Swiss firm U-Blox has expanded its Nora-B2 Bluetooth LE modules series using the Nordic Semiconductor nRF54L chipsets to address all mass market segments.

The nRF54L chipset-based wireless modules can reduce current consumption and double processing capacity, catering to diverse mass market segments.

The wireless modules combine low-power consumption and high processing efficiency, consuming up to 50% less current than previous-generation devices while doubling process capacity. They also offer security features, which makes them suitable for a wide range of IoT applications, such as smart home devices, industrial automation or healthcare.

The Nora-B2 series (www.u-blox.com/en/product/nora-b2-series) comprises four variants that differ in memory sizes, design architectures and price levels:

• Nora-B20 uses low-power nRF54L15 SoC and integrates a 128MHz Arm Cortex-M33 processor, Risc-V co-processor and multiprotocol 2.4GHz radio. It comes with 1.5Mbyte of non-volatile memory (NVM) and 256kbyte RAM.
• Nora-B21, based on nRF54L10 SoC, is for mid-range applications. It has 1.0Mbyte NVM and 192kbyte RAM and can handle multiple wireless protocols simultaneously, including Bluetooth LE, Bluetooth Mesh, Thread, Matter, Zigbee and Amazon Sidewalk.
• Nora-B22 is for cost-sensitive applications but still provides access to up to 31 GPIOs. It offers 0.5Mbyte NVM and 96kbyte RAM.
• Nora-B26 is for those using the network co-processor architecture and comes pre-flashed with U-ConnectXpress software, letting users integrate Bluetooth connectivity into their products with no prior knowledge of Bluetooth LE or wireless security.

All Nora-B2 modules are designed for PSA Certified Level 3 security. They incorporate features such as secure boot and updates, tamper detection, and secure firmware over-the-air (FOTA) updates. These security measures ensure IoT devices remain protected against any potential threats, safeguarding data and functionality. The modules are also qualified against Bluetooth Core 6.0 that includes channel sounding, enabling possibilities in tracking and locating use cases.

Variants either come with an antenna pin for connecting an external antenna of choice or are designed with a patented PCB antenna. All versions come with global certification helping device manufacturers launch their products worldwide.

“We are excited to see Nordic’s entire nRF54L series of SoCs seamlessly integrated into the Nora-B2 module series,” said Thomas Holmberg, regional sales director at Nordic Semiconductor (www.nordicsemi.com). “The market demand for energy-efficiency at a competitive cost is growing rapidly, and this product category is well-positioned to meet that need. U-Blox’s commitment to staying ahead of industry and market trends reinforces our confidence in this valuable partnership.”

Samples of Nora-B20 are now available. Early samples of Nora-B21 and Nora-B22 are available for evaluation in limited quantities. The pre-release version of U-ConnectXpress software for Nora-B26 is also available for early adopters.

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