BLE & NFC combo module consumes zero power in standby mode

30th August 2016

Panasonic

Nat Bowers

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Datasheet

Designed for implementing Bluetooth functionality into various electronic devices, Panasonic Automotive & Industrial Systems Europe announces a short-range, BLE and NFC combo module. The cost-effective PAN1761 series is based on a leading edge Toshiba SoC and supports both BLE functionality v4.1 and NFC through a NFC Forum Type 3 compliant tag.

The PAN1761 series enables robust BLE central and peripheral nodes to be built with very low total BOM costs. The unique configuration of the device allows NFC to wake-up BLE from standby using a NFC field and automatically initiate a Bluetooth connection. Highly secure Bluetooth connections are created using NFC to exchange link keys (Out-of-Band pairing). BLE applications with extended battery life are possible as a result of zero power consumption in standby mode. An NFC enabled remote device may independently create a wake-up signal with neither host control nor local battery consumption.

The device comes in a 15.6x8.7x1.8mm surface mount package (same form factor as PAN1026 and PAN1760 Bluetooth modules) and benefits from an excellent RF transceiver, programmable BLE EEPROM memory with 32kB on-chip RAM for host-less operation of application software and driver. Furthermore standard SIG Bluetooth low energy and “SPP over Bluetooth low energy” profiles, low-power sleep modes, short transition times between operating modes and an operating temperature range from -40 to +85°C are included.

Low power consumption makes the module suitable for many applications like healthcare and medical diagnostic systems without any human control interface, BLE sensor applications with a need to send data on request, diagnostic and maintenance systems with a requirement for zero standby power consumption, embedded wireless, wearable devices and mobile phone accessories, as well as industrial sensors and measurement devices.

Simone Saile, Product Manager, Panasonic, commented: “In adding NFC technology to Bluetooth applications our customer can benefit of various security and power related features in their application. Security features are enabled through the so-called man-in-the-middle scenario by NFC technology. A NFC enabled remote control device, e.g. smartphone/tablet, must be physically close to the other device which shall be connected to. On the other hand NFC as enabler for Bluetooth connection set-up leads to ease-of-use in applications. This enables new areas of application in the diagnostic and maintenance systems.”

An evaluation kit (PAN1761-EMK starter kit with NFC antenna) is available upon request.