What are the Specifications and Applications of Bluetooth 5.0

Bluetooth is one of the most popular wireless transmission technologies, connecting billions of devices. Since the first version was released in the 1990s, Bluetooth has gained wide acceptance for various applications. What is Bluetooth 5.0, and what are the specifications and applications of Bluetooth 5.0?

Bluetooth 5.0 is the latest version of the Bluetooth standard, capable of two-way transmission with higher bandwidth, range, and efficiency. Low power requirements, high efficiency, higher data rate, and easier implementation make Bluetooth one of the most acceptable technologies globally.

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) monitors the development and improvement of the Bluetooth standard. Manufacturers adopting Bluetooth technology must qualify to follow Bluetooth SIG guidelines to ensure device interoperability, security, compliance, and maintenance of Bluetooth specifications.

There are two versions of Bluetooth for short transmission and continuous connectivity.

Bluetooth Basic Data Rate / Enhanced Data Rate (BR/EDR)

This Bluetooth class is designed for basic and enhanced data rate operation for continuous connectivity. It will maintain a point-to-point, higher bandwidth two-way connection for quality communication.

Bluetooth Low Energy (LE)

Low energy class is designed for point-to-point data transfer and broadcast short burst connection. Depending on requirements, it can be used to create a simple and complex mesh connection.

Specification of Bluetooth 5.0

Standard:             IEEE 802.15.1

Frequency:         2.4 GHz

Range:                  ~200 meters (maximum range at the line of sight distance)

Power:                 100 m Watt (class 1)

Speed:                  50 Mbps (maximum)

Advantages of Bluetooth 5.0 over the previous version

• Two times faster pairing time and less transmission delay
• Four times range, which is 40 meters indoors and approximately 200 meters line of sight distance
• Eight times data transfer rate and support dual audio mode to connect multiple devices to the same source
• Wireless coexistence with other technologies

Applications of Bluetooth 5.0

Bluetooth BR/ EDR

• Wireless Keyboard, mouse, and other peripherals
• Wireless speakers and high-quality audio systems
• Car audio systems/hands-free pairing with mobile devices
• Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality devices
• High Definition audio and video streaming

Bluetooth LE

• A universally Unique Identifier (UUID) for transmitting beacons with 255 bytes enables connectionless beacons for advertising, parking lots, location beacons, etc.…
• Sports and fitness tracking devices
• Healthcare, medical, and wellness devices
• Office, industrial, and building automation
• Wireless sensor networks and mesh connections
• Asset and inventory tracking systems
• Internet of Things wireless sensors and solutions
• 5G applications
• Home automation and security applications

Bluetooth 5.0 enabled devices

The first mobile device launched with Bluetooth 5.0 was the Samsung Galaxy S8 a few months ago. Apple has also included Bluetooth 5.0 in the recent release of iPhone 8 and iPhone X.

 Conclusion

Increasing demands for high-quality data transfer with low power in the wireless sector are a driving force behind the development and upgrading of existing technologies like Bluetooth.  In the future, Bluetooth 5.0 or even higher version will be a default standard in all smart devices for efficient connectivity. Emerging technologies like the Internet of Things and 5G applications will make use of Bluetooth 5.0 for a variety of applications.