Secure Bluetooth and Ultra-Wideband Ranging Tech from CEVA Unlocks Smarter Access Control

At Embedded World 2025, CEVA brought the buzz with a pair of demos showcasing secure Bluetooth and ultra-wideband ranging—two complementary technologies that are reshaping everything from digital keys to device auto-locking.

If your next product involves location-awareness, smart access, or seamless UX, this is the tech duo to keep on your radar.

Ultra-Wideband: Locking Down the Details

First up: ultra-wideband (UWB). CEVA’s implementation delivers centimetre-level accuracy with an added dose of security that’s hard to match.

In the demo, a Samsung smartphone and a laptop dongle show off “logical access” functionality, compliant with FIRA 3.0 standards. As the phone moves away, the laptop locks itself automatically. Walk a little further, and the screen goes dark—hands-free security in action.

This is UWB as it should be: precise, private, and fast. Whether you’re securing sensitive data or building next-gen automotive access systems, CEVA’s UWB solution is already proving itself in the field.

Bluetooth Channel Sounding: Budget-Friendly Proximity

Not every application demands sub-centimetre accuracy. Enter Bluetooth 5.3 (with a nod to Bluetooth 6.0’s upcoming enhancements), featuring channel sounding—a clever ranging method baked right into the protocol.

In CEVA’s second demo, Bluetooth channel sounding replicates a digital key scenario. A “key” device and a door (or in this case, a laptop stand-in) determine proximity with impressive responsiveness.

While it’s not quite as precise or secure as UWB, Bluetooth has the edge on simplicity, low cost, and power efficiency. For applications like indoor asset tracking, general presence detection, or consumer electronics, Bluetooth channel sounding is often more than good enough.

Why Not Both?

Here’s where things get really interesting: CEVA sees the future as hybrid. Pairing UWB’s accuracy and security with Bluetooth’s pervasiveness and efficiency can deliver robust solutions for everything from automotive to industrial IoT.

Think: UWB handles secure unlock, while Bluetooth maintains passive presence detection without draining power. It’s the best of both wireless worlds—and CEVA has the IP to make it happen.

Get Started with CEVA Ranging Solutions

Whether you’re building a smart home hub, a secure enterprise access system, or a next-gen car key, secure Bluetooth and ultra-wideband ranging from CEVA provides the flexibility to choose (or combine) the right tech for your use case.

Head over to ceva-ip.com to explore CEVA’s wireless ranging portfolio and see how you can start integrating these powerful features into your designs.

Because secure, intelligent, proximity-aware devices aren’t a nice-to-have—they’re the new standard.