Low power beacon supports multiple proximity standards

14th April 2015

Barney Scott

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Datasheet

EM Microelectronic has launched its 2^nd gen multi-protocol proximity beacon, EMBC02. Operating from a single coin cell, the beacon supports multiple proximity standards and is optimised for smart IoT and safety applications in indoor and outdoor environments. EM says that the combination of sensors with its low-cost, low-power, certified beacon technology will be an enabler of many real-world IoT applications.

EMBC02 beacons integrate a 3-axis accelerometer in the same easy-to-use, tiny form factor as EMBC01, enabling a wide range of motion-based beacon applications. By attaching EMBC02 to objects or people, both, proximity and motion, can be monitored by a smartphone or tablet application. EMBC02 can be programmed to transmit proximity and identification data, like standard beacons, but it can also provide motion data (movements, vibrations, acceleration) as well as specific motion-based alarms based on accelerometer data, originating from shock, free-fall or taps. The accelerometer enables maximised battery life by beaconing data only when required, e.g. while in motion, or when an alarm condition occurs.

The EMBC01 Bluetooth Smart proximity beacon can operate for more than 12 months on a single CR2032 coin cell. EMBC02 offers even longer battery life with optimised usage scenarios where the beacon sleeps (or transmits infrequently) until the accelerometer detects movement.

The EMBC02 is completely programmable and capable of supporting multiple proximity standards (e.g. iBeacon, AltBeacon or any other proprietary protocol) in a single beacon. It is FCC/CE/IC certified, includes a multi-function button for input and two LEDs for user feedback. The beacon module comes in a sleek, weatherproof (IP-64) housing.

With such 'motion' and 'context aware' features, EMBC02 is a suitable beacon for a wide category of IoT and mobile applications, including elderly person fall detection, child monitoring with detection of activity (or absence of activity) within defined proximity range, or similarly pet and animal activity monitoring, theft prevention where objects (valuable items in stores, bicycles, luggage) may beacon warning messages when an unexpected movement occurs, inventory and equipment tracking when being moved around a facility, and many more.

“Beaconing only when EMBC02 is in motion allows for drastic energy savings” says Michel Willemin, CEO, EM. “This approach paves the way toward a truly useable and meaningful sensor-based IoT platform where real world data is connected to the cloud and where battery lifetime is expressed in years, rather than months”.