Skyworks’ connectivity solutions powering Nordic’s SoCs for IoT markets

Skyworks Solutions Inc of Woburn, MA, USA (which manufactures analog and mixed-signal semiconductors) says that its connectivity engines are being leveraged by Nordic Semiconductor for ultra-low-power wireless communications. Specifically, Nordic is using Skyworks’ family of fully integrated front-end solutions in conjunction with their multi-protocol system-on-chip (SoC) for Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) and emerging Bluetooth 5 applications. Together, the combined platform is said to provide superior efficiency ─ making it suitable for battery-powered Internet of Things (IoT) devices ─ while delivering a 4x range advantage for connected home and outdoor usage cases.

Bluetooth LE is a critical protocol for IoT, given its upgraded communication capabilities and minimal power consumption requirements. Bluetooth 5 further enhances benefits and supports additional breakthrough features such as extended ranges, higher data throughputs and improved co-existence - all key elements in an increasingly dense network.

“Our collaboration with Nordic to deploy premium Bluetooth systems for diverse markets represents Skyworks’ commitment to enable the future of connectivity,” says VP of marketing John O’Neill. “The intersection of our solutions is driving wireless adoption and elevating performance to higher levels for revolutionary new applications across home automation, automotive, industrial, medical, wearables, mobile and more.”

A recent report from ABI Research forecasts that Bluetooth LE devices will rise at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 27% between 2018 and 2023, tripling in size to over 1.6 billion annual shipments.

Skyworks says that its portfolio is uniquely designed for Bluetooth, Zigbee and Thread interfaces, meeting the growing demand for long-range, low-power and cost-effective products for IoT. Select products include the SKY66112-11 and SKY66403-11 front-end modules that deliver up to 40% reduction in current consumption compared with certain standalone SoCs. In addition, these modules increase sensitivity up to 6dB, more than doubling the receive range for typical IoT devices.

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Visit: www.skyworksinc.com