UWB Antennas

One of the NX040 UWB module power supply options is battery supply – limited peak current capability mode. This mode is typically reserved for tags who are considered Initiators. In a two-way ranging session, devices configured in a responder role are continuously listening in receive mode for an initiator. The current draw in receive mode is too high for a battery to support. 

Similarly, in a 3D positioning setup, the device used as an anchor (responder) will need to be externally powered.

Tag (initiator) devices can run on a battery given they do not need to be listening for other devices.

The functionality of a UWB transmitter revolves around emitting billions of pulses (formerly recognized as "pulse radio") across an expansive frequency spectrum. Subsequently, a corresponding receiver deciphers these pulses into usable data by identifying a recognizable pulse sequence transmitted by the emitter. These pulses are dispatched at a rate of approximately one every two nanoseconds, contributing to UWB's capacity for real-time precision.

UWB exhibits remarkable energy efficiency, while its substantial bandwidth of 500MHz renders it well-suited for transmitting substantial amounts of data from a central device to peripheral ones, covering distances of up to around 30 feet. Nevertheless, unlike Wi-Fi, UWB does not excel in propagating through obstacles such as walls.

UWB Anchors have stationary, predetermined positions registered within the positioning system. They receive signals emitted by UWB Tags. Multiple UWB Anchors capture signals from a single UWB Tag. The system records the time it takes for the signal to travel from the Tag to the Anchor (referred to as Time-of-Flight).

GPS functions as a satellite-oriented navigation system, enabling the determination of a lost item's location over extended distances. On the other hand, UWB, a more recent wireless communication technology, utilizes an expansive bandwidth to furnish precise location details for items that have been misplaced in close proximity.

UWB offers a data-transfer capability with an effective range of up to 25 meters, outperforming its competitor Bluetooth technology, which provides an effective range of only approximately 10 meters.

The successful implementation of UWB radar technology hinges on how UWB signals propagate through walls. These signals experience not only attenuation but also distortion due to the dispersive characteristics of the walls when passing through them.

UWB's precision is restricted to short distances, imposing a limitation on its capacity to be applied across a wider range of scenarios.

UWB systems exhibit the capacity to monitor a greater quantity of tagged assets across extended distances with heightened precision in comparison to Wi-Fi-based systems. While a Wi-Fi-based Real-Time Location System (RTLS) might ascertain the presence of your assets within a designated room, UWB systems excel in providing precise location details within that room for each individual asset.

Ultra-wideband, often referred to as UWB, ultrawide band, or ultraband, constitutes a short-range wireless communication protocol that harnesses radio waves to facilitate seamless device-to-device communication. While bearing a resemblance to Bluetooth, UWB surpasses it in terms of precision, dependability, and efficiency.

fira is the industry consortium that defines the UWB ranging specification and  certifies products for the purposes of interoperability. The name stands for "fine ranging".

There are various levels of fira membership as listed at the link below

membership levels

Ezurio is an adopter member of fira.

fira membership is required to access specifications (fira intellectual property) and to certify end products.