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Bluetooth mesh sensor platform allows OEMs to deliver professional smart lighting
Hytronik’s smart lighting solution uses Nordic nRF52832 SoC for Bluetooth mesh connectivity between sensors and smartphone
Nordic Semiconductor today announces that Huizhou, China-based smart lighting control solutions company, Hytronik, has selected Nordic’s nRF52832 Bluetooth® Low Energy (Bluetooth LE) multiprotocol System-on-Chip (SoC) to provide the Bluetooth mesh wireless connectivity for its ecosystem of professional smart lighting solutions. The platform is primarily designed for lighting manufacturers or building/project managers to deliver Bluetooth mesh networking in large-scale commercial/industrial smart lighting applications.
Bluetooth mesh connectivity
Each Bluetooth 5 device comprising the Hytronik solution—which includes motion sensors, LED drivers, dimmer/receiver nodes, real-time keeper and repeater modules, quick connection boxes, and a gateway enabling remote access/monitoring—integrates a Nordic nRF52832 SoC-based ‘KMB01’ proprietary module performing as a node within the Bluetooth mesh network. The Nordic SoC-enabled Bluetooth mesh connectivity allows bulk commissioning of the devices and simple configuration/control of the sensor parameters for all luminaires in the network using the associated ‘Koolmesh’ iOS and Android app via a Bluetooth 4.0 (and later) smartphone or tablet. From the app, users can set desired lighting levels, sync the profile settings to all luminaires, create static/dynamic scenes and schedules, deploy various other smart lighting features and functions, and perform over-the-air device firmware updates (OTA-DFUs). Alternatively, users can remotely manage the entire system and view detailed luminaire/energy data and analytics from the Koolmesh web-based dashboard supported by Cloud connectivity via the ‘HBGW01’ gateway.
The reliability and scalability of the Bluetooth mesh network unlocks all possibilities and provides maximum flexibility in project sites
Benny Cheng, Hytronik
The Hytronik solution’s sensors can be integrated into a wide range of new or existing luminaires, enabling lighting manufacturers to deliver wirelessly-controllable and sensor-equipped lighting fixtures with minimal RF engineering expertise. The integrated Nordic nRF52832 SoC-based Bluetooth 5 module’s powerful 64MHz, 32-bit Arm® Cortex® M4 processor with floating point unit (FPU) supports the advanced functionality achieved by the sensors operating in the mesh network. The robust Bluetooth mesh network then provides Hytronik’s smart lighting platform with a luminaire grouping feature. Bluetooth mesh allows devices within a Bluetooth LE network to communicate directly with companion devices without recourse to a central hub device. Such a system extends communication range, flexibility, and reliability. Key applications for Bluetooth mesh include professional lighting installations, back-ends for managed beacons, and industrial monitoring.
Hytronik’s motion sensor technology consists of high frequency (HF) microwave, passive infrared (PIR), or a combination of both HF+PIR. These motion sensors range from high-bay to low-bay, from IP20 to IP65, and come with a variety of form factors that fulfill almost every application, according to the company. Typically, the suite of products includes the ‘HCD038/BT + SAM20’ HF microwave sensor or ‘HIR63’ PIR built-in detachable motion sensor, ‘HCD405/BT’ built-in integrated motion sensor, ‘HBHC25’ stand-alone PIR motion sensor, and an optional ‘HBP02’ touch panel, which determines whether to turn on/off or dim up/down the light fixture. In addition, a daylight sensor (photocell) reads ambient daylight lux level and provides further lighting control capabilities. For example, a deep environment learning algorithm enables the luminaires to calculate artificial light generated from neighboring luminaires to help achieve the most accurate daylight harvest, maximize energy savings, and enhance the user experience.
Nordic’s nRF52832 combines the Arm Cortex M4 processor with a 2.4GHz multiprotocol radio (supporting Bluetooth 5, ANT™, and proprietary 2.4GHz RF software) featuring -96dBm RX sensitivity, with 512kB Flash memory and 64kB RAM. The nRF52832 SoC provides Bluetooth 5 support including 2x on-air raw data bandwidth (2Mbps); 8x broadcasting ability with advertising extensions that increase the advertising packet payload size to 251 bytes, and an improved channel coexistence algorithm. The SoC’s powerful processor and generous memory can support the Hytronik solution’s complex mesh software. Either Nordic’s nRF Connect SDK [Software Development Kit] or the company’s nRF5 SDK for Mesh, combined with the nRF52 DK, offer a complete solution for Bluetooth mesh development.
Reliability and scalability
“When looking for a suitable Bluetooth mesh solution for our smart lighting platform, we found that Nordic could provide the full technical documents, reference designs, the nRF5 SDK, and quick local technical support we needed during our R&D stage,” says Benny Cheng, Marketing Director at Hytronik.
“Bluetooth mesh enables the grouping feature which is essential for the professional lighting control industry. The reliability and scalability of the Bluetooth mesh network unlocks all possibilities and provides maximum flexibility in project sites.”
