In a joint initiative Bluetooth innovators CSR plc and Laird, has announced the launch of the BT900 series of Bluetooth® 4.0 dual mode modules at Electronica 2014 in Munich. Based on the flexible CSR8811™ platform, the modules simplify the engineering process for OEMs looking to support connection to legacy devices, while future-proofing their solutions with Bluetooth Smart connectivity. The modules will be on display at booth Hall A4 W04.
“The BT900 series has been designed specifically to meet OEM needs for high performance and low cost,” said Jonathan Kaye, product director at Laird. “These modules offer customers a flexible solution that caters to a wide range of applications, from medical peripherals to point of sale terminals and barcode scanners. We have a longstanding partnership with CSR and collaborated closely with them to bring their unrivalled Bluetooth silicon together in our module. This allows us to offer our customers robust and innovative Bluetooth modules that are feature rich and easy to integrate.”
Laird has combined the CSR8811 platform, which offers CSR’s proven Bluetooth and Bluetooth Smart technologies, with a power efficient Cortex M3 microcontroller. The modules deliver optimum performance in a small form factor package and utilise Laird’s unique smartBASIC solution, which acts as a bridge between software and hardware, to enable an application written for one smartBASIC radio to work for any other. Combining the Cortex M3 with smartBASIC also eliminates the need for an external microcontroller, providing truly hostless operation.
“In today’s competitive market, OEMs want connectivity solutions that offer the flexibility to support different applications and connect with different devices,” said Anthony Murray, senior vice president, Business Group at CSR. “The CSR8811 comprehensively meets the market connectivity needs and combining it with Laird’s innovative smartBASIC is an excellent way to provide OEMs with an easy and quick to implement module.”
The BT900 carries several modular FCC, IC, CE, MIC and Bluetooth SIG approvals, cutting the time-consuming and costly testing process of gaining approvals. The BT900 series is available now from Laird certified distributors, including Digikey, Future, and Mouser.