Microchip Technology Inc., has announced two next-generation Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE) solutions with an easy-to-use ASCII-style command interface that makes the devices easy to configure and eliminates any complicated code compiling. The RN4870 and RN4871 support the latest Bluetooth 4.2 specification and have a Bluetooth stack on board with a scripting engine to enable standalone operation and eliminate microcontroller (MCU) use for simple applications. These next-generation Bluetooth devices enable fast time to market and improve the total manufacturing cost.
The RN4870 and RN4871 devices deliver up to 2.5 times the data throughput improvement over previous generation products based on the Bluetooth 4.0 standard. In addition, the new Bluetooth solutions offer Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) based connection security coupled with advanced features. The devices can seamlessly transfer serial data over BLE devices and can support different beacon formats like iBeaconâ„¢ or Eddystoneâ„¢via a single command. Both devices with a shield option are fully certified to meet worldwide regulatory standards and are available with compact package options as small as 6 x 8 mm. This, combined with Microchip’s user-friendly interface, helps speed customers’ time to market.
Each module has an on-board software stack and pairs well with any of Microchip’s large range of low-power microcontrollers or any microcontroller with a UART interface. The RN4870 and RN4871 are designed to complement Microchip’s diverse low-energy solutions designed for IoT applications.
The RN4870-V/RM118, which is shielded with an onboard antenna, is available now for sampling and volume production in a 12 x 22 mm module in 1,000-unit quantities. The
RN4870U-V/RM118, which is unshielded with an external antenna, is available now for sampling and volume production in a 12 x 15 mm module in 1,000-unit quantities.
The RN4871-V/RM118, which is shielded with an onboard antenna, is available now for sampling in a 9 x 11.5 mm module in 1,000-unit quantities. The RN4871U-V/RM118, which is unshielded with an external antenna, is available now for sampling in a 6 x 8 mm module in 1,000-unit quantities.
Development support
Also available from Microchip is the RN4870 Bluetooth 4.2 Low-Energy PICtailâ„¢/PICtail Plus Daughterboard with a sensor board (part # RN-4870-SNSR). The board is available today.
In addition, several existing interfaces will be supported by the RN4870 and RN4871 including the PIC18 Explorer Board (DM183032), the Explorer 16 Board (DM240001/2), and the PIC32 Expansion Board (DM320002).
