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Cambridge, UK – February 24, 2003 - CSR (Cambridge Silicon Radio) today launched a ready-engineered example of a Bluetooth-enabled hands-free car kit. The example design, called AutoSira, will provide car manufacturers and their suppliers with a quick and easy route to market and enable them to benefit from CSR's experience in the automotive sector. AutoSira is based on BlueCore, CSR’s proven Bluetooth silicon, and includes all the Bluetooth software, data and schematics required whilst leaving space for the individual designer to incorporate their own specific features and functionality. The example design is available now on CSR’s website (www.csr.com) and includes bill of materials and application notes.
CSR's BlueCore2-External allows designs that can be tailored to suit both after-market type solutions and embedded OEM type solutions. BlueCore2-External contains a 16-bit RISC microcontroller, on which CSR has implemented a Virtual Machine (VM). The VM makes it possible to create a bespoke application without the designer having to reconfigure the existing Bluetooth stack. As the VM is layered on pre-qualified RFCOMM firmware the time and cost of qualifying a new Bluetooth product is greatly reduced. Schematics for the AutoSira design include both PIO (Parallel Input Output) and UART control.
CSR's BlueCore is the only Bluetooth silicon on the market guaranteed to operate across, or indeed exceed, the full temperature range for in-cabin electronics systems of -40degC to +105degC. CSR is also the only automotive grade Bluetooth solution available which can run the complete Bluetooth protocol stack and application software on-chip, without the need for an optional external microprocessor. CSR’s proven single-chip automotive Bluetooth device is produced under very stringent ISO 9001 and PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) automotive requirements and is available in a 0.8mm pitch package for low cost printed circuit board construction.
Fitting a traditional in-car hands-free kit often involves matching the interface to a specific handset, resulting in the need to reconfigure the entire kit, should the user change handset. An in-car Bluetooth connection eliminates the need for a cradle completely, and as the AutoSira includes CSR’s BlueCore2-External, a Class 2 device with a range of at least 10m, a user’s handset could still be in use whilst in your bag or even in the boot.
Anthony Murray, Bluetooth Automotive Specialist, CSR commented, "As legislation veers towards increased restriction on the use of mobile phones in cars, Bluetooth is expected to play a pivotal role in enabling the safer use of handsets in cars." Murray continued, "Audi has already identified the benefits of Bluetooth and has taken the step of integrating CSR's BlueCore technology into its vehicles. With this ready-engineered handsfree design example, CSR is able to lead automotive manufacturers to take a technological leap."
Bluetooth in-car handsfree kits are likely to play a key role as handsfree operation of mobiles becomes preferable, and increasingly, legally required in the near future. Industry experts estimate that up to 70 percent of all mobile phone calls are made from cars. Bluetooth hands-free systems provide a safe, convenient alternative and are already proving to be a successful application for automotive Bluetooth.
Future applications are likely to include vehicle diagnostics and personalisation features where the car can identify its user by the handset that they carry, so for example, the vehicle’s temperature and seat position could be adjusted accordingly.
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