CSR Unveils BlueSlim2 to Enable Bluetooth-to-PC Transfer

CSR plc, a provider of multifunction connectivity and location platforms, has introduced its new PC Bluetooth Module, named BlueSlim2. The company leverages a number of technologies including Bluetooth, GPS, FM, WiFi (News - Alert) or IEEE802.11, UWB and NFC to enable silicon platforms that incorporate fully integrated radio, baseband and microcontroller elements.

An enhanced Bluetooth module reference design that has been qualified for notebooks, netbooks and tablets, BlueSlim2 offers a quick, convenient and cheaper workflow to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for seamlessly integrating the latest Bluetooth functionality into PC module designs. The solution is comprehensively compatible with the Bluetooth v3.0 + High Speed and Bluetooth v4.0 standards, and enables high-speed data transfer for PC products. Deploying BlueSlim2, a comprehensive range of connecting peripherals such as mice and keyboards can be developed benefitting from the enormous power efficiency of Bluetooth low energy, a feature of Bluetooth 4.0 wireless radio technology that is aimed at low-power and low-latency applications for wireless devices within a short range up to 10 meters.

“As the number and variety of peripheral and sensor devices featuring Bluetooth low energy continues to grow, consumers will want all of their devices to be able to interact with each other,” commented Eric Neilson, senior product marketing manager for PCs, Audio and Consumer Business Unit at CSR (News - Alert). “With larger screens and more flexible interfaces, PCs offer an ideal opportunity to interact with Bluetooth low energy devices in exciting and unforeseen ways; perhaps enabling the true ‘smart home,’ or acting as intelligent multi remote-controls. PC module OEMs need a quick and easy way to tap into this and CSR is helping its OEM customers to be at the profitable centre of this emerging market.”

The company has tested and qualified BlueSlim2 for production by manufacturers. The device is compatible with a number of PC Bluetooth stacks such as CSR Harmony, Motorola, Toshiba and CSR Synergy (News - Alert) stack. The solution has been developed according to the regulatory approval requirements in more than 200 countries, which will save the OEMs from paying regulatory fees to different standardization organizations and going through a number of qualification processes as well.

Offering support to Universal Serial Bus (USB), a well known standard interface for most PC platforms, BlueSlim2 enables the users to connect their PCs to a wide range of devices. The module features a small 6.5mm x 30mm x 1.95mm footprint, which makes it easy to be incorporated within a number of small form factor notebooks, netbooks and tablet PCs.

In June 2010, Sierra Wireless (News - Alert) selected CSR’s SiRFstarIV GSD4t GPS receiver for its new AirPrime XM0110 GPS module. The AirPrime XM0110 GPS module is compatible with most of the Sierra Wireless AirPrime family of wireless embedded modules, and has been designed to offer easy integration of reliable GPS features for any application in the transportation and automotive market with the need for accurate positioning data and cellular connectivity.