www.eetimes.com, Jan. 26, 2021 –
U-blox has announced its ALEX-R5 module, which integrates low power wide area (LPWA) cellular communication and global navigation satellite system (GNSS) technology into a system-in-package. The two key elements are the company's UBX-R5 LTE-M / NB-IoT chipset with secure cloud functionality and the u-blox M8 GNSS chip for effective location accuracy for healthcare applications.
In an interview with Samuele Falcomer, principal product manager, product center cellular, u-blox, we looked at the new ALEX-R5 module's application opportunities. Falcomer pointed out the 14×14 mm module size, possible thanks to the SiP design that integrates the two communication technologies. It is half the size of the u-blox SARA-R5 module.
Falcomer commented that "the push toward full integration must meet some standard ingredients: consumption, positioning, and security. There is a lot to be said about security, especially with the advent of IoT. This is addressed in ALEX-R5 with a set of SaaS solutions. Most of the modules on the market are like our SARA modules, 26×16 mm – too large for wearable solutions. Chip-down integration means huge certification expenses and considerable integration effort, so this is not applicable at the industrial level. Through molding, you move towards full integration: an overlap of components that you can't achieve with the metal case. SiP goes to intercept this portion of the market that requires high miniaturization. ALEX-R5, with support of LTE-M and NB-IoT version 2, offers a seamless transition to the next generation of cellular technology."