Ultrathin keyboard for iPad Air 2 achieves up to two years of battery life

Nordic Semiconductor has announces that Logitech has specified the multiple-award winning Nordic nRF51822 System-on-Chip (SoC) to provide Bluetooth Smart wireless connectivity in its Logitech Ultrathin for iPad Air 2. One of the first wireless keyboards to employ Bluetooth Smart wireless technology, the Logitech Ultrathin magnetically clips on to the iPad Air 2 to function as both a screen cover and wireless keyboard. The Logitech Ultrathin is only 6.4mm thick and is constructed of high-grade aluminium that adds minimal weight to the latest ultra-light iPad while serving as an ultra-thin screen protector and built-in keyboard with iOS shortcut keys so that users can navigate and type easily on-the-move. The Logitech Ultrathin also features a magnetic clip that allows it to be attached quickly and securely to an iPad, and includes a built-in stand that users can adjust so that their iPad is held at the optimum preferred viewing angle when typing or viewing. Finally, an instant On/Off feature allows an attached iPad to automatically wake as the user opens the cover, and switch to standby when they close it. The nRF51822 SoC is a Bluetooth Smart (formerly called Bluetooth low energy) solution optimized for ULP wireless connectivity. The SoC integrates a 2.4GHz multiprotocol radio, 32-bit ARM® Cortex M0 processor, up to 256kB flash memory, and up to 32kB random access memory (RAM). The nRF51822 SoC's software architecture also features a unique and powerful separation between the Bluetooth Smart protocol software ('stack') and user application code that allows each to function independently of the other for maximum flexibility and ease-of-development. Use of the Nordic nRF51822 SoC in the Logitech Ultrathin helps contribute to an exceptionally long two-year battery life (depending on usage, two years battery life equates to around two hours-per-day usage) from the Logitech Ultrathin's two lithium batteries. "Whether you are working at a coffee shop or on an airplane, the Logitech Ultrathin is super portable and has a long battery life to help you increase your productivity no matter where you are, or what you're doing," said Alexis Richard, director of product marketing, Logitech. "The use of the Nordic nRF51822 in this product helped our engineers achieve a new battery-life standard for wireless tablet keyboards, and because the nRF51822 SoC is a true single-chip solution, it contributed to Logitech developing one of the thinnest and lightest wireless tablet keyboards on the market to complement the incredibly thin and lightweight iPad."