Combining ultra-wideband (UWB) with Bluetooth makes more sense
if the multiband-OFDM approach to UWB is used, according to US
fabless semiconductor firm Staccato Communications.
This follows last week’s announcement that the Bluetooth
Special Interest Group is investigating how it can incorporate UWB
in a common standard.
Multiband-OFDM UWB is being pushed by the WiMedia Alliance, of
which Staccato is a member, while direct sequence UWB is being
championed by the UWB Forum.
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| Mark Bowles |
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“Do you want wireless USB and Bluetooth over UWB or do you
want just one or the other?” said Mark Bowles, founder and
vice-president of business development and marketing, Staccato.
“If you want both then it would be a much more elegant
solution and much less expensive - in fact you’d almost get
both for the price of one - if you choose the WiMedia Alliance
version,” he said.
According to Bowles, this is because adding Bluetooth to
multiband-OFDM UWB is “only a different software stack on
top” while going the direct sequence route means “you
must have two entirely separate radios which all adds
cost”.
Bowles said he did not believe combining Bluetooth with UWB
would mean the demise of Bluetooth in the future.
“Bluetooth’s not going away. It’s still great for
headsets, etc,” said Bowles. “But it’s never
going to serve the other needs for higher data rates, so it means
another short range radio needs to enter the market. It’s a
natural evolution.”
www.staccatocommunications.com (Noisy
site.)