Microchip debuts PIC32 Bluetooth Starter Kit

Microchip Technology has announced the new PIC32 Bluetooth Starter Kit. The full-featured kit boasts a PIC32 microcontroller (MCU), HCI-based Bluetooth radio, Cree high-output multi-colour LED, 3 standard single-colour LEDs, an analog 3-axis accelerometer, analog temperature sensor and 5 push buttons for user-defined inputs. Additionally, a PICkit On Board (PKOB) eliminates the need for an external debugger/programmer, USB connectivity and GPIOs for rapid development of Bluetooth Serial Port Profile (SPP), USB and general-purpose applications. The starter kit also features a plug-in interface for an audio CODEC daughter card which is set to release at a later stage to support Bluetooth audio.

The Bluetooth Starter Kit includes a PIC32MX270F256D MCU for main processing that runs at 83 DMIPS with 256KB Flash and 64KB RAM with a rich feature set, including USB, I2S/SPI, mTouch capacitive touch sensing and an 8-bit Parallel Master Port. The kit reduces software development time by offering a free Bluetooth SPP stack optimized for the on-board PIC32 MCU for setting up emulated serial port connections between two peer Bluetooth devices.

"Microchip's new Bluetooth Starter Kit is an ideal solution for developers who want to add Bluetooth as a wire replacement for their designs in consumer, industrial, medical and gaming markets. The kit includes everything that a designer needs for rapid prototype and development of Bluetooth SPP designs," said Rod Drake, Director of Microchip's MCU32 Division.

The Bluetooth Starter Kit is targeted for low-cost applications in the consumer markets, such as Bluetooth thermostats and wireless gaming controllers. In the medical and industrial markets, applications include blood glucose meters, wireless diagnostic tools, Bluetooth GPS receivers, Bluetooth serial adapters and cordless barcode scanners.