How to connect NRF 8001 BLE with Arduino

RE: How to connect NRF 8001 BLE with Arduino

David Edwin — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 13:48:23 GMT

The lib_aci_init function allows you to choose the pins to be used for interfacing to the nRF8001.

The SPI pins of the nRF8001 need to be connected to the SPI pins of the Arduino Mega, however since the Arduino Mega is a 5v board and the nRF8001 is a 3.3v chip (the olimex module is also 3.3v) , some level conversion is preferred. To make the design low power you can use a 3.3v based Arduino clone like this that has a 5v and 3.3v switch so both the micro-controller and the nRF8001 operate at the same voltage level.

The module does not have any Services or Characteristics pre-loaded, all the Services and Characteristics get loaded from the micro-controller i.e from the services.h and do_aci_setup() , using ACI Setup Commands.

RE: How to connect NRF 8001 BLE with Arduino

Saurabh Gulia — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 12:21:54 GMT

Thanks for the awesome reply. It has made most of the things clear,now i can start development on this project.I have ordered my pcbs for manufacturing but in the mean time i want to start using Olimex Module so that i can start programming.Can this module be directly connected with Arduino Mega?Which pins i have to connect? And when connected with Arduino will my iPhone be able to discover it and connect with it? Will this module has its services and characteristic?

Thanks in advance.You are awesome!!

RE: How to connect NRF 8001 BLE with Arduino

Hung Bui — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 10:49:39 GMT

Hi Saurabh,

Regarding L1, C8 and C15 value, they belong to the PI tuning network and their values are to be calculated when tuning the antenna using a network analyzer. You can refer to our white papter nWP17 http://www.nordicsemi.com/eng/nordic/download_resource/20347/2/18867584 for more detail on antenna tuning.

RE: How to connect NRF 8001 BLE with Arduino

David Edwin — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 10:08:29 GMT

You should read the nRF8001 datasheet here , www.nordicsemi.com/.../nRF8001 . You should also take a look at the example Arduino projects and the documentation for the BLE library available . The simplest example is the ble_uart_project_template. ( A hello world example will be added in the next release) The lib_aci.h contains the required functions to be used to send and receive data. These functions are direct mappings to the ACI messages or utility functions. For example lib_aci_send_data is used to send data and this is the ACI Send Data command (see the datasheet for details).

The nRF8001 uses the nRFgo studio as the visual editor for Bluetooth GATT, GAP and hardware settings, these settings are saved in an XML file.

The batch file runs the nRFgo studio in command line mode to generate the services.h file from the XML file. This batch file is required to be run every time a change is made in the XML file so a new services.h can be generated You can also manually generate the services.h from nRFgo studio -> nRF8001 Configuration , nRF8001 Setup -> Generate source files -> Generate only Services.h This services.h contains ACI Setup messages used to load the setup created into the nRF8001 as #defines.

So the nRF8001 does not need to be connected to the PC at any point.

You should then #include the services.h in your Arduino project or any other micro controller project The #defines in the services.h are used in the lib_aci_init to initialize the data structures for the BLE library. The do_aci_setup function is then used to setup the nRF8001. See the example project and documentation for more details.

RE: How to connect NRF 8001 BLE with Arduino

Saurabh Gulia — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 19:50:18 GMT

I have one last question, suppose i have connected nRF 8001 to arduino using BLE duino schematic and my iPhone is able to discover the BLE. Now how will i be able to communicate with arduino + BLE through iPhone. Like Red Bear labs people has developed their own libraries and i simply use BLE_Read() and BLE_WRITE() etc function to read and write in Arduino IDE. How will i be able to communicate? This is my major concern.

Secondly,what is use of services.h file,you guys have also included this file in your Arduino compatible libraries and Red bear Lab have also included this?

Third,what is the need of running any "setup.bat" file in nrfStudio? will nRF 8001 chip be connected to pc when we should run this file. If yes then how to connect nRF 8001 with pc when running this .bat file?

Please each of the above question, you can call me stupid but i need these answers then only it will make things clear in my mind.

RE: How to connect NRF 8001 BLE with Arduino

David Edwin — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 14:51:36 GMT

See comment above for the values for L1, C8 and C5 Look at bleduino.cc to understand the use of the ATmega32u4 .

You can also use the Nordicsemi reference layout files for the nRF8001 and use that part in the BLEduino design. (so the nRF8001 block in BLEduino uses the Nordic reference layout) www.nordicsemi.com/.../nRF8001 See nRF8001 Reference Layout Files

Alternatively you can use a nRF8001 module to quickly get started , using the Insight SIP module or the Olimex module . The Olimex module can be soldered on to your design as well. The InsightSIP module is FCC/CE qualified in addition so your design can directly enter production.

RE: How to connect NRF 8001 BLE with Arduino

Saurabh Gulia — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 13:57:40 GMT

Yes i had already gone through this schematic, what exactly is the use of ATmega32u4. And you are saying i should remove this? And in this schematic they have connected BALUN Antenna, is it necessary to connect? And values of L1, C8 and C15 are not given in this schematic. what will be the values of these components, i should know these if i give this schematic to manufacture. Please tell me the values of this or provide the schematic which have all the values. It will be a great help, will really appreciate this.

RE: How to connect NRF 8001 BLE with Arduino

David Edwin — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 13:45:38 GMT

See updated with edits.

RE: How to connect NRF 8001 BLE with Arduino

Saurabh Gulia — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 13:13:18 GMT

Yes, i had BLE shield that is developed by Red Bear Labs. And i had successfully connected it with my iPhone app. But now i want to make my own, Red bear labs is also using NRF 8001 BLE chip. Please tell me which pins are to be used to connect NRF 8001 with Arduino mega or please provide the schematics to connect BLE with Arduino Mega. And then how to program NRF 8001 with Arduino IDE. Please help??

RE: How to connect NRF 8001 BLE with Arduino

David Edwin — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 13:07:55 GMT

You can use the Bluetooth low energy shield with the Arduino mega 2560 and use the Bluetooth low energy SDK for Arduino that is available here

Edit: Use the ble_uart_project_template to get started with the nRF UART iOS app.

When starting with your own design I suggest that you look at the BLEduino schematics github.com/.../bleduino-hardware , you can use only the parts for the nRF8001 and ATmega328 and remove the ATmega32u4. You should be able to replace the ATmega328 with the ATMega used for the Arduino mega. Remember to remove the level converters if you want a real low power design and make sure your design can run at 3.3v.

github.com/.../bleduino-hardware