Low-power Bluetooth LE modules target mass market applications

U-blox has expanded its NORA-B2 Bluetooth LE module range with new variants based on the nRF54L series of ultra-low-power SoCs from Nordic Semiconductor.

The new Bluetooth LE modules combine ultra-lower power consumption and high processing efficiency, consuming up to 50% less current than the previous generation while doubling process capacity. They also offer outstanding security features for IoT applications, such as smart home devices, industrial automation, or healthcare.

The NORA-B20 uses ultra-low power nRF54L15 SoC and integrates a 128 MHz Arm Cortex-M33 processor, a RISC-V co-processor, and an ultra-low power multiprotocol 2.4 GHz radio. It has 1.5 MB of non-volatile memory (NVM) and 256 KB RAM.

The NORA-B21, based on ultra-low power nRF54L10 SoC, is designed for mid-range applications. It has 1.0 MB of NVM and 192 KB of RAM and can handle multiple wireless protocols simultaneously, including Bluetooth LE/Mesh, Thread, Matter, Zigbee, and Amazon Sidewalk.

The NORA-B22 is designed for cost-sensitive applications but still provides access to up to 31 GPIOs. It offers 0.5 MB of NVM and 96 KB of RAM.

The NORA-B26 is designed for customers using the Network Co-Processor architecture and comes pre-flashed with the u-blox u-connectXpress software, allowing customers to easily 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. Features include secure boot and updates, tamper detection, and secure firmware over-the-air (FOTA) updates to protect IoT devices against any potential threats, safeguarding both data and functionality. NORA-B2 modules are also qualified against Bluetooth Core 6.0, which includes Channel Sounding for tracking and location use cases.

NORA-B2 variants either come with an antenna pin for connecting an external antenna of choice or are designed with a patented PCB antenna.. All module versions come with global certification.

“The market demand for energy-efficient solutions at a competitive cost is rapidly growing, and this product category is well-positioned to meet that need,” says Thomas Holmberg, Regional Sales Director at Nordic Semiconductor.

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.