demand, and its support for Bluetooth direction finding, says u-blox. In particular, the ability to precisely locate tagged mobile assets in indoor environments. Indoor asset tracking is gaining traction in smart buildings, factories, hospitals, and warehouses.
Engineering samples of the Anna-B4 SiP will be available in January 2022.
u-blox provides positioning and wireless communication in automotive, industrial, and consumer markets. The services and products let people, vehicles, and machines determine their precise position and communicate wirelessly over cellular and short range networks. The company has a broad portfolio of chips, modules, and secure data services and connectivity to empower its customers to develop solutions for the IoT, quickly and cost-effectively.
The company has headquarters in Thalwil, Switzerland and offices in Europe, Asia, and the USA.
