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 | |
“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.)