Avnet KickStartBLE

The KickStartBLE utility is used to demonstrate Bluetooth Low Energy communication using Avnets SmartFusion2 KickStart board. The Avnet-designed KickStart board features the Microsemi SmartFusion2 SoC FPGA, which incorporates a Cortex M3 processor. On the board there is a Microchip RN4020 module that allows Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication using only a UART interface.

The MLDP mode in which the RN4020 is used allows for Serial-over-Bluetooth transmission of any characters using the UART. This utility demonstrates how this mode can be used to implement a simple protocol based on ASCII characters. All messages passed to and from the board are shown in the communications Transmit and Receive windows.

When the app starts, the user gets to select the KickStart board that he wants to communicate with from a list of visible Bluetooth devices. You can use the PC utility for this board to change the default name of the board on the Bluetooth tab.
Once selected, it takes a few seconds for the connection to be established. As soon as messages are passed, the LED buttons will turn the colors that represent the state of the 4 LEDs on the board.

The user can change the color of an LED by tapping on it and selecting Off, Red, Green or Amber.
The SW1 and SW2 locations represent the state of the two user pushbutton switches on the board. They will turn red when a button is pressed.

There is a Maxim MAX44009 Ambient Light Sensor on the KickStart board. It can be read by tapping the red Lux display value that initially reads "No Lux Yet". Note the L0 command to the board and the L response with the value in hex, after which the intensity is displayed. When the red "Continuous" checkbox is checked, a Lux value update is automatically sent once a second.

The board also has a Maxim Temperature and motion Sensor on the board (the MAX21105 is not recommended for new designs). The temperature can be read by tapping the green temperature display value that initially reads "No Temperature yet". This will send the T0 command, followed by a T response with the temperature in hex. Both Celsius and Fahrenheit are displayed. The accelerometer and gyrometer readings can be read by tapping the Gyro or Accel value areas.
When the green "Continuous" checkbox is checked, a temperature and motion update is automatically sent once a second.

Please visit the website for the Avnet-designed KickStart kit for details on this implementation as well as other reference designs and tutorials.