Minified size bluetooth device with GPIO - small footprint

[say2paul]

Have been looking for this for a long time now, there are devices available but not that small in size. And if there exists one, the cost would be way too high.

Bluetooth hc-05 is the cheapest and reliable module that can be used but again it does not have GPIO.

I am looking for GPIO specifically as I do not want to connect the bluetooth with Arduino or any other microcontroller, in fact I want to directly connect it to a circuit (an LED for instance). So that I can simply control that LED directly from my Android base phone.

[aroby]

The CSR chip on the HC-05 has programmable I/O.  From the datasheet for the BC417:

8.6.1 Programmable I/O
BlueCore4-External has a total of 15 (12 digital and 3 analogue) programmable I/O terminals. These are controlled by
firmware running on the device.

The challenge is tinkering with the firmware and the VM capability.  The datasheet also says

Virtual Machine (VM). The firmware provides the VM environment in which to run application-specific code.
Although the VM is mainly used with BlueLab and RFCOMM builds (alternative firmware builds providing
L2CAP, SDP and RFCOMM), the VM can be used with this build to perform simple tasks such as flashing
LEDs via the chip's PIO port.

I've had figuring out this chip on my to do list for a long time - it seems very capable and is very cheap.

Anthony

[nuhamind2]

Try HM10 and HM11. They are based on TI CC2540 so BLE only.IIRC, you can control the GPIO from AT command so you don't need to tinker with the firmware.

Edit: Just checked their website (http://www.jnhuamao.cn/bluetooth.asp?ID=1), HM09 use bluetooth 2 and has GPIO controllable from AT command.

[say2paul]

Try HM10 and HM11. They are based on TI CC2540 so BLE only.IIRC, you can control the GPIO from AT command so you don't need to tinker with the firmware.

Edit: Just checked their website (http://www.jnhuamao.cn/bluetooth.asp?ID=1), HM09 use bluetooth 2 and has GPIO controllable from AT command.

Thanks dear, this seems to fit perfectly.. How can I order it..?

[aroby]

How can I order it..?

eBay??

[leppie]

How about this? nRF51822 Bluetooth Smart Beacon Kit - https://www.nordicsemi.com/eng/Products/Bluetooth-R-low-energy/nRF51822-Bluetooth-Smart-Beacon-Kit

They go for about $30. ARM Cortex M0, 10 GPIO's, 20mm diameter circular board, runs off 3V coin cell.

I am getting one tomorrow to prototype an idea I have. 

Alternatively, hack a TI SensorTag (but it is 8051, so no useful compiler options...).

[nuhamind2]

I don't know how to order directly.Itead carry HM10, try searching on ebay,ali, google.

[Phaedrus]

What about the Broadcom BCM20732S? 6.5x6.5mm QFN with internal antenna, crystal, etc.

http://avnetexpress.avnet.com/1/1/6121217-broadcom-wiced-smart-bluetooth-low-energy-ble-sip-bcm20732s.html

[say2paul]

Yes, good options indeed!

But do not you think $20-$30 is way high for this... this way I may not be able to cater client's requirement within budget..

And anyhow, TrackR, Tile, StickR, etc. are available in market as an end product at the cost of $20.

So there has to be a solution available @ damn low price of $10

[miguelvp]

Check here:

http://www.wayengineer.com/module-wireless-module-c-75_80.html?page=2&sort=3a&pagesize=24

Hong Kong based, last I ordered from them cost me $7 shipping (airmail) and got it in 10 days.

ebay china based:
Slave:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bluetooth-Slave-UART-Board-Wireless-Transceiver-Evaluation-Development-Module-/261006254549

Master:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bluetooth-Master-UART-Board-Host-Wireless-Transceiver-Evaluation-Development-Kit-/261006254264

It's cheaper on their main site but more complicated to buy from their site directly:

http://www.wvshare.com/product/Bluetooth-Slave-UART-Board.htm
http://www.wvshare.com/product/Bluetooth-Master-UART-Board.htm

free shipping as I recall last time I ordered from them, took 10 days as well to get stuff, have not tried any of their bluetooth modules, sample code/schematics usually on the pages.

Edit: but they seem to be serial over bluetooth. Not sure if you can make them work or not for lighting an LED

[amyk]

What about the Broadcom BCM20732S? 6.5x6.5mm QFN with internal antenna, crystal, etc.

http://avnetexpress.avnet.com/1/1/6121217-broadcom-wiced-smart-bluetooth-low-energy-ble-sip-bcm20732s.html

No datasheet, no thanks... and Broadcom is notoriously closed and unfriendly.

[say2paul]

Check here:

http://www.wayengineer.com/module-wireless-module-c-75_80.html?page=2&sort=3a&pagesize=24

Hong Kong based, last I ordered from them cost me $7 shipping (airmail) and got it in 10 days.

ebay china based:
Slave:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bluetooth-Slave-UART-Board-Wireless-Transceiver-Evaluation-Development-Module-/261006254549

Master:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bluetooth-Master-UART-Board-Host-Wireless-Transceiver-Evaluation-Development-Kit-/261006254264

It's cheaper on their main site but more complicated to buy from their site directly:

http://www.wvshare.com/product/Bluetooth-Slave-UART-Board.htm
http://www.wvshare.com/product/Bluetooth-Master-UART-Board.htm

free shipping as I recall last time I ordered from them, took 10 days as well to get stuff, have not tried any of their bluetooth modules, sample code/schematics usually on the pages.

Edit: but they seem to be serial over bluetooth. Not sure if you can make them work or not for lighting an LED

Thanks Dear, but again UART/Serial wont help as I need direct GPIO.. For UART/Serial, I again have to setup an infrastructure (may be mini arduino, PIC or any simple AVR solution) to read the data and process IO.

[miguelvp]

There is one in the first link but at $20
http://www.wayengineer.com/mk-nrf51822-wireless-bluetooth-module-zigbee-module-p-3460.html

But no source code and not even links to the royalty free precompiled binary S110 protocol stack.
I did find a wiki for it:
http://robolabwiki.sdu.dk/mediawiki/index.php/Nordic_Semiconductor_nRF51822_development

Also:
For special applications, the nRF51822 provides a new improved Gazell ™ 2.4GHz RF protocol stack

http://www.nordicsemi.com/eng/Products/2.4GHz-RF/nRFgo-SDK

But that doesn't look like Bluetooth protocol to me.

[Phaedrus]

What about the Broadcom BCM20732S? 6.5x6.5mm QFN with internal antenna, crystal, etc.

http://avnetexpress.avnet.com/1/1/6121217-broadcom-wiced-smart-bluetooth-low-energy-ble-sip-bcm20732s.html

No datasheet, no thanks... and Broadcom is notoriously closed and unfriendly.

Worked with that one for work... I will admit, getting the datasheet was pulling teeth. So fair enough.

[say2paul]

What about the Broadcom BCM20732S? 6.5x6.5mm QFN with internal antenna, crystal, etc.

http://avnetexpress.avnet.com/1/1/6121217-broadcom-wiced-smart-bluetooth-low-energy-ble-sip-bcm20732s.html

No datasheet, no thanks... and Broadcom is notoriously closed and unfriendly.

Worked with that one for work... I will admit, getting the datasheet was pulling teeth. So fair enough.

So do you have the datasheet, can you please share?

[Dago]

https://www.bluegiga.com/en-US/products/bluetooth-classic-modules/

These modules have GPIO. Not totally sure on how you can control the GPIO. They had some scripting language at least.

[Phaedrus]

What about the Broadcom BCM20732S? 6.5x6.5mm QFN with internal antenna, crystal, etc.

http://avnetexpress.avnet.com/1/1/6121217-broadcom-wiced-smart-bluetooth-low-energy-ble-sip-bcm20732s.html

No datasheet, no thanks... and Broadcom is notoriously closed and unfriendly.

Worked with that one for work... I will admit, getting the datasheet was pulling teeth. So fair enough.

So do you have the datasheet, can you please share?

NDA, and the last thing I need is Broadcom or their sales partners coming down on me.

[NiHaoMike]

How many GPIOs do you need?

[say2paul]

How many GPIOs do you need?

I guess 2 are sufficient, even 1 will do!

[NiHaoMike]

Maybe one of those cheap RS232 Bluetooth modules along with a low end microcontroller?

[mikeselectricstuff]

https://www.bluegiga.com/en-US/products/bluetooth-classic-modules/

These modules have GPIO. Not totally sure on how you can control the GPIO. They had some scripting language at least.

Bluegiga have a scripting language that allows simple functionality to run on the module (both classic BT and BLE) . I think Laird also have something similar

[say2paul]

Maybe one of those cheap RS232 Bluetooth modules along with a low end microcontroller?

okay, you know any?

[miguelvp]

So what is wrong with the nRF51822 that leppie and I mentioned?

His go for $30

This one goes for $20
http://www.wayengineer.com/mk-nrf51822-wireless-bluetooth-module-zigbee-module-p-3460.html

Ebay $10
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/331154929115?lpid=82

And if you search for nrf51822 on ebay you'll find some cheaper.

But if you must go well under $10 You can buy just the chip and make your own board

Page 54 has application circuits:
http://www.100y.com.tw/pdf_file/39-Nordic-NRF51822.pdf

Development page:
http://robolabwiki.sdu.dk/mediawiki/index.php/Nordic_Semiconductor_nRF51822_development

Google shop search shows them for a bit over $2 for the chip alone.

Edit: 32 GPIOs btw