Swiss firm U-Blox has announced a module for automotive use cases in infotainment, navigation and telematics.

The Jody-W6 (www.u-blox.com/en/product/jody-w6-series) is a concurrent dual-band Wifi 6E module with Bluetooth 5.3, including LE Audio, that measures 13.8 by 19.8 by 2.5mm.

According to the TSR (Techno Systems Research) Wireless Connectivity Market Report, Wifi 6 and 6E technologies are experiencing significant and promising growth in the automotive industry. Wifi 6 focuses on efficiency, with reduced data congestion, improved network capacity and lower overall power consumption. Wifi 6E focuses on spectrum, enabling more concurrent users, reduced congestion and enhanced security.

Not only does the module deliver the benefits of Wifi 6E, but it also has dual-mode Bluetooth with LE Audio. It is globally certified and can withstand operating temperatures from -40 to +105˚C.

The module is available with either two or three antennas. Upon request, it can also integrate an LTE filter. An EVK and an M.2 card will be available. Furthermore, it is compatible with previous Jody modules to ensure seamless scalability.

“Jody-W6 is smart and reliable to help overcome congestion and fulfil scalability requirements through its highly adaptable compact size,” said Sebastian Schreiber, senior product line manager at U-Blox. “Specific use cases include support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, personalised entertainment, data off-loading, and smart roof-integrated antennas.

It contains an embedded NXP AW693 chipset.

“The AW693 SoC embedded in the automotive Jody-W6 system-on-module leverages the latest concurrent dual-band Wifi 6E and Bluetooth LE audio technologies to unlock new opportunities for a wide variety of use cases and businesses in the automotive domain,” said Larry Olivas, vice president at NXP Semiconductors (www.nxp.com). “The AW693 chipset is packed with advanced features, including Mu-MIMO, OFDMA and target wake time (TWT), allowing the U-Blox Jody-W6 compact module to benefit from the synergy of our gold partnership.”

Samples are available, with volume production scheduled for early 2025.

With headquarters in Thalwil, Switzerland, U-Blox (www.u-blox.com) has offices in Europe, Asia and the USA.