Broadcom Announces Bluetooth Smart Chip

The new Broadcom chip and contribution of its software will help drive proliferation of Bluetooth technology in the Internet of Things ecosystem.

Broadcom's new BCM20732 Bluetooth Smart SoC allows original equipment manufacturers to seamlessly connect peripheral devices like heart rate monitors, pedometers, door locks, lighting, proximity alarms and more. Designed for simple integration into coin cell batteries, the ARM Cortex M3-based BCM20732 will inspire a new range of connectivity for previously unconnected devices. With Broadcom's new SoC, it is now possible to operate Bluetooth Smart-enabled products for more than one year without recharging the small batteries that power them. The BCM20732 will be showcased at COMPUTEX TAIPEI 2013.

The introduction of Broadcom's Bluetooth Smart software expands opportunities for OEMs in the explosive Internet of Things market, particularly with in health, fitness, personal security and home automation markets. Broadcom's stack includes built-in application programming interface calls (APIs) to enable instant control of peripheral devices directly from Android-based smartphones and tablets, as well as application development kit (ADK) peripheral support to help OEMs quickly and easily develop products with the latest profiles and customized applications for enhanced consumer experiences.

The integration of Bluetooth Smart into the Android community is a huge step forward for the 'Internet of Things', said Brian Bedrosian, Broadcom's Senior Director, Embedded Wireless, Wireless Connectivity Combo Group. Broadcom is committed to driving new standards of connectivity for OEMs by providing both software and hardware for simplified development of high-performance products. Adding direct support for Bluetooth Smart directly into the most widely used mobile OS will greatly expand the opportunities for users to easily monitor and control aspects of their health, fitness, and security for smartphones and tablets.

Key Features:

Broadcom BCM20732

-Bluetooth Smart compliant single mode low energy solution
-Integrated ARM CM3 microcontroller unit, radio frequency and Embedded Bluetooth Smart Stack all on a single chip
-Full software support, including GATT, profiles, stack, APIs and application software development kit
-Power optimized for single mode coin cell operation and from 1.2V supply
-On-chip support for 2 serial peripheral interfaces
-On-board 12-bit analog to digital converter
-On-board wakeup timer
-Designed for fast ramp, easy manufacturing with 5x5 mm quad-flat no-leads packaging

Availability
The Broadcom BCM20732 is currently sampling with evaluation boards and SDKs and is available in volume production.