Automotive equipment increasingly employs Bluetooth to allow connection of devices like smartphones and portable music, enabling activities such as hands-free phone calls and playback of your favorite music inside the car, thereby creating a more comfortable cabin space for users.

With more and more people making hands-free phone calls or playing music via portable players in their cars, an increasing number of car audio systems employ Bluetooth, as car navigation systems have, and there is a growing need for compact modules with built-in antennas for easier installation.

ALPS has responded to this need by developing the UGXZD–G Series Bluetooth HCI module with antenna for automobiles. Integrating the antenna makes it is no longer necessary to separately examine characteristics essential to installation of Bluetooth modules in automotive equipment, such as the realization of excellent high-frequency communication on the 2.4GHz band, and compatibility with radio legislation in relevant countries. This helps to reduce the design and development workload for equipment manufacturers.

Antenna, RF circuit, and RF simulation technologies acquired by ALPS over the years were used to integrate the antenna into the module while achieving a compact size of 28.5 × 13.8 × 2.8mm. The module can also be installed in the front panels, for example, of various car navigation and audio systems with different conditions by tweaking the antenna and transceiver matching circuitry to optimize high-frequency characteristics.

ALPS now adds the UGXZD–G Series to its Bluetooth module line-up. The device meets demand in the automotive equipment domain for modules with built-in antennas. With its compact dimensions of 28.5 × 13.8 × 2.8mm, it allows installation in front panels.

For more information, visit www.alps.com.