Bluetooth 4.0 Specifications Unveiled
The new Bluetooth specs promise a better range, and low energy consumption that can pull from small coin-cell batteries.
The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) has officially announced the release of Bluetooth Core Specification 4.0, or rather, revealed the adoption of Bluetooth low energy wireless technology for 4.0. The SIG said that the new specs will open an entirely new market that requires low cost and low power connectivity. Now a small, "coin-cell" battery can power Bluetooth devices, ideal for healthcare, security, home entertainment, and other markets.
The formal announcement stated that v4.0 will feature ultra-low peak, average and idle mode power consumption. The technology also features an enhanced range, multi-vendor interoperability, low cost, and the ability to run "for years" on standard coin-cell batteries. The specs also say that the technology supports small data packets transferred at 1 Mbps, 24 bit CRC on all packets, and even provides full AES-128 encryption.
"With today’s announcement the race is on for product designers to be the first to market," said Michael Foley, Ph.D., executive director, Bluetooth SIG. "Bluetooth low energy modules for all sorts of new products may now be qualified – this is an important step towards our goal of enabling new markets with Bluetooth wireless technology. For example, the Continua Health Alliance has already selected Bluetooth low energy technology as a transport for the next version of its guidelines."
The SIG said that the new specs will come in two flavors: dual-mode and single-mode. In dual-mode, Bluetooth low energy functionality is integrated into an existing Classic Bluetooth controller. The single-mode version, ideal for highly integrated and compact devices, uses a lightweight link layer for ultra low power idle mode operation.
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Kevin Parrish has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and product tester. His work focused on computer hardware, networking equipment, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others.
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wildwell I'd like to see SIG provide some examples of new applications for Bluetooth 4.0, such as in the medical field.Reply -
JonathanDeane wildwellI'd like to see SIG provide some examples of new applications for Bluetooth 4.0, such as in the medical field.Reply
Best thing I can come up with is pace makers that are digital or something... other then that its going to be small things here and there maybe wireless heart monitors for people in hospitals (nothing is creepier then waking up with a ton of wires clinging to every part of your body, I say this from personal experience lol) beyond that I am at a loss hmmm maybe for doctors to use with a cell phone lol -
alextheblue JonathanDeaneBest thing I can come up with is pace makers that are digital or something... other then that its going to be small things here and there maybe wireless heart monitors for people in hospitals (nothing is creepier then waking up with a ton of wires clinging to every part of your body, I say this from personal experience lol) beyond that I am at a loss hmmm maybe for doctors to use with a cell phone lolThey already this kind of stuff. Circa 2006, as a matter of fact.Reply
http://www.ihealthbeat.org/Articles/2006/9/13/Wireless-Device-Monitors-Heart-Patients.aspx
The biggest benefits of bluetooth 4.0 are the reduced power consumption and improved range. Those were two glaring weaknesses with a lot of bluetooth devices, especially for those devices that do not have room for a large battery.