Cambridge, UK and Sunnyvale, California, USA – 5 June 2013 – CSR plc (LSE: CSR; NASDAQ: CSRE) today announces the launch of the first AEC-Q100 qualified single mode Bluetooth® Smart embedded device for automotive applications, CSR1010™ auto. The device will service existing and upcoming wireless applications in the vehicle as part of a complete Bluetooth v4.0 based end-to-end solution. It will also increase the integration of smartphones and other consumer devices into the driving experience of the future. The new solution will be demonstrated at Telematics Detroit 2013 from 5 - 6 June at stand #65. 

Use cases
The CSR1010 auto will permit a myriad of Bluetooth Smart applications inside and outside the car, from low power remote controls to proximity and keyless entry enhancement applications, and eventually in-vehicle wireless sensors, health and wellness applications and harness replacement applications. Bluetooth Smart enables low-power connectivity and basic data transfer for applications previously limited by the power consumption, size constraints and complexity of other wireless standards. Bluetooth Smart enables consumers to connect to their cars, so they can have data such as lock/unlock status, tire pressure and vehicle service information sent regularly to their Bluetooth Smart Ready enabled smartphones. Before entering the vehicle, information such as navigation destination, itineraries, infotainment and seat position preferences can be delivered to a vehicle from a smartphone app, to customise the car to a consumer’s specifications.

Benefits for OEMs
Vehicle OEMs can benefit by supplying car model specific apps which act as the portals for such information, increasing their brand awareness and extending the customer relationship. Bluetooth Smart Ready API support to build such apps is available today on Apple and Blackberry smartphones, while Google announced in May that it will support Bluetooth Smart Ready API’s natively in the next release of Android.

The existing RF systems employed in vehicles today are closed systems managed by OEMs, and use specific frequencies for specific geographies. Bluetooth v4.0, however, is set to be a gateway technology for the automotive industry because an ecosystem of compatible smartphones, tablets and automotive head units is already in place, all operating in a globally licensed ISM 2.4Ghz band.

“Bluetooth v4.0 allows a variety of information from telemetric and diagnostic to navigation and driver health and wellness to flow between vehicles and portable devices,” comments Thomas Carmody, Head of Connectivity Marketing at CSR. “Given the success of Bluetooth Smart in the consumer space, CSR1010 auto will be the key to securely unlocking these applications, as well as delivering exciting capabilities in previously closed automotive systems, such as keyless entry.”

CSR is already witnessing a trend to adopt the Bluetooth v4.0 standard in vehicles with its CSR8311 and CSR8350 AEC-Q100 devices. Both are Bluetooth v4.0 dual mode products being selected for in-platforms production in 2013 and beyond.

Product details
As part of the CSR µEnergy® family the CSR1010 auto is a fully Bluetooth v4.0 qualified embedded device. The chipset is designed to achieve low power consumption and low overall system cost. It is equipped with a low power application CPU, hardware MAC unit and embedded power supply to achieve market leading power consumption during connection and to support direct coin cell battery operation. Additionally, the chipset is fitted with a 128 bit AES encryption engine, 12 GPIOs, 3 AIOs, on-chip balun, pulse-width modulation (PWM) controller, and interfaces to EEPROM and serial-Flash to offer high degrees of flexibility and highly secured communications in various practical automotive applications.

Data throughput from CSR1010 auto can exceed 64kbps, enabling for example, voice-activated commands that improve driver safety. This is realised via the proven protocol stack working harmoniously with the Bluetooth v4.0 modem of CSR1010 auto, which is crafted to achieve high-bandwidth efficiency.

The CSR1010 auto solution also includes a software development kit with a comprehensive set of example applications to exercise the latest Bluetooth Smart profiles. For automotive designers, the SDK will include automotive specific example code to jump start the development process, such as keyless entry enhancements and infotainment system remote controls.

CSR1010 auto comes in an automotive-friendly small form factor 0.5mm pitch QFN package. Samples, development boards, and software development kits are available today. CSR1010 auto is expected to be fully AEC-Q100 qualified by October 2013.