Bluetooth TinyShield (discontinued)

Using the miniature Roving Network / Microchip RN42 Bluetooth 2 Module, this board lets you communicate wirelessly with your TinyDuino via a standard serial port from your computer using Bluetooth SPP (Serial Port Profile Mode). When attached to your TinyDuino, this works just like the USB TinyShield (without the cable). The Bluetooth software is completely contained in the module, so there is no extra programming required. Just connect your computer or phone to the module and you're good to go!

This TinyShield is great for short range communications (10 – 20 meters) between your PC / Phone and TinyDuino setup. The Bluetooth module can support data rates of up to 2.0Mbps over the air. Includes power supply and level shifters on the board, so you can run your TinyDuino from 3.3V – 5V.

Note: Apple iPhones / iPad users should use the Bluetooth Low Energy TinyShield (ST) instead due to Apple licensing restrictions.

To learn more about the TinyDuino Platform, click here

To see what other TinyShields this will work with or conflict with, check out the TinyShield Compatibility Matrix

Microchip RN42 Specs

• Fully certified Class 2 Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR module
• Built-in Antenna
• Bluetooth SIG qualified
• UART (SPP or HCI) and USB (HCI only) data connection hardware interfaces
• Onboard embedded Bluetooth stack (no host processor required)
• Programmable low power modes
• Secure communications, 128 bit encryption
• Error correction for guaranteed packet delivery
• UART local and over-the-air RF configuration
• Auto-discovery/pairing requires no software configuration (instant cable replacement)

TinyDuino Power Requirements

• Voltage: 3.3V - 5.5V 
• Current: 50mA (Data Transmit Mode).  Due to the current, this board cannot be run using the TinyDuino coin cell option

Pins Used

• 0 - BT_TX: The signal is the UART transmit from the Bluetooth Module to the TinyDuino
• 1 - BT_RX: The signal is the UART receive to the Bluetooth Module from the TinyDuino

Dimensions

• 20mm x 36mm (.787 inches x 1.417 inches)
• Max Height (from lower bottom TinyShield Connector to upper top TinyShield Connector): 5.11mm (0.201 inches)
• Weight: 2.9 grams (.10 ounces)

• The Bluetooth TinyShield and the USB TinyShield share the same UART signals, therefore only one or the other can be plugged in at a particular time. The USB TinyShield and the Bluetooth TinyShield cannot be used at the same time.
• Since the USB TinyShield cannot be used at the same time, the Bluetooth TinyShield cannot be plugged in when trying to program the TinyDuino with USB.  The USB TinyShield must be unplugged after programming the TinyDuino when the Bluetooth TinyShield is used.  
• Since the USB TinyShield cannot be used at the same time, the TinyDuino needs to be powered with an external source.  The coin cell option cannot be used due to power requirements; we recommend using the Lithium Battery version of the TinyDuino processor board.

• By default, the Bluetooth TinyShield will power up at 57600 baud, so the TinyDuino processor needs to be configured at this baud rate in order for communications to work.  Note: Several Bluetooth TinyShields have accidentally been shipped with the resistor R4 included on the assembly - this will set the UART baud rate to 9600.  Check to see if this is present if you are having issues, if so, you will need to set the UART baud rate of your TinyDuino processor to 9600 baud.  You can also remove the resistor to return this to 57600 baud, or contact us at TinyCircuits and we can modify the unit for you. 

• Microchip RN42 Product Page
• Datasheet
• Schematic
• Eagle Files