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Bluetooth 5.0 Radius

All modern smartphones are equipped with a fourth-generation Bluetooth - some are obtained by version 4.0, some 4.1, and some 4.2. Meanwhile, the fifth version of the "blue tooth" came out. In this article we will tell about its advantages over Bluetooth 4.2 and how these advantages will be applied in practice.

Two times faster

The data via Bluetooth 5th generation will now be transmitted at maximum speed.6.25 MB / s - before it was 3,125 MB / s. It is still much less than wired competitors:

  • Apple Lightning - 60 MB / C
  • USB 2.0 - 60 MB / s
  • USB 3.0 - 625 MB / s
  • USB 3.1 - 1210 MB / s

But they are wired!

As a result, the speed of synchronization of smart watches with a smartphone, internet elements of things with each other and the base increases.

Four times further

In the premises, the range increasedfrom 10 to 40 meters, on the street - from 50 to 200 meters.

You can run at the stadium without a smartphone in your pocket. Leave it in a backpack, put on Bluetooth headphones and run yourself - in your pocket will not hang anything. Maybe it is the phone who interfered with you to run a marathon! True, 42 kilometers of 195 meters with wireless headphones will not run.

Perhaps Fabregas does not fall into the composition because he is interfered with headphones with Bluetooth 4.2

An increased radius of action is especially important to organize the Internet. If for apartments somehow enough and old versions of Bluetooth, then in the big house I had to make compromises. Now you can easily set some kind of IoT element into the yard, away from the rest.

Eight times more data through broadcast channels

Broadcast channels are needed that Internet of things worked with third-party Bluetooth devices without prior connection. In this mode, you can now transfer more information:255 bytes against 31 In Bluetooth 4.2.

I will explain on the example, why do you need broadcast channels. Imagine the modern hospital in which the Internet is implemented. A person comes and he immediately flies information through Bluetooth, in which office he needs. It can not get anything else, because it is not connected fully to the hospital Internet of things.

The amount of this information is 31 bytes, because Bluetooth 4.2 is used. And with the 5th version, the person will receive another doctor's name, an approximate waiting time and the head of the head doctor for complaints - the size of this data is already 255 bytes.

Consumes 2.5 times less energy

It seems that with increased speed and range of Bluetooth 5, it will become voracious. In fact, everything is exactly the opposite - new standard Much more economical to energy consumption. For smartphones with batteries of 3,000 mAh, Bluetooth energy consumption 4.2 was not critical. In case of smart clock The growth of autonomy can be tangible, although, of course, you need to check in practice.

Consecutive connection system

Scaling the Internet of Things will be easier thanks to the new serial connection system. Previously, each device has connected with a common basic, and now it will be enough to connect to the adjacent element.

Remember physics!

Maybe sometime we will see the city system IOT not within the apartment or at home, but a whole area or even the city? And it will be based on energy efficient and easily scalable Bluetooth 5.

Why else Bluetooth connect with the Internet of Things? The fact is that IOT elements are too scattered: each manufacturer does something (or all) in its own way. Bluetooth is one of the things that all unites them. It is used in almost all devices: phones, clock, laptops, cars, and so on.

By the way, the new standard is backward compatible with old protocols.

When to expect?

Yes, have already waited. All necessary documentation for the development of devices and Bluetooth 5 support appeared on the official website at the beginning of the year, and the other day the first smartphones with the fifth version of the "blue tooth" came out -.

Bluetooth 5 is not a revolution in no case, rather, the evolutionary development of technology. In the new standard only improved the indicators of the previous one, but nothing new "blue tooth" did not taught. Protocol 4.2 is able to all the same as Bluetooth 5, only worse several times.

Android O has full bluetooth support 5, so the developers of devices do not have to do all the work itself.

The main change is to enable Bluetooth 5.0 with software Without any change in equipment. The source code / SW file will be supported only by HTC Corporation, and it is impossible to give this source / file SW any third party to enable this feature.

The change will occur when these phones are updated to Android O 8.0 (the beginning of the autumn), and you do not have to do anything. Everything will work so.

All this is cool, but why Bluetooth 5 is better than 4.2?

Bluetooth features are very similar to uSB characteristics. These interfaces use a digital system in order to qualify as compatible, hardware must have certain threshold values For the speed of transmission and reception, energy consumption and compatibility.

This means that a larger number will be better in some way than a smaller number, and the transition from 4.2 by 5 is more significant than from 4.1 to 4.2.

Bluetooth 5 provides a higher range, higher data transfer rate and more fast way Connections.

Bluetooth 5 offers four times the range and twice the data transfer rate. It is easy to understand why a wider range is better, but it is important to know that data transmission is more than just sharing files.

For example, music is also digital data in streaming via Bluetooth, and a higher speed means that it can transmit more audio data for the "best" sound (such has already been implemented by Sony with its LDAC codec) and less chances for any errors.

For example, using Bluetooth 5, your phone can transmit music to a wireless column at a distance of up to 35 meters (against 10 on old Bluetooth standards), send twice the digital data so that your music sound more comfortable and slow.

Why HTC and Motorola are waiting for Android? For the sake of the correct work of Bluetooth 5

We cannot be 100% sure that they are waiting, but it is most likely due to the additional support of Bluetooth 5, which goes to Android O.

Bluetooth 5 standard was ready in December 2016, so all manufacturers know about the new version. When Android Nougat was completed, Bluetooth 5 standard was not completed, so there are some fairly significant functions that are not supported. IN

Android 7.1 Nougat There is no one important feature - a new energy-efficient data transfer standard.

When two devices are exchanged by Bluetooth data, they need to find the best and most effective method Sending data. Each device has a set of checks for searching for the "correct" method, and Bluetooth 5 does not make such checks. This means that the device will return to the older Bluetooth standard, and Bluetooth 5 functions will not be used.

If shorter, it means that in versions before Android o, the phone with Bluetooth 5 cannot properly understand what it is and what exactly it can do, and when the connection will finally be installed, it will return to more old version Bluetooth. Even if hardware supports it.

Bluetooth 5 was simply not ready when android development 7.0 Nougat.

For example, Samsung Galaxy S8 must use the Bluetooth code from Samsung itself to get around these problems, because Android Nougat does not have support. It costs a lot of money and takes a lot of time, and in the end, all this is greatly simplified with the arrival of Android O.

Bluetooth is very cool when we use Android O and Bluetooth 5

All the advantages of Bluetooth 5 require that both devices are compatible with Bluetooth 5. If one device, for example, Bluetooth 4.x, the connection will be by standard 4.x.

It turns out that as long as your headphones or automotive system are ready to work with Bluetooth 5, all these benefits simply do not matter.

Two phone galaxy S8 connected via Bluetooth may have faster file transfer, but there is no warranty that the Bluetooth versions from Samsung and from Android 8.0 O are 100% compatible, so the Galaxy S8 8 connection with HTC U11 may not be so fast.

All advantages of Bluetooth 5 require both devices to have this version.

Bluetooth becomes cooler with every new version, so try to find modern devicesTo enjoy all these improvements. It is a pity that manufacturers wireless headphones Already made a bunch steep headphones On the basis of Bluetooth 4.2 and the release of new models with Bluetooth in all price bands will take a long time.

New standard wireless communication Provides a larger range, higher speed and greater bandwidth. But what else do you need to know?

That with the growth of the popularity of wireless headphones and wearable devices, we start using Bluetooth much more often than before. In fact, according to Bluetooth Special Interest Groupwhich controls the development of technology, by 2020 13.9 billion devices with Bluetooth support will be sold.

Good news that technology will only benefit from it. Bluetooth 5 is more powerful than ever, with a huge potential for the Internet of things and listening to music in wireless mode.

So what can he do? And when can you grab it? Read on and recognize.

What is Bluetooth 5?

Bluetooth 5 is the next Bluetooth iteration, wireless technology data transfer, which is in smartphones, tablets, wireless headphones and speakers, laptops, desk computers etc.

Bluetooth allows your devices to transfer data to each other by wireless network. When you get a notice on your smart clock or tracker, it comes from your phone via Bluetooth.

It also allows you to connect wireless columns so that you can listen to the melodies at home, in the park or on the beach.

it latest version Bluetooth, it is much more powerful than its predecessors.

How powerful Bluetooth 5?


The new version is significantly ahead of the previous one in all parameters. Compared to its predecessor (Bluetooth 4.2 Low Energy.) It is twice as fast, has four times a large range of work and can transmit eight times more data.

If you need accurate data, we are talking about bandwidth 2 Mbps. In practice, this means a quick and reliable connection to the network, which leads to faster firmware updates and data loading.

Thanks to a larger job of about 240 m, your wireless speakers and headphones will work much further from the sound source than with Bluetooth 4.2 Low Energy. These innovations will enable the whole home for Internet devices, such as security cameras, intelligent refrigerators, intelligent thermostats and much more.

And thanks to more efficient use of broadcasting channels on the frequency band of 2.4 GHz, it opens the path for "better wireless solutions Based on Bluetooth, according to SIG. In other words, expect more wireless connectionsWherever you go, from sports stadiums to shopping centers.

You can connect more than one pair of wireless headphones to one sound source via Bluetooth 5. If your device has specific work profiles, such as function Bluetooth Dual Audio from SamsungYou can independently adjust the volume of each of them. Very convenient for connecting multiple headphones to view gears or listening to music while traveling by train or plane.

Bluetooth 5 can also detect any interference at 2.4 GHz frequencies and automatically try to minimize them. What should make listening to music from any wireless device more stable and clear.

What devices are compatible with Bluetooth 5?


On the this moment not so much. Samsung Galaxy S8 - the first phone to work with Bluetooth technology 5But at the moment it is the only one. Without any headphones or bluetooth speakers 5 You will not be able to use the benefits of a large range. stable work or higher speeds. But they must begin to appear before the end of the year.

Good news is that you can use the DUAL AUDIO function in Galaxy S8 with any Bluetooth speaker or headphones.. Just connect them to the phone, as usual, then select "Dual Audio" in the menu in the right upper corner Screen and configure the required volume level for each of the devices.

Will Bluetooth 5 Improve the sound quality for wireless speakers and headphones?


Unfortunately no. The focus is on Internet things and greater connectivity, but SIG does not mention improved sound quality. This does not mean that music fans will not receive any advantages.

Wireless headphones and speakers will work much further from the sound source, and you can pass the same sound on large quantity Headphones / Speakers at the same time.

Bluetooth 5 can also improve battery life. Since it is more effective, it will consume less energy, which should mean an increase in battery life for wireless loudspeakers and headphones. But we will have to try it in the case to confirm, but so far it is impossible.

What's new in Bluetooth 5.0? Two speed increase of speed, the ability to encrypt traffic, an increase in the range of action by 400% and the mass of other benefits.

The news of the appearance of Bluetooth 5.0 flashed on the pages of media resources in June 2016, but engaged in more important things the public did not pay due attention to the emergence of a new technological standard in the world of wireless communication. Bluetooth 5.0 database devices at that time were not yet released. In May 2017, after the appearance of the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Xiaomi Mi 6, the new specification spoke in a completely different key. After all, Bluetooth 5.0 presented to consumers at once several long-awaited advantages that we will talk about in this article.

Good news for developers

Wireless coexistence - Remember this term. Soon he will change the entire structure of wireless communications. Bluetooth Special Interest Group promises an invisible level of interaction with other communication protocols. We even promise parallel and conflict coexistence Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

Specification 5.0 involves the operation of 255 octe-packages (instead of 31 packages, like previous version) And the transition to adjacent frequencies without loss of traffic byte. In the crowded bits and bytes, the range of 2.4 GHz will be easier to breathe and consumers, and programmers, and even operating systems and chips.

Developers will be able to exercise thin settings software products, manufacturers will start integrate bluetooth modules 5.0 Even in irons and vacuum cleaners. BUT oS It will stop overloading processors, trying to build work to streamline littering traffic. Analysts argue that with this, the very "Internet of things" will begin, the appearance of which all futurologists said so long.

What to wait for the consumer

For regular Bluetooth devices, the appearance of the Specification 5.0 is interesting for two moments. First, the new standard increases the file exchange rate by 2 times. Secondly, the radius of action increases 4 times.

In numbers it sounds even better - the Bluetooth 5.0 speed rose to 2 Mbps, and the range increases to 100 meters. Now you can listen to tracks with high quality sound even if your smartphone is in the house, and you wireless column or headphones - on the street.

In addition, the new protocol allows not only to increase the range - Bluetooth 5.0 is ready to work not with one source, but immediately with several. And the energy intensity of this process will be significantly lower than that of previous versions of wireless modules. Simply put, Bluetooth 5.0 will take care of the battery and smartphone, and the mobile column.

One more good news - Ability to encrypt traffic transmitted via Bluetooth channel. Developers and manufacturers are already talking about replacing a short-leash NFC to a more advanced protocol that allows you to turn a smartphone into a full-fledged bank card replacement.

True, all these advantages are still available only to the few owners of mobile devices.

Smartphones with Bluetooth 5.0

Right now you can buy only three devices with Bluetooth 5.0 communication modules. This is smartphones and. While the new specification is implemented only on the flagships, so for the right to use all Bluetooth 5.0 innovations. You will have to pay from 500 to 1000 US dollars.

In the second half of May, the Samsung and Siaomi flagship line will join - a premium smartphone, in the official specification of which a new standard of wireless communications was inscribed. This time, Bluetooth 5.0 benefits will have to give from $ 650 to 750 euros, depending on the place of sale of the new HTC smartphone.

By the beginning of the summer, after about a year from the moment of the announcement of Bluetooth 5.0, another flagship with a new wireless specificization will appear on the market. The estimated cost of the Japanese device will be 800 US dollars.

In remote prospects for analysts, predict the appearance of fifth specification in, Samsung Galaxy Note. 8 and new google from the Pixel line. But in cheap mobile phones Bluetooth 5.0 regained still not very soon. The fact is that this specification should be supported by chipsets. Among the inexpensive solutions with such abilities, to our regret, no processor has no.

Bluetooth 5.0. became a reality. Compared to Bluetooth 4.0 a new version It has twice as large bandwidth, increased four times distance And a number of other improvements. Consider the benefits of Bluetooth 5.0 above the predecessors, including the example cC2640R2F processor from Texas Instruments..

The popularity of the Bluetooth 4 protocol version, as well as some of its limitations, became causes to create the next Bluetooth specification 5. The developers set a number of targets: expansion of the radius of action, the increase in the bandwidth when sending broadcast packets, improved noise immunity and so on.

Now, when the first devices with Bluetooth 5 began to appear, the users and developers are rightly the questions: what of the previously announced promises have embodied in reality? How rose the range and data transfer rate increased? How did this affect the level of consumption? How did the approach changed to the formation of broadcast packets? What are the improvements aimed at the growth of noise immunity? And, of course, the main question is whether the reverse compatibility between Bluetooth 5 and Bluetooth 4? Reply to these and some other issues and consider the main advantages of Bluetooth 5.0 before the predecessors, including the example of a real processor with support for Bluetooth 5.0. Texas Instruments..

Let's start bluetooth Overview 5.0 with an answer to the most frequently asked question about backward compatibility with Bluetooth 4.x

Does Bluetooth 5.0 reverse compatibility with Bluetooth 4.x?

Yes, provides. Bluetooth 5 adopted most of the features and extensions of Bluetooth 4.1 and 4.2. For example, Bluetooth 5 devices save all Bluetooth 4.2 improvements in the area of \u200b\u200bdata protection and support LE Data Length Extension extension. It is worth reminding that thanks to Le Data Length Extension starting with Bluetooth 4.2 Data Package Size (Packet Data Unit, PDU) established connections It can be increased from 27 to 251 bytes, which allows you to raise the rate of data exchange by 2.5 times.

Due to the large number of differences between the protocol versions, a traditional mechanism for negotiating parameters between devices when establishing connections is preserved. This means that before starting to exchange data, devices "get acquainted" and determine the maximum data transmission frequency, the length of the messages, and so on. At the same time, Bluetooth 4.0 parameters are used by default. The transition to the Bluetooth 5 parameters only happens if in the process of matching it turns out that both devices support the later version of the protocol.

Speaking about the tools that are already available for developers, it is worth noting new processor CC2640R2F and free Ble5 Stack from Texas Instruments. The joy of developers, Ble5-stack is based on the previous version of Ble-Stack, and changes in its use touched only new features bluetooth 5.0.

How did the data transfer rate in Bluetooth 5 increased?

Bluetooth 5 uses wireless connection With the physical data transfer rate of up to 2 Mbps, which is twice as high as Bluetooth 4.x. It is worth noting here that the effective rate of data exchange depends not only on the physical bandwidth of the transmission channel, but also on the ratio of service and useful information In the package, as well as from the associated "overhead" costs, for example, time loss between the packages (Table 1).

Table 1. Data exchange rate for various versionsBluetooth

In versions of Bluetooth 4.0 and 4.1, the physical bandwidth of the channel was 1 Mbps that the length of the PDU data packet in 27 bytes allowed to reach the speed of exchanging up to 305 kbps. In the Bluetooth version 4.2, the LE Data Length Extension extension appeared. Thanks to him, after establishing a connection between devices, it appeared to increase the length of the package to 251 bytes, which led to an increase in the rate of data exchange by 2.5 times - up to 780 kbps.

In the Bluetooth 5 version, Le Data Length Extension support has been preserved, which, together with an increase in physical bandwidth up to 2 Mbps, allows you to reach the metabolic rate to 1.4 Mbit / s.

As practice shows, such an acceleration of data transmission is not limit. For example, a CC2640R2F wireless microcontroller is able to operate with speeds up to 5 Mbps.

It is worth saying about the widespread misconception that the growth of bandwidth up to 2 Mbit / s was achieved by reducing the radius of action. Of course, a physically microcircuit of the transceiver (PHY) when working with a frequency of 2 Mbps has a lower sensitivity to 5 dBm than when working with a frequency of 1 Mbps. However, in addition to sensitivity, there are other factors that contribute to an increase in the radius of action, for example, a transition to data encoding. For this reason, with other things being equal, Bluetooth 5 turns out to be more reliable and has a greater range of action compared to Bluetooth 4.0. This is described in detail in one of the following sections of the article.

How to activate high-speed data transfer mode in Bluetooth 5?

When establishing a connection between two bluetooth devices Bluetooth 4.0 settings are initially used. This means that at the first stage of the device exchanges data at a speed of 1 Mbps. After establishing the connection, the Bluetooth 5.0 support wizard can start the PHY Update Procedure procedure, the purpose of which is to establish the maximum speed of 2 Mbps. This operation will be successful only if the slave also supports Bluetooth 5.0. Otherwise, the speed remains at 1 Mbps.

For developers who previously used Ble-stack from Texas Instruments, the good news will be that to perform the above procedure in the new Ble5-stack stack one of the only HCI_LE_SETDEFAULTPHYCMD () function (). Thus, when moving to Bluetooth 5.0, users of TI products will initial initialization will not cause problems. Also, the developers will be useful for the GitHub portal, which allows you to estimate the operation of two CC2640R2F microcontrollers working as part of CC2640R2 Launchpads in High Speed \u200b\u200band Long Range modes.

How did Bluetooth 5 Radius increase?

The Bluetooth 5.0 specification states an increase in the range of actions four times compared to Bluetooth 4.0. This is a rather subtle question on which it is worth stopping in more detail.

First, the concept of "four times" is relative and is not attributed to a specific radius of action in meters or kilometers. The fact is that the range of radio broadcasts strongly depends on a number of factors: the state of the environment, the level of interference, the number of simultaneously transmitting devices and so on. As a result, not a single manufacturer, as well as the developer bluetooth standard SIG, specific values \u200b\u200bdoes not lead. An increase in the radius of action is estimated compared to Bluetooth 4.0.

For further analysis, some mathematical calculations must be accomplished and evaluate the power budget of the radio channel. When using logarithmic values, the radio channel budget (dB) is equal to the transmitter power difference (DBM) and the sensitivity of the receiver (DBM):

Budget radio channel \u003d PowerT X. (DBM) - SensitivityR X. (dBm)

For Bluetooth 4.0, the standard sensitivity of the receiver is -93 dBm. If you believe the power of the transmitter 0 dBm, the budget is 93 dB.

The increase in the radius of action four times will require an increase in budget by 12 dB, which gives a value of 105 dB. How is it supposed to achieve this value? There are two ways:

  • increased power transmitters;
  • increase sensitivity of receivers.

If you go on the first path and increase the power of the transmitter, it will inevitably cause consumption growth. For example, for CC2640R2F transition to output power 5 dBm leads to an increase in consumption current up to 9 mA (Figure 1). With the power of 10 dBm, the current will increase to 20 mA. Such an approach does not look attractive for most wireless battery powered devices and is not always suitable for IoT, and Bluetooth 5.0 is focused on this area. For this reason, the second solution looks more preferable.

To increase the sensitivity of the receiver, two ways are offered:

  • reducing the transfer rate;
  • use Coded PHY data coding.

Reducing the data transfer rate of eight times theoretically increases the sensitivity of the receiver for 9 dB. Thus, the cherished value lacks only 3 dB.

The required 3 dBs can be obtained using additional coding Coded PHY. Earlier in the versions of Bluetooth 4.x bits coding was unambiguous 1: 1. This means that the flow of data directly was sent to the differential demodulator. In Bluetooth 5.0 when using Coded PHY there are two additional format Transmissions:

  • with 1: 2 encoding, in which each bit of data is put in accordance with two bits in the stream of radio channels. For example, the logical "1" is represented as the sequence "10". In this case, the physical speed remains equal to 1 Mbps, and the actual data transfer rate drops to 500 kbps.
  • With coding 1: 4. For example, the logical "1" is represented by the "1100" sequence. The data transfer rate at the same time decreases to 125 kbps.

The described approach is called Forward Error Correction (FEC) and allows you to detect and correct errors on the receiving side, and not to request a re-transmission of packets, as it was in Bluetooth 4.0.

On paper, everything looks good. It remains only to find out how these theoretical calculations correspond to reality. As an example, take the same CC2640R2F microcontroller. Due to the various improvements and new modulation modulations of Bluetooth 5.0, the transceiver of this processor has a sensitivity of -97 dBm at a metabolic rate of 1 Mbit / s and -103 dBm when using Coded PHY and a 125 kb / s exchange rates. Thus, in the latter case, 105 dB lacks only 2 dBm.

To estimate the radius of action CC2640R2F, engineers from Texas Instruments conducted a field experiment in Oslo. At the same time in terms of noise level environment in this experience It is impossible to call "friendly", as the business part of the city was located in close proximity.

To obtain the power budget, more than 105 dBs were decided to increase the transmitter power to 5 dBm. This made it possible to achieve an impressive final value of 108 dBm (Figure 2). When performing an experiment, the range of action was 1.6 km, which is a very impressive result, especially - if you consider the minimum level of radio transmitter consumption.

How has the Bluetooth broadcast approach changed?

Earlier in Bluetooth 4.x, three dedicated data channels were used to establish connections between devices (37, 38, 39). With their help, the device found each other and exchanged service information. On them, you could transmit broadcast data packets. This approach has drawbacks:

  • for large quantities active transmitters these channels can be simply overloaded;
  • more and more devices use broadcast parcels without establishing a point-to-point connection. This is especially important for IOT internet;
  • the new Coded Phy coding system will require eight times more time to establish a connection, which will additionally load broadcast channels.

To solve these problems in Bluetooth 5.0, it was decided to move to the diagram in which the data is transmitted over all 37 data channels, and the service channels 37, 38, 39 are used to transmit pointers. The pointer refers to that channel by which the broadcast message will be transmitted. In this case, the data is transmitted only once. As a result, it is possible to significantly unload office channels and eliminate this bottleneck.

It is also worth noting that now the data length of the broadcast package can reach 255 bytes instead of 6 ... 37 bytes of PDU in Bluetooth 4.x. It is extremely important for IOT applications, as it allows you to minimize overhead transmission costs and do without establishing compounds, and therefore reduce consumption.

Does Bluetooth 5 Mesh-network support?

TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SOLUTIONS FOR BLUETOOTH 5

One of the first microcontrollers with Bluetooth 5.0 was the high-performance CC2640R2F processor manufactured by Texas Instruments.

CC2640R2F is based on a modern 32-bit Arm Cortex-M3 core with a working frequency of up to 48 MHz. The radio transmitter operates the second 32-bit ARM Cortex-M0 kernel (Figure 3). In addition, CC2640R2F is characterized by a rich digital and analog periphery.

The advantage of the CC2640R2F microcontroller is also a small level of consumption (Table 2). This applies to all modes of work. For example, in active mode when receiving data on the radio channel, consumption is 5.9 mA, and during transmission - 6.1 mA (0 dBm) or 9.1 mA (5 dBm). When switching to sleep mode, the supply current drops to 1 μA.

A combination of three such important qualities as support for Bluetooth 5.0, small consumption and high peak performance makes CC2640R2F a very interesting solution for the Internet of things. In this case, using this microcontroller, you can create a full range of IoT devices: autonomous sensors working for several years from one battery, bridges between the optional control processor and Bluetooth 5.0 channel, complex applications that require high computing power.

Table 2. Wireless microcontroller consumptionCC.2640 R.2 F. with the supportBluetooth 5.

Operating mode Parameter Value (at VCC \u003d 3 V)
Active calculations iCA / MHz Arm® Cortex®-M3 61 μA / MHz
Coremark / Ma. 48,5
Coremark at a frequency of 48 MHz 142
Radio exchange Peak current when receiving, ma 5,9
Peak current when transferring, ma 6,1
Sleeping mode Sensor controller, MCA / MHz 8,2
SLEEP MODE mode with RTC enabled and memory saving, ma 1

To quickly start working with CC2640R2F, TEXAS INSTRUMENTS has prepared a traditional debugging set (Figure 4). With the help of a pair of such devices, you can estimate the speed and range of broadcast via Bluetooth 5.0. To do this, you can use the ready-made examples or create your own application based on the Ble 5 Stack 1.0 protocol (www.ti.com/ble).

Conclusion

The new version of the Bluetooth 5.0 protocol is focused on the maximum compliance with the needs of the Internet of Things (IoT). Compared to the Bluetooth version 4.0, it has a number of high-quality improvements:

  • the data transfer rate increased twice and reached 2 Mbps;
  • the range has increased four times due to Coded PHY data coding and Forward Error Correction (FEC);
  • the bandwidth of broadcast messages has grown 8 times.

In addition, Bluetooth 5.0 provides back compatibility With Bluetooth 4.x devices, and also supports most of the expansion of the later versions of the protocol.

Estimate bluetooth features 5.0 can already be possible with TEXAS INSTRUMENTS Tools. The company produces a high-performance and low-consisting CC2640R2F microcontroller, provides a free Ble 5 Stack 1.0 stack and a plurality of ready-made examples for the LaunchXL-CC2640R2 debug set.

Literature

  1. Bluetooth Core Specifcation 5.0 FAQ. 2016. Bluetooth Sig.


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