Proposed evolution technologies for Bluetooth

This paper begins by highlighting key features of the Bluetooth baseband standard. Software simulated results for the transmission of symmetric asynchronous data link (ACL) packets are used to discuss bit rate capabilities of various timebounded and non-time bounded Bluetooth enabled consumer electronic devices. The investigation considers Bluetooth data medium (DM) and data high (DH) packet types. To meet the bit rate needs of future consumer electronic devices, BPSK, QPSK and 16-QAM are proposed as possible enhancements to the current GFSK modulation. The relative merits and demerits of using coherent modulation and linear receive architectures versus non-linear differential detection are discussed. Although adding considerably to the unit cost, the former is shown to significantly improve radio sensitivity. Results indicate that although the use of QAM modulation facilitates higher data rates, PSK schemes are more likely candidates for a low cost, high data rate Bluetooth extension due to the fact that they have less demanding hardware requirements.