Silicon Labs has launched a new dual-mode Bluetooth Smart ready module solution that provides embedded developers with unparalleled flexibility to integrate Bluetooth Smart and Bluetooth basic rate / enhanced data rate (BR / EDR) wireless technologies in Together, it minimizes design time, cost, and complexity.
The Bluegiga BT121 module provides a pre-certified, fully integrated high-performance solution that includes Bluetooth radios, microcontrollers (MCUs) and on-board Bluetooth software stacks, which are developed by Silicon Labs ’free Bluetooth Smart ready software development kit (SDK) and easy-to-use BGScript scripting language.
The BT121 Bluetooth Smart Ready module and software are designed to help developers shorten time-to-market and reduce development costs and compliance risks by providing a universal plug-and-play Bluetooth solution. The BT121 module is ideal for applications that need to connect to older devices that only support Bluetooth BR / EDR, as well as the latest applications that use Bluetooth Smart, such as connected home, health and fitness, wearable devices, and point-of-sale terminals. There are millions of old smartphones, tablets, and PCs that do not support Bluetooth Smart technology. In addition, some applications require Bluetooth Classic technology to have a higher throughput advantage, and Bluetooth Smart is not designed to achieve this advantage.
The BT121 module provides a "best of both worlds" solution for ultra-low power consumption and high data rate Bluetooth connection applications. For example, the module can be connected to older devices that only support Bluetooth SPP or Apple iAP2 profiles, or to devices that support Bluetooth Smart. The easy-to-use BT121 module integrates a high-performance Bluetooth radio with an extended range of up to 400 meters, a low-power ARM MCU and a fully certified Bluetooth Smart ready protocol stack in a compact 11mm x 14mm surface mount. Packaging, making it one of the smallest Bluetooth Smart ready modules on the market.
No RF or Bluetooth protocol development expertise is required to implement the BT121 module in a Bluetooth design. The company stated that the module can be used as a peripheral device with an external host MCU, or that the Bluegiga BGScript scripting language can be used to embed applications into the built-in MCU, creating completely independent designs with minimal external components.
"Our new BT121 solution makes it simple and easy to add Bluetooth Smart and BR / EDR connections to wireless designs," said Riku Mettälä, General Manager of Silicon Labs Wireless Module Products. Bluetooth Smart is quickly becoming the most widely adopted wireless protocol for power-sensitive personal area network applications. Leveraging Bluegiga's extensive wireless expertise, we will continue to implement our roadmap through the introduction of new Bluetooth modules and software stacks, enabling our customers to quickly respond to the largest and fastest growing low-power wireless connection opportunities in the Internet of Things. "
Available from Bluegiga ( www.bluegiga.com) Free download), Bluetooth Smart Ready SDK is a set of software tools used to simplify the development of Bluetooth Smart Ready applications. Developers can access many exemplary Bluetooth Smart application configuration files, which can be used as templates to reduce development time. Silicon Labs continues to expand its Bluetooth profile library as part of its roadmap to support emerging wireless applications and use cases.
The Bluetooth Smart Ready Stack and SDK are fully compatible with Silicon Labs ’recently announced Blue Gecko Bluetooth Smart Module. According to the company, this compatibility allows developers to easily migrate designs between Silicon Labs' Bluetooth Smart and Smart Ready modules, and has a consistent set of application programming interfaces (APIs) and software tools.
