u-blox has expanded its portfolio with the introduction of six new variants of the NORA-B2 Bluetooth Low Energy modules. Now integrating the full range of Nordic Semiconductor’s nRF54L series of ultra-low power wireless System-on-Chip (SoCs), NORA-B2 offers a versatile solution for mass market segments.
The new introductions deliver on NORA-B2 promises as they provide multiple operational benefits. The modules combine ultra-low power and high processing efficiency, consuming 50% less than previous-gen devices while doubling process capacity. The modules are suitable for wide-ranging IoT applications, such as smart home devices, industrial automation, or healthcare.
The entire NORA-B2 series from u-blox comprises four variants that differ in memory sizes, design architectures and price levels to match almost any device manufacturer’s requirements.
- NORA-B20 uses ultra-low power nRF54L15 SoC and integrates a 128MHz Arm Cortex-M33 processor, a RISC-V co-processor, and an ultra-low power multiprotocol 2.4GHz radio. It comes with 1.5MB of Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) and 256KB RAM
- NORA-B21, based on ultra-low power nRF54L10 SoC, is designed for mid-range applications. It has 1.0MB of NVM and 192KB of RAM and can handle multiple wireless protocols simultaneously, including Bluetooth LE, Bluetooth Mesh, Thread, Matter, Zigbee, and Amazon Sidewalk
- NORA-B22 is designed for cost-sensitive applications but still provides access to up to 31 GPIOs. It offers 0.5 MB of NVM and 96KB of RAM
- NORA-B26 is designed for customers using the Network Co-Processor architecture and comes pre-flashed with the u-blox u-connectXpress software, allowing customers to easily integrate Bluetooth connectivity into their products with no prior knowledge of Bluetooth LE or wireless security
All NORA-B2 modules are designed for PSA Certified Level 3 security. They incorporate features such as secure boot and updates, tamper detection, and secure firmware over-the-air (FOTA) updates. These security measures ensure that IoT devices remain protected against any potential threats, safeguarding both data and functionality. NORA-B2 modules are also qualified against Bluetooth Core 6.0 that includes Channel Sounding, enabling a number of cost-effective possibilities in tracking and locating use cases.
NORA-B2 variants either come with an antenna pin for connecting an external antenna of choice or are designed with a patented PCB antenna providing best-in-class RF performance. All module versions come with global certification enabling device manufacturers to launch their products worldwide with minimal effort.
“We are excited to see Nordic’s entire nRF54L Series of SoCs seamlessly integrated into the NORA-B2 module series,” said Thomas Holmberg, Regional Sales Director at Nordic Semiconductor. “The market demand for energy-efficient solutions at a competitive cost is growing rapidly, and this product category is well-positioned to meet that need. u-blox’s commitment to staying ahead of industry and market trends reinforces our confidence in this valuable partnership.”
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