u-blox NORA-B2 Bluetooth Low Energy modules

u-blox has introduced six new variants of the NORA-B2 Bluetooth Low Energy modules. Now integrating the entire range of Nordic Semiconductor’s nRF54L series of ultralow-power wireless systems-on-chip (SoCs), NORA-B2 offers a versatile solution for mass market segments due to its choices of antennas, architectures and chipsets.

The wireless modules combine ultralow power consumption and high processing efficiency, consuming up to 50% less current than previous-generation devices while doubling process capacity. They also offer a range of security features, making them suitable for a variety of IoT applications, such as smart home devices, industrial automation and health care. The NORA-B2 series comprises four variants that differ in memory sizes and design architectures to match almost any device manufacturer’s requirements.

NORA-B20 uses the ultralow-power nRF54L15 SoC and integrates a 128 MHz Arm Cortex-M33 processor, a RISC-V co-processor and an ultralow-power multiprotocol 2.4 GHz radio. It comes with 1.5 MB of non-volatile memory (NVM) and 256 KB RAM.

NORA-B21, based on the ultralow-power nRF54L10 SoC, is designed for mid-range applications. It has 1 MB of NVM and 192 KB 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 96 KB 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 integrate Bluetooth connectivity into their products with no prior knowledge of Bluetooth LE or wireless security.

All 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 are designed to protect IoT devices against any potential threats, safeguarding data and functionality. The modules are also qualified against Bluetooth Core 6.0 that includes Channel Sounding, enabling endless 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 for enhanced RF performance. All module versions come with global certification allowing device manufacturers to launch their products worldwide.