CSR demos first Ultra-Low Power Bluetooth chips

Chipmaker CSR has demonstrated silicon supporting the Ultra-Low Power (ULP) extensions to Bluetooth, aimed at supporting applications for low-power communication. The firm said it is on track to deliver production chips this year.

ULP Bluetooth is derived from a low-power wireless standard known as WiBree, developed by Nokia. The Bluetooth SIG announced in 2007 that this would be incorporated into Bluetooth to support applications based around small button-cell batteries, where very low power consumption is vital to ensure battery longevity.

CSR said its demo showed that ULP Bluetooth data packets could be transferred using as little as 1/50th of the power required for standard Bluetooth communications.

The company previously said it envisions dual-mode chips supporting Bluetooth and ULP will be built into PCs and smartphones, while ULP-only chips will be used in peripherals and other low-power devices.

ULP Bluetooth is expected to be used for remote controls, linking smartphones with devices such as a digital watch, and also in medical applications where sensors such as a wireless heart rate monitor can be used to gather data.

See also:

IT Week Leader: Bluetooth gathers pace

Higher speeds and extended application support set to increase Bluetooth use  06 Sep 2007

CSR boosts Bluetooth call quality

New generation of Bluetooth chips also designed to extend mobile battery life  05 Sep 2007

Bluetooth goes low-power for small devices

Bluetooth is being extended to make room for small device standard WiBree  13 Jun 2007

CSR gives boost to VoIP mobiles

Chipmaker CSR wants to make VoIP popular for mobile phones  07 Feb 2007

CSR slashes cost of adding GPS to devices

Chipmaker CSR reveals plans to integrate GPS capability into its Bluetooth chipsets  16 Jan 2007

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