BLE is the acronym used to define Bluetooth Low Energy.
Also known as Bluetooth Smart, BLE was introduced as an alternative to classic Bluetooth as it is capable of consuming a reduced amount of power from the device transmitting or receiving the message.
For BLE, in fact, the bit rate is 1 Mbit/s (with an option of 2 Mbit/s in Bluetooth 5) and the maximum transmission power is 10 mW (100 mW in Bluetooth 5). Like its predecessor, BLE uses a wireless technology that is based on radio frequency.
BLE – Bluetooth Low Energy was first introduced in 2004 as the outcome of a research project by Nokia and first launched in the market with the iPhone 4S smartphone model.
To date, it is, without a doubt, one of the core technologies used in the IoT field. It is also of particular interest in consumer electronics as well, as it enables considerable energy savings and ease of implementation.
Among the various uses of BLE, it is worth mentioning the one that links this Bluetooth system to the beacon, so much so that we talk about BLE beacons.
These are active, battery-powered sensors with an antenna and electronic circuitry that allow data to be passed and messages to be sent to smartphones and tablets.
The latter, in order to read the communication, must be equipped with a specific APP.
Among BLE beacon models, there are some that can only be considered transmitters: in fact, mobile devices that enter their range receive an identification code from the beacon but do not send any kind of data other than information about their presence.
More advanced models, on the other hand, can also transmit more complex data such as, for example, the degree of temperature or humidity.
