Introducing mesh networking for Bluetooth 5 radio family

Driver of energy efficient innovations, ON Semiconductor, has extended the capabilities of its RSL10 family of Bluetooth 5 certified radio System-on-Chips (SoCs) with support for the Bluetooth SIG mesh networking standard. In addition, the company has introduced a new PC software application with the RSL10 USB dongle.

Alongside the recently-announced RSL10 SIP, the additional software and design support tools ease development and enable support for a broad range of industrial and consumer applications.

Standardized Bluetooth mesh networking is now supported with the ON Semiconductor Mesh release, enabling many-to-many device communications. Device manufacturers can now deploy large-scale, low-power Bluetooth mesh networks for applications such as smart home, building automation and asset tracking.

The ON Semiconductor RSL10 Mesh release provides additional functionality with the industry’s lowest power consumption. Consuming just 62.5 nanowatts (nW) while in Deep Sleep mode and seven milliwatts (mW) peak receive power, RSL10 provides advanced wireless functionality without compromising battery life.

The RSL10 radio’s energy efficiency was recently validated by the EEMBC’s ULPMark where it became the first device in the benchmark’s history to break 1,000 ULP Marks, and produced Core Profile scores more than twice those of the previous industry leader.

Prototyping and testing of Bluetooth Low Energy peripherals for node-to-node and mesh connectivity is now easier with the RSL10 USB Dongle. Along with its BLE Explorer software applications, the RSL10 USB Dongle enables developers to scan, connect, and wirelessly interact with their prototypes while monitoring and logging behavior.

“Since its release from the Bluetooth SIG, mesh networking has revolutionized IoT by enabling large-scale networks,” said Michel De Mey, Senior Director and General Manager of Hearing, Consumer Health, and Bluetooth Connectivity solutions at ON Semiconductor. By adding this support, alongside the best-in-class power consumption of RSL10, we will better enable IoT edge node applications that can benefit from the ubiquity and ease-of-use of Bluetooth Low Energy.”