Samsung unveils first ultra-wideband chipset for mobile, automotive and IoT devices

Samsung on Tuesday introduced its first ultra-wideband (UWB) chipset, the Exynos Connect U100, that offers precise distance and location information on mobile, automotive and Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

For the unversed, UWB is a short-range wireless communication technology that uses a very wide frequency band to transmit data over short distances, allowing for fast data transfers at low power. It offers a number of advantages over other wireless communication technologies, with the major one being its ability to operate in environments with high levels of interference.

The new UWB solution is launched under Exynos Connect - a new brand that consolidates the company's short-range wireless communication solutions that are essential in facilitating an increasingly hyper-connected world.

"Our Exynos Connect U100 combines sophisticated ranging and positioning capabilities with strong security to enable hyper-connectivity between people and everyday objects, fueling a range of new applications in positioning and location tracking,” said Joonsuk Kim, Executive Vice President of the Connectivity Development Team at Samsung Electronics.

Samsung's Exynos Connect U100 makes use of the time of arrival (ToA) and 3D angle of arrival (AoA) measurements to provide an accuracy of single-digit centimeters and under five degrees. This is particularly advantageous in situations such as where GPS is not available and for AR and VR applications that necessitate precise and real-time tracking of individuals in motion.

Exynos Connect U100 combines radio frequency (RF), baseband, embedded Flash (eFlash) memory, and power management IP into a single unit, making it suitable for use in compact devices. Its power-saving mode is capable of extending the battery life of mobile and automotive solutions, as well as IoT devices such as smart tracking tags with limited power capacity.

Additionally, the U100 chip is equipped with a scrambled timestamp sequence (STS) feature and a secure hardware encryption engine that provides protection against external hacking.