New-Tech Europe | Oct 2016 | Special Edition For Electronica 2016

Bluetooth services and is controlled using simple ASCII-based commands sent via the host processor. Sub-GHz Solution Operating in the 2.4GHz frequency range of the ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical) licence- free band, modules based on both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth offer simple

porting or redeveloping the entire application may not be necessary, it may even be possible to replace an existing wire-based connection with a wireless module with the minimum of design effort. A good solution in this case may be the RN4020-V/RM120 Bluetooth module from Microchip Technologies. This module supports a number of

The module is based on an ARM Cortex-M3 based microcontroller and a Wi-Fi chipset, and as such is able to run IoT applications in a standalone mode. However, for more complex applications, it is also able to run alongside a host (typically more powerful) processor, interfacing through either a UART, SPI or USB interface. In this mode, the module is controlled by the host using Silicon Lab’s high-level API, written in C and intended to run on the host processor alongside the IoT application. From W-LAN to PAN While Wi-Fi is positioned to provide a wireless alternative to Ethernet/LAN connectivity, the technology behind Personal Area Networks, or PANs, is also making its way into the industrial sector. Bluetooth, and now Bluetooth 4.0 (known as Bluetooth Smart or Low Energy, also referred to simply as BLE) provides a standard solution for establishing peer-to-peer wireless connectivity or ad hoc networks over shorter distances. This is particularly suitable for applications where data is collected periodically using a handheld terminal, for example. The ENW-89847A1KF PAN1760 from Panasonic is a BLE Smart Module based on the TC35667 from Toshiba. Measuring just 15.6mm by 8.7mm, and 1.8mm high, it provides a pre- certified solution to adding Bluetooth connectivity to a new or existing industrial application. If wireless connectivity is being fitted retrospectively to an existing installation, as may be the case with many industrial applications, then it may be more advantageous to use a dedicated module that can be controlled using simple instructions from an existing microcontroller or processor. In this scenario,

Figure 2: The WGM110A1MV1 Wizard Gecko

Figure 3: Block diagram of the ENW-89847A1KF PAN1760 from Panasonic

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