u-blox, a global provider of leading positioning and wireless communication technologies, has announced the NINA-W15 multiradio and gateway module series, which can simultaneously support both Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n connections and dual-mode Bluetooth connectivity. This includes support for both Bluetooth low energy and Bluetooth BR/EDR.
“The NINA-W15 modules offer the ideal combination of radio interfaces, security features, proven connectivity software, and a small footprint necessary to enable cost-effective industrial and medical applications,” says Stefan Berggren, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Product Center Short Range Radio at u‑blox. “Several industries are focusing on digitalization and a common scenario is to connect a huge number of sensors and actuators to a back-end system or to cloud service, for analysis and visualization or even controlling applications,” he adds.
Key applications for the modules include industrial automation, such as machine control, industrial terminal and remote controls, building automation, and smart building/home equipment such as HVAC and lighting control. Other potential use cases include retail point-of-sale terminals, telematics control units, and medical equipment such as defibrillators and urology monitors.
The NINA-W15 modules will help IoT device developers to secure their designs by supporting features such as secure boot, Wi-Fi enterprise security, end to end security, Bluetooth secure connections, and secure simple pairing. The modules are also supplied with pre-flashed u-blox connectivity software.
The modules are compact and available with an internal antenna (NINA-W152, measuring 10 x 14 x 3.8 mm) or a pin through which to drive an external antenna (NINA-W151, measuring 10 x 10.6 x 2.2 mm). They are part of the NINA family of pin-compatible short range radio stand-alone modules, enabling designers to evolve existing products that already use single-radio NINA modules to support multiple radio interfaces, or to design new product lines that offer a variety of radio interface options.
Designers will be able to reduce their time to market by taking advantage of u-blox’s know-how specific to product quality, qualification, certification, as well as its experience of helping customers bring products to the industrial and medical markets. NINA-W15 initial production is planned for Q1-2019.
