Communications: Low-Power Bluetooth Core Joins Software Stack For Full Solution

Oct. 18, 2004

The XBlue 1200 core brings a complete, self-contained host controller interface (HCI) for Bluetooth systems. This core lowers overall Bluetooth power consumption by up to 50% versus most other solutions. The XBlue architecture supports multiple radios in silicon. Yet it drives the total system cost for adding Bluetooth to less than $2.50. Automatic power management shuts down 99% of the logic within the baseband controller and microcontroller when there's no Bluetooth activity. To deliver a full solution, the company partnered with Mezoe, which is a division of Cambridge Consultants Ltd. Together, they provide the XBlue 1200 core, Mezoe's high-level Bluetooth stack, profiles and application examples, and the company's Bluetooth development kit ($2500).

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About the Author

Dave Bursky

Technologist

Dave Bursky, the founder of New Ideas in Communications, a publication website featuring the blog column Chipnastics – the Art and Science of Chip Design. He is also president of PRN Engineering, a technical writing and market consulting company. Prior to these organizations, he spent about a dozen years as a contributing editor to Chip Design magazine. Concurrent with Chip Design, he was also the technical editorial manager at Maxim Integrated Products, and prior to Maxim, Dave spent over 35 years working as an engineer for the U.S. Army Electronics Command and an editor with Electronic Design Magazine.