Technology startup InPlay Technologies has built a new integrated circuit (IC) designed to make active RFID technology relatively cheap and easy to deploy through Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).

     InPlay’s SoC called IN100NanoBeacon was launched in 2021. It uses the Bluetooth 5.0 standard (a BLE with remote capability) to implement a low-cost, compact beacon module. It is powered by a button battery and can be paired with the sensor. Pre-configured for event trigger conditions.

     San Jose, California solution provider BeeFi plans to trial IN100 NanoBeacon in the next few months and is expected to deploy in early 2022. InPlay also plans to cooperate with other partners to develop low-cost solutions that can not only locate devices but also capture sensor data.

     The minimum package size of this SoC (DFN8) is 2.5x 2.5 ㎜ (0.1 x 0.1 inches). It can be built into a beacon device powered by a 1.5 volt button battery and can be fixed on a set of equipment, a container or a wall. Then configure it with the help of an application without software development. SoC development does not require software programming.

IN100NanoBeacon SoC

     InPlay co-founder and chief operating officer DavidHu said that the cost of the IC may be as low as 30 cents. Once the SoC is built into a module with a crystal (electrode connection), battery, and case, the company can expect the cost of commercial equipment to be about US$2 or US$3, while the price of beacon devices currently in use is usually more than US$20.

     IN100 NanoBeacon supports the remote function of Bluetooth 5.0, which can transmit data up to several hundred meters. David Hu pointed out that due to the high level of silicon integration and only a peripheral 26 MHz crystal is required, the size of the IN100-based beacon module is only a small part of the size of most beacon hockey pucks. The technology supports Eddystone and iBeacon protocols.

     BeeFi, a company co-founded by David Hu and his former high school classmate John Yu, has been manufacturing IoT systems for Qualcomm. Qualcomm's AWS-ready module uses Wi-Fi connection. David Hu explained: "We provide them with a Bluetooth version of the IoT solution."

     Headquartered in Irvine, California, InPlay was founded in 2016 by engineers from Atmel (now Microchip) to tackle technical challenges involving games, robotics, and industrial systems. David Hu said: "We are concerned about the game because the low-latency wireless problem has not been resolved.”

      When InPlay was established, Bluetooth 5.0 was in the testing phase, so the company saw an opportunity to provide a solution to better realize multi-player games and more by reducing the delay time between the wireless controller and the console. High-quality user experience.

      However, the company also focuses on industrial applications that can benefit from the same technology. "Then we made the first chip, a multi-protocol Bluetooth, low latency, and SDR (software defined radio) for networking. The SDR edge network solution is designed to connect tens of thousands of devices and also supports the Bluetooth 5.0 protocol. ."

     David Hu explained that for RTLS using BLE technology, the deployment of active RFID systems was more complicated than passive RFID. Such solutions require software to manage each device, and beacons usually consume a lot of power, so they need to be recharged or replaced regularly. This means later maintenance is more complicated and more expensive.

      "At that time, we thought that the power consumption of Bluetooth beacons must be reduced. Can a different architectural approach be used to solve this problem?"

     The IN100 product is the first product in the NanoBeacons series expected by InPlay. The construction of the device does not require a CPU, but it contains one-time programmable memory, so users can configure beacons to meet the needs of their applications. One of the QFN18 packaged versions has an interface that can accommodate multiple sensors, so sensor data, such as temperature or shock, can be captured, and users can have multiple options, such as identifying temperature drifts that exceed acceptable thresholds, or simply attaching the sensor The data is dynamically placed on the beacon payload.

     Only a PC tool is needed to configure the SoC,The user can select and set parameters in the option list on the tool（For example, set to no more than 35°C），Then burn these settings to the chip. This technology is likely to be used to locate and monitor assets and equipment in warehouses, manufacturing sites, and medical institutions in real time. For example, it can be connected to high-value items. After that, users use a single BLE gateway to capture potential data from thousands of devices and use it. Transfer to the server; in the warehouse, users can view the location and status of their tools, forklifts or pallets, and view the collected data through applications on smartphones or tablet devices.

      InPlay predicts that the difference between this system and other active RFID systems is that it can be deployed at low cost. The company’s RF design director Russ Mohn said, “The key lies in cost, ease of use and low power consumption. In 10 seconds, the energy consumption is as low as 1.4 uA.” InPlay can adjust the transmission power and advertising according to the requirements of the application. Intervals and triggers are programmed to customize power consumption.

      In terms of location tracking, BeeFi's SensiBLE IoT platform uses InPlay's IN100 SoC and IN612L two-way SDR protocol edge network SoC in its gateway, and uses a combination of arrival angle and received signal strength indicator algorithm to achieve 1 meter (3.3 Feet) within the real-time tag positioning accuracy, while also capturing sensor data. The company said that because the SoC uses so little power, it may use solar, radio or mechanical power.

     SoC can work at high temperature. David Hu said that during the test, it was proven to be able to operate at 135°C (275°F), and most BLE chips tend to lose functionality above 125°C (257°F). This high temperature resistance means that the device can be used in industrial applications, such as tire pressure monitoring. When built into a device with a pressure sensor, NanoBeacon can be connected to the tire, allowing users to check the pressure with a smartphone without the need for a mechanical test system.

     In order to serve this market, InPlay expects to continue to develop NanoBeacon in order to sell it as an automotive-grade product. The company reports that IN100 comes with a unique private key to provide security and identity verification. If the private key is compromised, the corresponding beacon will be deleted and removed from the authentication server, making it unusable. In addition, the sensor payload is encrypted, and only the owner of the key can decrypt and verify the authenticity of the message.

     In order to support its current and future partners, InPlay plans to selectsell IN100 evaluation kits before the end of this year.