u-blox ublox bluetooth ble nora-b1 thread zigbee nfc short range matter nora-b100 nora-b101 nora-b106 nora-b120 nora-b121 nora-b126
NORA-B1 series
Bluetooth 5.2 modules, Thread, Matter, ZigBee, NFC, open CPU, antenna options, stand-alone
Key features
- Dual-core Arm® Cortex®-M33 with Bluetooth 5.2 for performance-oriented applications
- Arm® TrustZone® and CryptoCell® 312 for enhanced security
- Multi-protocol support for Bluetooth 5.2, Bluetooth mesh, Matter, Thread, Zigbee and NFC
- Support for Bluetooth Low Energy audio and Bluetooth direction finding
- Option with front-end module PA/LNA for extended range (NORA-B12x)
- Extended temperature range up to 105°C
- Global certification
- Recommended for evaluation: EVK-NORA-B1 or MINI-NORA-B1 evaluation kits
- Alpha Micro technical support offered for maximum benefit for your application
The u-blox NORA-B1 series offers compact, standalone Bluetooth Low Energy wireless microcontroller unit (MCU) modules that comply with the Bluetooth 5.2 specification. These modules are engineered around the Nordic nRF5340 chip, serving as an open CPU solution where customer applications operate on two Arm® Cortex®-M33 processor cores, each equipped with integrated flash and RAM memory.
The primary core, clocked at either 128 or 64 MHz, caters to high-performance applications. Meanwhile, the secondary core, running at 64 MHz and optimised for low power consumption and efficiency, predominantly handles the wireless protocol stack and less demanding tasks. The segregation of tasks allows applications on the primary core to proceed uninterrupted by network activities on the secondary core, which proves advantageous for time-critical applications necessitating swift responses. Furthermore, the modules support trusted execution through Arm TrustZone and establish a root-of-trust via Arm CryptoCell-312.
NORA-B1 modules embrace Bluetooth 5.2 features such as Angle-of-Arrival, Angle-of-Departure, Bluetooth long range and low energy audio. They support various Bluetooth Low Energy services including serial port communication, GATT, beacons and mesh. Additionally, they extend support to NFC and IEEE 802.15.4 with Thread, Zigbee and Matter protocols. NORA-B106/-B126 variants feature an internal PCB antenna, offering a resilient, low-profile solution with outstanding performance and extensive range. On the other hand, NORA-B100/-B120 modules feature a U.FL connector, while NORA-B101/-B121 variants incorporate an antenna pin, providing the flexibility to utilize an external antenna of choice. Moreover, NORA-B1 modules offer the option to include a front-end module PA/LNA, augmenting the link budget by 15 dB for enhanced range and coverage.
Targeting key market segments encompassing industrial automation, medical and healthcare, telematics, and smart cities and buildings, the NORA-B1 series finds application in connected tools, advanced and medical wearables, smart lighting, asset tracking, indoor location services, low-power sensors, and wireless-connected and configurable equipment. Globally certified for utilization with internal or external antennas, the NORA-B1 series significantly streamlines the integration of Bluetooth Low Energy into customers' designs, mitigating time, cost, and effort.
