The secret weapon of apple iphone11 series: U1 chip may usher in the era of ultra wideband

Apple always gives iPhone The design of the chip relishes , Coming soon U1 The chip will go with iPhone11 Series launched together , But at Apple's launch on Tuesday ,U1 The chip is not mentioned .U1 The new technology adopted by chips may greatly change the way we interact with various intelligent devices , But Apple may just use it to supplement AirDrop function .

But things are much more complicated than we think . There are reports that apple is developing a tracking accessory , It allows you to locate any object with great precision , If the report is true , So Apple's silence on the chip this time means a lot . Apple is likely to release products at the same time , Introduction “ Ultra wide band ”（UWB）, by U1 Chip support . Until then, , We can only guess through this passage on Apple's official website ：

The new U1 The chip uses ultra wideband technology for space sensing ,iPhone 11 Pro Users can use this to accurately grasp other usage support U1 The location of the device user of the chip . It's going to be a whole new experience .

Ultra wideband technology enables devices to locate each other with high accuracy in the real world . Ultra wideband chip manufacturer Decawave Deputy director of marketing Mickael Viot Express , From the raw data alone , Devices with ultra wideband technology can achieve 10cm The detection accuracy of , Besides , According to the actual situation , The accuracy may be increased to 5 mm .

Precision brings security

In fact, it is used in design Apple Watch Unlock Mac Computer time , We've already used this technology . Use the total round-trip time of radio signal to calculate the distance of equipment , Prevent your Apple Watch Accidentally unlock the computer , Unless the two devices are close .

More Than This , This wireless technology is also more secure than other wireless technologies . Other wireless technologies , Like Bluetooth , Generally, the distance between devices is estimated by measuring the strength of wireless signals , It's not measured by the round-trip time of the radio signal . There will be a security hole , And lawbreakers may cheat Bluetooth devices by sending other signals , Let it mistakenly think you are near it . Such a method can not only invade your private Mac The computer , You can steal cars .

This technology depends on the speed of light and the round-trip calculation of radio signals , It can be measured accurately . however , In fact, UWB can also measure the signal phase shift generated when receiving signals from multiple antennas , To determine the angle of arrival of the radio signal . Once the distance and angle are determined , How accurate it is is is self-evident . And it's said , That's enough to allow apple to accurately mark the location of another device with an augmented reality display .

at present , Apple for U1 Disclosure of chip characteristics , It's just for AirDrop Modified version of , Determine the other one nearby by precise positioning iPhone 11 Is the mobile phone off . The data transmission speed of ultra wideband technology can reach 27 Megabit / second , Faster than Bluetooth , But slower than WiFi. Not known yet , Apple uses ultra wide tape for data transmission , Or just use it for precise positioning , Then switch to point-to-point WiFi Connect for fast file transfer , Generally, this is used in the equipment room AirDrop Common methods of transferring files .

The infinite potential of ultra wideband

But the applications of UWB may be more than AirDrop And tracking tags .Viot Express , The potential applications currently known include smart home technology 、 Augmented reality 、 Mobile payment 、 Keyless car , Even indoor navigation . And it doesn't use much electricity ,Viot Express ,Decawave The latest ultra wideband chip consumes only Bluetooth in beacon mode LE One third of the chip .

In terms of smart home technology , If the device can know exactly where it is , And the position of the family , So its security and function can be improved . That's why Viot Think Apple will do it sooner or later Apple Watch One of the reasons to add UWB support , Because we may not always carry mobile phones with us , But the watch is on your wrist , It will always be by your side . If you don't stand in front of the smart door lock , Your smart door lock won't open , And once it knows you're in the house , It will lock the door , So it's very safe .

Apple has always been very interested in augmented reality , And now with the addition of ultra wideband technology , More accurate positioning of electronic equipment . Besides , Other applications of UWB technology include the UWB badge , It can be used to open the door .

Because of the hard features of Bluetooth Technology , Its safety is really thought-provoking , So many automakers are starting to give up Bluetooth , Focus on other safer technologies . Google and apple are members of the car networking Alliance , We should make ultra wideband technology replace Bluetooth technology safely .

Apple at the forefront

Of course , The premise is that most smartphones support ultra wideband . Now, , No cell phone has yet been equipped with ultra wideband technology . Coming out next week iPhone 11 The series will be the first smartphone to support ultra wideband . And look at all kinds of trade groups gathered around this technology , You'll find Google 、 samsung 、HTC These familiar figures .

Viot Express , Apple's use of this technology has far-reaching implications , It's like being in for the first time iBook Used in WiFi The technology is the same , This is an essential part of promoting the popularization of this technology . Apple may not be talking too much about U1 chip , but U1 Chips are likely to open the door to a new world for us , So that all devices can be precisely positioned in millimeters . It's like apple is about U1 What the chip says ：“ everything , It's just the beginning .”

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