With the rapid development of automotive intelligence, digital keys are emerging as a global trend. Their deployment will transform travel and user experiences, reshaping the interaction between people and vehicles within the broader ecosystem. Digital keys, enhanced by Bluetooth® technology, transcend simple car access tools and serve as the initial connection in the smart car experience. Today, every new smartphone now comes equipped with Bluetooth digital key-enabling technology. This advancement enables users to seamlessly enjoy keyless entry, starting, locking, and other security features through their smartphones and smart devices. As a leading global provider of wireless modules and solutions, Shenzhen RF-star Technology Co., Ltd. (RF-star) was honored to be interviewed by Lori Lee, APAC Marketing Director of Bluetooth SIG. During the interview, RF-star’s Marketing Manager, Ms. Qianqian Wen, shared valuable insights into the market trends of digital keys and highlighted the pivotal role of Bluetooth technology in the intelligent vehicle ecosystem. Furthermore, we are eagerly anticipating the upcoming release of the Bluetooth Channel Sounding feature, which we believe will significantly enhance the performance of digital key solutions. Bluetooth SIG's Interview with RF-star In recent years, the new energy vehicle market has grown rapidly. How do you view the importance of digital keys and market trends? The digital key serves as the first connection point for users to experience intelligent cars. At this connection point, security, reliability, convenience, and interactive comfort are all indispensable. The success of the digital key experience design is crucial for car user evaluations and plays a key role in deepening the connection with users. With the maturity of technologies like Bluetooth® Low Energy (LE), near-field communication (NFC), and ultra wide band (UWB), digital keys are entering a period of rapid growth, and integrated solutions will become the market mainstream. What are the technological advantages of Bluetooth technology in digital key solutions? RF-star chose Bluetooth® technology to develop car digital key solutions, primarily because of its low power consumption, high reliability, and broad device compatibility. Bluetooth technology provides stable wireless connections and supports various smart devices like smartphones and smartwatches, enabling users to remotely control vehicles through these devices for keyless entry, starting, and other functions. Additionally, Bluetooth technology’s low power consumption helps reduce operating costs. RF-star also values Bluetooth technology’s iterative capabilities. For example, the upcoming channel sounding feature improves the positioning accuracy of Bluetooth Digital Key solutions and protects the system from relay hijacking. It may become a cost-effective preferred technology in the digital key domain in the future. With the upcoming release of the Bluetooth Chann...

Here comes intelligent irrigation! What are the differences between traditional irrigation and intelligent one? Save water Save energy Save labor Remote control Real-time soil moisture monitoring Easy installment With wireless technologies such as Wi-SUN, Sub1G, LoRa, LoRaWAN, agriculture will become more and more intelligent.

In the first half of 2022, the shipment of the global New Energy Vehicle (NEV) market took off, and the sales of NEVs in mainland China in the first half of the year were particularly prominent, creating an astonishing result of a year-on-year increase of more than 100%. When new energy vehicles become a household topic, people's requirements for battery systems become increasingly high. They expect manufacturers not only to improve battery life, but also to ensure safety and stability. As a result, a major innovative technology in the industry is about to emerge, that is, wBMS, or wireless battery management system. The cost of BMS accounts for about 20% of the power battery of NEVs. The traditional BMS connects the battery packs with cables, and then bridges them with daisy chain interfaces. The use of cables and mechanical interfaces is space consuming, which actually squeezes the room for battery energy density improvement. The wireless BMS replaces the traditional ring circuit by deploying wireless modules on the BMS host and the battery pack node, realizing the star + ad hoc network mode for necessary communication of battery management. The wireless method not only increases the energy density improvement space, but also greatly reduces the labor in the battery assembly stage. And with wireless solutions manufacturers does not need to consider investment big money on isolation between the high and low voltage circuits in the battery. In the traditional mode, in event of an accident or aging caused by long distance riding, some cable might get broken or contact of some interface would become poor. It is easy to cause the power battery system to disfunction. In that case, the power battery needs to be replaced as a whole. The potential economic loss to the car owner is considerable. The wireless method does not have the problem of wire and interface failure, and because of its wireless characteristics, it naturally has the advantage of modularization. Even if there is a problem with a certain part of the battery pack, you can just take out the faulty battery pack for replacement without disposing the entire power battery. Due to the above-mentioned advantages, leading car makers began to consider wireless BMS technology from 2019. So far available or upcoming models with wireless BMS technology include: BMW i3 (2022), GM's Hummer EV (2024). Texas Instruments, which is deeply involved in the field of automotive electronics, took the lead in launching the CC2662R-Q1, the world's first wBMS SoC solution that complies with ISO 26262 ASIL D standard. The chip deploys the TI's proprietary Simplelink wBMS protocol over the 2.4GHz band. The solution can manage and support up to 100 nodes, and specified to couple with BQ79616-Q1 battery monitor, it can be used for different configurations, such as 16, 32, and 64-cell battery systems. The wireless approach in which the battery module transmits battery data directly to the BMS MCU overcomes the challen...

The liquid level gauge is a special instrument for liquid level monitoring that integrates the functions of liquid level detection, data acquisition and transmission. It is mainly used to monitor the real-time data of the liquid level in the container and the natural environment. The Bluetooth module is implanted to make it wireless. Thus, after the liquid level gauge completes the sensing, the signal transmission and information interaction can be completed wirelessly, making its deployment safer, more convenient and more reliable in use. Challenge Liquid level gauges are usually used in harsh industrial environment which is subject to high temperature, strong corrosion, strong adhesion, dust and soot, making it great danger to manually survey with traditional liquid level gauges. Manually measured and recorded data is also subject to inaccuracy. However, factories keep elevating bars for the quality, immediacy, reliability and storability of sensing data. Traditional liquid level gauges can no longer meet such requirements raised in latest industrial production scenarios. At the same time, complex terrains of some industrial sites make it extremely difficult for equipment wiring. The deployment and construction cost of traditional wiring methods between transmission nodes is high, and the cost for maintaining the system will also be high. Solution By building a Bluetooth module into the liquid level gauge, the liquid level gauge can transmit data such as its power level, sensing signal strength, liquid level data information, and alarm information to the terminal device in real-time through the wireless network. The terminal equipment stores and analyzes the data, makes inquiries or  raise alarms, thereby realizing convenient deployment, collection, and maintenance while ensuring the safety of personnel. Keep tracking consumption status in real-time The wireless liquid level gauge is made by connecting the meter with a built-in Bluetooth module functioning as a data-transparent transmission unit. The receiving end of the wireless liquid level gauge is responsible for the data display and gauge setting. It also distill and output analog and switch signals to the terminal equipment. It detects liquid level in closed or open containers, processes relevant data, and automatically raise alarm and augment data whenever the level reaches a preconfigured threshold or the battery’s voltage is too low. It thus enable us to reduce manual intervention in survey and ensures the accuracy of the measurement as well. Through the terminal equipment, we can better monitor and manage the liquid level of the tank, tracking the consumption level in real-time, and ensuring the safety of personnel. Low deployment and maintenance costs The wireless level gauge greatly reduces the cost of trenching and wiring and later line maintenance. It does not need to lay cables, nor damage existing structures of the factory, saving labor and engineering costs. Meanwhile, wir...

RF-star, a leading manufacturer of wireless modules and provider of wireless connectivity solutions, proudly announces the expansion of its Bluetooth module lineup tailored specifically for automotive applications. The latest BLE modules include the RF-BM-2642QB1I and RF-BM-2340QB1, designed to excel in automobile-critical applications such as digital car keys, T-Box, Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS), Passive Entry Passive Start (PEPS), and more. Designed to meet the evolving demands of the automotive industry, RF-star's new modules offer a host of features to enhance reliability, durability, security, and ease of integration. Compliance and security assurance are paramount in automotive applications. RF-star’s new Bluetooth Low Energy modules are based on TI chips, specifically the CC2642R-Q1 and CC2340R5-Q1 MCUs meeting Automotive Electronics Council (AEC-Q100) standards. RF-BM-2642QB1I and RF-BM-2340QB1 BLE modules integrated with the automotive-qualified MCUs can operate in Grade 2 temperature range (–40 °C to +105 °C), guaranteeing their reliability and durability in harsh automotive environments. Additionally, RF-star's CC2642R-Q1 and CC2340R5-Q1 modules incorporate AES 128-and 256-bit cryptographic accelerator, ECC and RSA public key hardware accelerator and true random number generator(TRNG). These advanced security enablers with robust encryption protocols and authentication mechanisms, provide peace of mind to both automakers and end-users. Rich resources and ease of use are also taken into consideration by project decision-makers. Their high-performance processor and abundant resources, eg., RF-BM-2340QB1 with 512 kB Flash and 36 kB RAM, offer ample opportunities for firmware development. Meanwhile, they also support over-the-air upgrade (OTA). Besides, the automotive modules feature UART, SPI, I2C, I2S, ADC and more digital peripherals, flexible RF output modes(eg., PCB antenna, IPEX connector and half-hole ANT RF pin), and user-friendly development kits. Hence, it is quite easy to integrate into existing vehicle architectures, especially the auto aftermarket applications. Best of all, both support Bluetooth 5.0 Low Energy serial port transmission for master-slave wireless connections. These rich functions with AT commands streamline the integration process, reducing complexity and accelerating time-to-market for automotive projects. Whether experienced engineers or newcomers to wireless connectivity, they can leverage RF-star's Bluetooth modules easily to unlock their full potential in ongoing projects. RF-star - A powerful supplier with abundant experience stands out among competitors. Certified with ISO9001 and IATF16949 (automotive sector quality management systems), the enterprise and the manufacturer meticulously adhere to international quality management standards. RF-star is also honored as a member of the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) and Intelligent Car Connectivity Industry Ecosystem Alliance (ICCE). Beyond indis...

RF-star Weekly Case Card: BLE Electric Valve Let's see what disadvantages the BLE electric valve has: Difficult to monitor High operating costs Lack of flexibility How does the BLE electric valve work? Real-time monitoring, improve the work efficiency Easy to control by remote, achieve a higher production efficiency Easy installation and maintenance, ensure the safety of the workers Lower operating costs Reduce batch loss For more solution support, contact us at www.rfstariot.com

From the market insight of Transparency Market Research, The global smart home market is expected to reach the value of US$ 767.3 Bn by the end of 2031 owing to numerous factors. A smart home is a home equipped with lighting, heating, and electronic devices that can be controlled remotely by a phone or computer. The increasing inclination of consumers to build smart homes is expected to boost the smart home market. Key drivers for the smart home market The key factors fueling the growth of this market include the increasing importance of home monitoring in remote locations and growing concern with regard to safety, security and convenience among the general population, the increasing number of internet users and the growing adoption of smart devices along with the growing need for energy-saving and low carbon emission-oriented solutions have been crucial for increased demand of smart home systems. The IoT connects products, software algorithms, services, and end-users, enabling a smooth flow of data and making real-time decisions. It has proved its efficiency and has enhanced the quality and consistency of automation systems. Owing to the benefits achieved by connecting household products to the internet, the IoT has gained popularity among residential consumers. Its development will further boost the smart home market. Challenge: Issues related to security and privacy breaches A smart home helps in gathering information regarding energy usage and bills, purchases, movements, and music preferences, among others, to enable its systems to be custom-built to best support the inhabitants’ lifestyle. Devices in a smart home may be vulnerable to common hacking tools. Since the data related to personal information, physical safety, medical care, and homes are stored virtually on the cloud, the possibilities of misuse of these data by hackers are high. A hacked monitor could provide access to other personal data and information, which, in turn, could be used to victimize a user or a homeowner. The smart home industry is confronted with the challenge of assuring security and confidentiality of personal information to consumers. In the case of the remote control of security services, it is imperative to maintain the confidentiality of the information stored; the control of a network’s security systems cannot be compromised. This is expected to restrain market growth to an extent. In addition to this, data generated by unprotected wearables and smart appliances provide cyber attackers with an ample amount of targeted personal information that can potentially be exploited for fraudulent transactions and identify theft. Smart device hijacking can potentially put the safety of an entire household in jeopardy. An attacker may hijack and effectively assumes control of a device. These attacks are quite difficult to detect because the attacker does not change the basic functionality of the device. Key Trends for Smart Home Market Integration with smart wearable de...

On November 28-30, RF-star, a leading RF wireless modules manufacturer, is honored to present its new CC2340 Bluetooth Low Energy modules and solutions, at the TI Embedded Technology Innovation and Development Seminar (Shanghai and Shenzhen Station) organized by Texas Instruments, a global semiconductor giant. This premier event brought together industry leaders, experts, ecological partners and enthusiasts to explore the latest advancements and opportunities in TI’s new-generation embedded products and applications. As TI’s partner, RF-star was invited to attend the seminar and interacted with industry representatives to discuss the embedded technology trends. In this seminar, Texas Instruments showcased the new Arm® Cortex® -M0+MCU product portfolio, new-generation Sitara AM6x series processors, TI CC2340x Bluetooth LE MCUs and C2000TM Real-Time microcontrollers. TI’s experts also shared Wi-Fi 6 for IoT applications and low-power consumption Radar solutions. The leading wireless innovation, comprehensive embedded processor portfolio, cutting-edge system solutions, easy-to-use platforms and tools would help engineers develop and push their target projects to market quickly. RF-star presented the CC2340R5 wireless modules based on TI Bluetooth Low Energy MCUs in the seminar exhibition hall. RF-BM-2340B1(I), as RF-star’s first CC2340R5 series Bluetooth LE modules features high-quality RF performance, ultra-low power consumption, adequate security and competitive price. BLE5.0 transparent transmission protocol (serial port protocol), rich AT commands, and CE, FCC, BQB certifications, can simplify project development and accelerate the products to market. The CC2340 Bluetooth modules designed by RF-star enable wireless connectivity in building automation, grid infrastructure, medical devices, appliances, personal electronics, retail automation and more applications. The Bluetooth digital key, UWB digital key, T-Box, BMS, TPMS, Bluetooth charging pile and other vehicle solutions embedded RF-star wireless modules attracted attendees to engage in potential business cooperation. In the future, RF-star will explore wireless connectivity innovation in the automotive industry. The successful event not only brought great influence to TI's partner ecosystem but also played an important role in the development of embedded technology. Thanks to the impressive seminar, RF-star was pleased to forge new connections with industry experts and looked forward to working with TI partners to propel wireless technological innovation and expand more possible embedded applications. Click here for RF-star wireless modules RF-BM-2340x based on CC2340Rx. For more information, visit www.rfstariot.com or reach us by email address info@szrfstar.com. About RF-star Shenzhen RF-star Technology Co., Ltd (RF-star) is a leading global provider of wireless communication modules and solutions, specializing in low-power modules for IoT, industrial, automotive, and consumer appli...

RF-star Weekly Case Card: Wireless Valve Let's see what disadvantages the manual valve has: Difficult to monitor High operating costs Lack of flexibility How does the wireless valve work? Real-time monitoring, improve the work efficiency Easy to control by remote, achieve a higher production efficiency Easy installation and maintenance, ensure the safety of the workers Lower operating costs Reduce batch loss