CSR show working dual-mode Bluetooth

THE FIRST public demonstration of CSR's dual-mode Bluetooth silicon has been given to a medical conference in Luxembourg. Two ICs successfully transferred data using ULP (Ultra Low Power) Bluetooth.

Previously known as Wibree, ULP not only consumes less power, it is 50 times as fast. The aim with ULP is to transfer data in very short bursts.

A typical example of ULP in action given to the conference was a wireless heart rate monitor advertising its existence. The receiving device could be a mobile phone or watch. So a patient could check his or her heart rate by wristwatch.

ULP is basically a cut-down version of standard Bluetooth. ULP uses just three frequencies unlike standard Bluetooth which can utilise up to 32 frequencies.

After ULP connects, it sends a very short burst of data and then switches off again. Thanks to its low power requirements, an ULP device should be able to run for up to ten years on one button cell battery.

So, in effect, ULP can easily be embedded into a medical device like a pacemaker. CSR's dual-mode silicon offers simultaneous support for regual (v 2.1) Bluetooth as well as ULP.

CSR claims it leads the field in ULP, sampling ULP Bluetooth silicon with a number of its lead customers back in 2007. Its say this demo proves its on course to ship dual-mode Bluetooth silicon in 2008. µ