Bluetooth LE chips enables Wi-Fi 6 to boost IoT performance, says NXP
Claiming to usher in a new phase of connectivity for gaming, audio, industrial and IoT applications, NXP Semiconductors has introduced a family of 2×2 Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) Dual Band + Bluetooth/Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) devices which enable the world’s first Wi-Fi 6 enabled gaming console, says NXP.
The IW62X family will provide increased capacity, efficiency and performance for next-generation connectivity including smart consumer IoT hubs, wireless speakers, video-enabled smart devices, augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR) devices as well as additional IoT applications.
The new 2×2 Wi-Fi 6 IW62X are intended for gaming consoles that demand high-performance Wi-Fi with near zero wireless controller lag time and low latency, multi-player gaming experiences (via a single, in-room console) over wireless networks. The IW62X chips also offer real-time interactions for cloud-based gaming devices, clients and services by providing sufficient high bandwidth and low latency connectivity for full 4k / 60 frames per second gameplay.
The IW62X family integrates 2.4 and 5GHz dual band power amplifiers (PAs), low noise amplifiers (LNAs) antenna switches. It also includes a power management unit that substantially reduces system level bill of materials (BoM) and device board area. The level of integration also simplifies chip-on-board and integrated module designs.
Rafael Sotomayor, executive vice president of Connectivity and Security at NXP, commented that the introduction addresses advanced wireless capabilities for gaming as well as the exponential growth in Wi-Fi 6 access points and IoT devices tethered to a single gateway for smart home, connected industrial applications and consumer devices which rely on power-efficient Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.
NXP’s IW62X 2×2 Wi-Fi 6 Dual Band + Bluetooth family deliver increased speed, a four-fold increase in network capacity and a doubling of bandwidth over previous generations of Wi-Fi. This increased capacity with reduced latency supports a significantly higher numbers of users and devices connected to a network or gateway.
Target applications are AR/VR headsets for completely wireless, immersive experiences in HD, multi-channel home theatre audio experiences with wireless speakers, video-enabled smart assistants with bandwidth to support seamless 4k video interaction and content streaming. Other potential uses are smart IoT hubs, appliances and accessories, outdoor and remote IP-enabled security cameras as well as consumer, commercial, and industrial IoT in home and building control (smart lighting, building safety and security and climate control).
The BT/BLE radios support Bluetooth/BLE standards (BLE LR/2Mbps, BLE AoA/AoD, BLE Mesh), independent Bluetooth connections and operational modes with multiple external devices. These capabilities enable advanced smart hub and smart home services that use Bluetooth-based positioning and Mesh connectivity, providing support for numerous applications, including dual/independent wireless headset support, support of audio steaming (via stereo A2DP, isochronous channel), separate low power peripheral or accessory control (e.g. speaker, voice assistant, audio hubs/soundbar, physical remote control and low-power device wakeup).
NXP’s IW62X family of 2×2 Wi-Fi 6 Dual Band + Bluetooth chips are available for sampling now and will be available soon from select module partners.
About NXP’s Connectivity Portfolio
With one of the industry’s broadest portfolios of wireless technologies, NXP is committed to accelerating our vision of a connected world that anticipates and automates. When combined with the processing power of the EdgeVerse platform, NXP is uniquely positioned to enable smart connected devices – making lives easier, safer, and more convenient. Whether it’s connecting people to the Internet, joining IoT devices to the cloud, or communicating with cars in new and unexpected ways, NXP’s portfolio allows customers to advance their most innovative ideas with confidence and a sense of trust. By collaborating with our partners, we are connecting our world and delivering solutions that advance society together.
