Alps Alpine Co., Ltd. and Broadcom Inc. announced the introduction of a secure, high-accuracy distance measurement system based on Bluetooth Low Energy technology. Alps Alpine has developed advanced keyless entry systems, which will utilize Broadcom’s first-of-its-kind smartphone Bluetooth and Wi-Fi® combo chip that supports high-accuracy distance measurements. Alps Alpine and Broadcom will demonstrate this technology with wireless digital key devices.

This technology is particularly relevant to the smartphone and automotive industries. Consumers in these industries increasingly demand wireless digital keys to replace physical keys. Alps Alpine’s unique market-leading technology delivers high-precision positioning using radio frequency signals from a user’s smartphone.

For distance-measurement technology, security is also critical. Alps Alpine’s and Broadcom’s collaboration will support heightened security specifications. These specifications include countermeasures against relay attacks.

Hideo Izumi, Alps Alpine's Vice President Device Business and Engineering, said, "We have over 40 years of experience in the automotive market. We have an industry-leading communication technology, development and evaluation facility. And we are also the first Bluetooth-certified module provider in the world. In turn Broadcom is a leader in system on chip development in the smartphone market, supplying smartphone integrated circuits for ranging based on Bluetooth. Together we will accelerate the use of wireless digital key systems to a wide range of markets. We will also expand distance measurement and positioning solutions to other applications.

Gabriel Desjardins, Director of Marketing for the Wireless Communications and Connectivity Division at Broadcom, said, “At Broadcom, we pride ourselves in delivering technology that defines the market. We are excited to be collaborating with Alps Alpine to make secure Bluetooth high-accuracy distance measurement a reality. This technology will be widely available in smartphones within two years and will fundamentally change the wireless digital key experience, along with many other use cases that benefit from pinpoint location accuracy.”

The collaboration between Alps Alpine and Broadcom will demonstrate exciting new technologies and applications. Using smartphones for secure keyless-entry into cars or homes is only the start. Alps Alpine’s high-accuracy positioning systems and Broadcom’s smartphone integrated circuits will bring these ranging and positioning solutions to new markets, creating a brighter, more connected world.