TI launches 10 new Bluetooth® low energy profiles for rapid design of consumer medical, fitness, alert applications and more

DALLAS, Aug. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE: TXN), the industry leader in highly integrated wireless connectivity solutions, today launched ten Bluetooth® low energy technology (Bluetooth v4.0) profiles with associated sample applications to boost market development of Bluetooth low energy-compliant sensor devices. The Bluetooth low energy application software is a part of TI's BLE-Stack, and is available royalty-free to all using TI's CC2540 Bluetooth low energy system-on-chip (SoC). TI's BLE-Stack is available today at www.ti.com/ble-pr, and a corresponding CC2540DK-MINI development kit is available on TI's e-store. An enhanced, new CC2540DK development kit will also be available in mid September, providing a flexible platform for software development, extensive RF performance assessment and packet-sniffing testing.  

TI has achieved Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) certification for find-me, health thermometer, heart rate, and proximity profiles. The updated BLE-Stack also includes support for to-be-adopted profiles such as blood pressure sensor, remote control (soft command), watch (time/network availability), emulated keyboard/dongle (HID), and time and alert notification profiles. TI's updated BLE-Stack also adds support for Bluetooth low energy central and peripheral configurations. When set to the central configuration, the CC2540 SoC can support up to three simultaneous connections. For example, an end user can run a heart rate monitor, blood pressure sensor and health thermometer – all connected to one central health device.

"We are proud to be the only company to offer this range of profiles to date, allowing our customers to realize their product ideas more quickly and participate in early interoperability testing with their devices against dual-mode devices," said Sid Shaw, product marketing manager, Low-Power RF, TI. "Our BLE-Stack adds support for adopted profiles as well as profiles expected to be adopted in the near future. With additional tools updates and our new extensive development kit, designers will now have access to the latest and greatest tools to develop single-mode Bluetooth low energy applications."

"Bluetooth v4.0 technology is experiencing incredible traction, and the market is hungry for new devices and use cases," said Michael Foley, Ph.D., executive director, Bluetooth SIG. "As shown with its certifications, new profile offerings and updated Bluetooth low energy stack, we are pleased to see TI playing a critical role in delivering Bluetooth v4.0 with low energy capabilities to new places – from health monitoring to fitness equipment, alert notifications and more."

In addition to attaining Bluetooth SIG Certification and interoperability testing, TI's BLE-Stack has undergone comprehensive testing against TI's dual-mode Bluetooth solutions. TI provides single-mode Bluetooth low energy solutions for sensor applications and dual-mode solutions for mobile handheld devices, including the BlueLink™ 7.0 (BL6450), WiLink™ 6.0 (WL127x) and WiLink 7.0 (WL128x) offerings. With both sides of the link, TI delivers a fully tested, robust Bluetooth low energy ecosystem.

Key features and benefits:  TI BLE-Stack Bluetooth low energy application software

• Early realization of single mode Bluetooth  low energy applications
  • Support and sample applications for ten profiles
  • Royalty-free software available to all using TI's CC2540 Bluetooth low energy SoC
• Support for Bluetooth low energy central device, with up to three simultaneous connections
• Development framework for low-power, small-form-factor central applications
  • No external microcontroller required
  • New GAP central role profile for single-chip central Bluetooth low energy applications
• Free tool for testing of Bluetooth low energy peripheral applications
  • Updated BTool includes support for multiple connections, encryption, pairing, bonding
• Reference design and development kit pre-integrated with TI TPS62730* step down converter, which reduces the current drawn from the battery by as much as 20 percent (CR2032 coin cell).

Key components: CC2540DK development kit, available in mid September

Complete hardware performance test platform and generic software development environment helps developers get up and running with the CC2540 quickly and easily. The kit includes:

• Two CC2540-based RF evaluation modules
• One CC2540-based USB dongle
• General purpose development boards (SmartRF05EB)
• Software and hardware prototyping, cables, antennas and documentation

Tools, availability, packaging and price

The BLE 1.1 Bluetooth low energy software stack is available today from TI, royalty-free to all using TI's CC2540 Bluetooth low energy system-on-chip. The CC2540DK-MINI development kit is available today at on TI's e-store for USD $99, and the enhanced CC2540DK development kit will be available in mid September for USD $299 on TI's e-store.

* Optimized for ultra-low-power applications, the CC2540 SoC can be combined with TI's recently announced TPS62730 DC-DC companion solution. As a step-down converter for high efficient voltage conversion and an integrated bypass switch, the TPS62730 saves power and extends application run time.

Find out more about TI's low-power RF and wireless connectivity solutions

• TI's Bluetooth low energy solutions : www.ti.com/ble-pr
• TI's wireless connectivity solutions: www.ti.com/wirelessconnectivity
• TI's wireless connectivity selection guide: www.ti.com/wirelessconnectivityguide
• TI E2E™ low-power RF & wireless connectivity community: www.ti.com/lprf-forum

TI provides the industry's broadest portfolio of mature, low-power wireless connectivity solutions. With expertise in more than a dozen technologies, TI ensures customers the best-suited wireless connectivity for every type of application. TI's product portfolio is complemented with the support and tools that customers and developers need to quickly and easily bring wirelessly connected designs to market. Visit the company's Wireless Connectivity Portal for an overview of TI-supported technologies, the full product portfolio, and example use cases.

About Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments semiconductor innovations help 80,000 customers unlock the possibilities of the world as it could be – smarter, safer, greener, healthier and more fun.  Our commitment to building a better future is ingrained in everything we do – from the responsible manufacturing of our semiconductors, to caring for our employees, to giving back inside our communities.  This is just the beginning of our story.  Learn more at www.ti.com.

Trademarks

TI E2E is a trademark of Texas Instruments. All other trademarks belong to their respective owners.

SOURCE Texas Instruments Incorporated