SGS helps hidden technology access North America

This is a growing global market. Wireless charging, for example, is expected to grow annually by 60.22% between 2017 and 2025 – estimated at $3,346.91 million in 2017, it is expected to reach $145,337.92 million by 2025. This trend is predicted across the whole hidden technology market.

Part of the appeal of hidden technology is its utility. For example, modern automobiles are full of driving aids that use vehicle to everything (V2X) devices. This includes forward collision warning, blind spot warning, intersection movement assist, and roadworks warning. The technology employed to create these features is either wireless local area network (WLAN) based or cellular based.

The technology incorporated into hidden tech is not without weak spots. For example, radio-frequency identification (RFID) used in credit card chips can be used by criminals to steal money. There are also plenty of examples of technology failing to synchronize with other devices and, this is most worrying, children becoming trapped in vehicles when keys fail.

To ensure hidden technology conforms to relevant standards for the North American market, manufacturers are advised to work with a service provider that covers multiple sectors. For example, a table with wireless charging capabilities would need to conform to both furniture and electrical and electronic (E&E) standards. The manufacturer should also be aware regulations will differ between markets and so plotting a way to regulatory compliance requires a robust understanding of the requirements being demanded in each target market.   

For many hidden tech products, a good starting point is IEC 62368-1:2018 Audio/video, information and communication technology equipment – Part 1: Safety requirements. This safety standard for devices is recognized in many markets. Since many hidden tech articles will rely on wireless systems, the manufacturer also needs to consider the requirements governing the radio-frequency spectrum.

In the US, this is regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 15, is the primary regulatory requirement covering most products. It covers ‘unlicensed’ devices, meaning products that don’t require the end user to hold a license.   V2X technology is different. It comes under ‘licensed’ devices, although the license is often held by the carrier, as in the case of cell phones.

These products are also regulated under Title 47, but certification is performed using different parts. Typically, cell phones come under Parts 22, 24, and 27, and V2X devices operate under Part 90 for on-board units and Part 95 for road-side units.  Stakeholders should be aware, some parts of a cell phones, for example Bluetooth and WLAN, remain ‘unlicensed’.  In Canada, ‘license exempt’ operates in roughly the same way as the FCC’s ‘unlicensed’.

The radio standards specifications (RSS) that apply to this kind of device range from RSS-210 to RSS-288. The primary standard covering products such as Bluetooth and WLAN is RSS-247. One difference between Canada and the US is that V2X are ‘license exempt’ in Canada and are covered by RSS-252. 

Other licensed products are covered by RSS-111 to RSS-199. Specifically, cellular devices (2G, 3G, 4G, 5G) are typically covered by RSS-130, RSS-132, RSS-137 and RSS-139. Bluetooth and WLAN are not the only IoT technologies available to manufacturers. Around the globe they may also utilize ANT+, LoRa, and Z-Wave.