External MCU with nRF51822

RE: External MCU with nRF51822

Nguyen Hoan Hoang — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 01:33:45 GMT

If the M0 in the nRF51 is not require then it would be more cost effective to use something like the nRF8001 or nRF8002 or any dedicated modules and connect to your mcu via uart or spi. The CC2541 is based on 8 bits 8051 and the mcu is dedicated I don't believe it is available for application while the nRF51 on the other hand is a 32 bit mcu that can do both. The nRF51 for example allows to do acquisition and some processing along side with BLE. A keyboard or mouse is a perfect example to use this as single chip solution. It is a very capable mcu.

RE: External MCU with nRF51822

tvu1020 — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 15:12:51 GMT

Update/Edit: Correction on CC2541, PAN1323 is the module I wanted to mention. They offer a module with the SoC on it, which make it easier to add the module on your board. I am working on an application where it would need a bigger processor (hence the external microcontroller) I would like to basically push the digitized data through the nRF51 and to a smart phone via BLE. I won't really need the M0 processor in nRF51. Is there any other option i could go with besides BLE module that Alex provided?

Thanks, Trung

RE: External MCU with nRF51822

tvu1020 — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 15:12:45 GMT

Thanks, Trung

RE: External MCU with nRF51822

tvu1020 — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 15:12:30 GMT

Thanks, Trung

RE: External MCU with nRF51822

Krzysztof Loska — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 12:45:54 GMT

Hi, for this pourpose we prepared a special solution - serialization. Most of the examples in our SDK have also serialized versions for different PHY layers: UART, UART HCI, 6-wire SPI, 5-wire SPI (those are interfaces between an external MCU and nRF chip). A short description can be found here: developer.nordicsemi.com/.../a00042.html More detailed information can be found here: developer.nordicsemi.com/.../a00073.html

RE: External MCU with nRF51822

tvu1020 — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 19:34:48 GMT

Thanks, Trung

RE: External MCU with nRF51822

Nguyen Hoan Hoang — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 14:34:55 GMT

the nRF51822 has an ARM Cortex-M0 at 16MHz that you program it to do almost whatever you like. It has 30 i/o for you to use. This module make all 30 i/o available to you. Do you need to do a lot processing that require a second MCU ? To use with free Eclipse C/C++ development environment, follow this blog site.

RE: External MCU with nRF51822

Vebjørn — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 12:23:55 GMT

The nRF51822 chip itself does not have an antenna, nor does the CC2541 chip. Both of the chips require some external components, like an oscillator and an antenna. However, there are several 3rd party companies that create small modules with these chips and the necessary components, see the link Alex posted. You can connect these modules to another MCU and it would work without any additional components. However, you would still need to program the module to make it do what you wish.

Alternatively you can get a premade module, for example this one: http://www.adafruit.com/product/1697.

Will there be an nRF51822 in the other end as well? You could also easily modify the ble_app_uart example in the nordic SDK to establish a wireless "UART" link. If you are designing a PCB, but don't want to design the antenna, you could use the modules from the link Alex posted

RE: External MCU with nRF51822

Alex — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 09:05:26 GMT

www.nordicsemi.com/.../3rd-Party-Bluetooth-Smart-Modules BLE modules based on Nordic nRF51