Figure 6: UWB smart lock application. Credit: NXP
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smartphone, adding an additional layer of security, and interactions can range from something as simple as status LEDs to LCD panels with touchscreen control. NXP provide a variety of connectivity options like UWB and supply analogue components to complete the design of the smart lock (Figure 6).
recognition location has been reduced from 50cm to under 10cm. The more precisely a digital car key module detects the location of a smartphone, the more diverse and more convenient functions can be implemented. A similar application has been developed by Bosch: its perfectly keyless system, based on UWB technology, has a 20cm localisation accuracy and, similarly to the
Smart home applications Charlie Zhang, Board Chair of the FiRa Consortium and Senior Vice President, Engineering, Samsung Research America, sees many exciting new applications that can benefit from UWB technology, and this section explores some of the most promising in more detail – namely, residential access control and the tracking of personal devices, as mentioned in the previous segment. Smart lock Physical and information security is a growing concern in the connected world. Smart locks are one piece of the puzzle in controlling access to both information and physical spaces.
Smart keys
Digital car keys allow users to unlock/lock their car door or start the engine using a smartphone. LG Innotek has developed a digital car key module that utilises UWB technology. The digital key can detect the location of a smartphone five times more precisely than existing key modules. The module’s error range between the actual smartphone’s location and the
Figure 7: Perfectly keyless system uses UWB technology to automatically unlock a car. Credit: Bosch
A smart lock can use UWB to communicate with a user’s
we get technical
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