The beacon continuously transmits a unique user ID to smartphones, tablets, and personal computers, which then use an application to perform actions such as indoor positioning, providing shoppers with personalized sales pitches and promotions, and presenting information about points of interest.
The Panasonic PAN1740 Beacon, available from Mouser Electronics, is based on the PAN1740 Bluetooth module, which features a fully shielded enclosure, integrated chip antenna, and integrated crystal oscillators. The module provides the beacon with a receiver (Rx) sensitivity of -93 dBm and output power as low as 0 dBm. Using less than 5 mA in transmit (Tx) mode and with ultra-low power consumption, the beacon lasts for 18 months on a single coin cell battery. The compact 26 × 24 mm beacon includes an antenna, an ARM® Cortex®-M0 processor with 256 KB of flash memory, and a CR2032 coin cell battery holder.
The PAN1740 Beacon is available from Mouser with or without an 18-pin connector, compatible with the Beacon Kit adapter cable. For development, designers can use the PAN1740 Beacon Kit to create custom applications and specific beacon parameters. Each PAN1740 Beacon Kit consists of five PAN1740 beacons with 18-pin connectors, a Dialog DA14580 baseboard, a Beacon adapter board, and the adapter cable.
