Bluetooth® Wireless Technology: Robust & Secure Connectivity For Cordless Scanning Applications

Bluetooth wireless technology is a short-range communication technology intended to replace the cables connecting portable and/or fixed devices while maintaining high levels of security. The Bluetooth specification defines a uniform structure for a wide range of devices to connect and communicate with each other. The key features of Bluetooth technology are robustness, low power consumption, and low cost.

Bluetooth technology operates in the unlicensed industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) band at 2.4 GHz, using a spread spectrum, frequency hopping, full-duplex signal at a nominal rate of 1600 hops/sec. A benefit of utilizing the 2.4 GHz ISM band is its unlicensed availability in most countries.

The technology is now available in its fourth version of the specification and continues to develop, building on its inherent strengths — small-form factor radio, low power, low cost, built-in security, robustness, ease-of-use, and ad hoc networking abilities. Bluetooth wireless technology is the leading short-range wireless technology on the market today shipping over five million units every week with an installed base of one billion units in 2006.

Bluetooth products can effectively co-exist with wireless local area networks (WLANs). This includes WiFi networks and the many other devices that operate in the Industrial, Scientific & Medical (ISM) band. Since 802.11 networks are widespread and based on the 2.4 GHz ISM band, these will be the networks where interoperability is most likely to be a concern.