Looking for a BTE chip.

[ulao]

Hi, I'm looking for a way to communicate with Blue tooth. I need a low footprint chip that allows for a BT HID gamepad application. I'd prefer to communicate via i2c, or some form of serial. I have a device that talks to USB and I simply want to allow it to be seen as a BT device. Most chips like the HC-06 do not support HID, they are just BT serial devices. I need something more like the RN-42 that is not so restricted. I will need a much more encompassing report.  It is specifically important to me that the chip supports HID GamePad and that I can send the payload to the BT chip via 2 data wires. I do not need a robust chip like the nrf5x with USB capabilities, just a simple BT chip. Does Nordic have anything like this?

[Mojo]

You can use any of the nrf5x series.  However you need to write your own firmware.  The SDK has HID examples code you can use.   

This module is very small may be a good candidate for it. https://www.crowdsupply.com/i-syst/blyst-nano

There is a Micropython port for it too.

[ulao]

Hi thx, Write my own firmware is ideal thx!  in regards to the nrf5x,

1) it looks like it has USB hardware on it? Am I correct this this is some kind of usb and bt device?

2) I see nothing but complaints of gamepad HID examples lacking, and nothing but problems.  Are you sure the gamepad examples are there an that it does support the full gamepad HID reports? If not is there a way to get the answers?  For example, if I send data about the HAT, zaxis, or buttons 17-24 will then end OS see that? I know this is specific but it is the reason I can not use the RN-42.

this bliss-nano I'm guessing is a Arduino ? If so that is out.

[Mojo]

It's not Arduino.  It's a 10x7x1.6mm module.  It does not come with firmware.  You can develop using whatever IDE that suite you, Arduino, KEIL, SES, Eclipse, CrossWorks... or Micropython if you like.  This module is based on the nRF52832 therefor no USB.  Only the nRF52840 has USB.  

I haven't worked with HID can't tell but the SDK provides 2 examples HID mouse and HID keyboard.  I guess you can modify the descriptor for a game pad.     

[ulao]

Ok I will look a it, I never heard of a descriptor for BT per-say... but  I can see why that would provide a simple config.

[Mojo]

I meant the HID report descriptors. I don't know about the details as I haven't worked with it.  Here is a link to the SDK docs about HID example.  https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/topic/com.nordic.infocenter.sdk5.v15.3.0/ble_sdk_app_hids_mouse.html

[ulao]

I wanted to also look more in to this blyst-nano, do you have any datasheet or interfacing with it? As your pointed out it may be what I need. And I assume I could always re-write the firmware if needed. I did a bit of googling and I only see press release stuff.

.offtopic..does the name mojo-chan hold any meaning to you?

[Mojo]

Sorry I don't know mojo-chan.  

You get more development info via blog of the creator of the blyst-nano

http://embeddedsoftdev.blogspot.com/2018/02/bluetooth-le-with-nordic-nrf51-nrf52.html

http://embeddedsoftdev.blogspot.com/p/ehal-nrf51.html

Blyst nano docs https://sourceforge.net/projects/blyst-nano/files/docs/

Source code https://github.com/I-SYST/EHAL