Intelligent Bluetooth modules go parallel

Bluetooth wireless technology has been immensely successful as a serial cable replacement, with over 10 million chipsets being shipped every week. Ezurio has now extended the application of Bluetooth by developing a virtual parallel cable replacement mode for its range of intelligent Bluetooth modules. In the industrial, M2M and automotive markets, there are many applications that need to convey a limited number of signal states.

Ezurio's latest intelligent Bluetooth modules address this requirement.

To achieve this, Ezurio has developed new firmware which allows two modules to be configured so that the eight GPIO inputs on one module are mirrored at the second module, emulating a virtual parallel cable.

Typical uses include sensor monitoring, control applications and data acquisition.

An additional benefit is that the parallel data transfer can operate alongside a concurrent voice channel, making this ideal for applications such as wireless door locks.

In fact an RS232 serial connection, 8bit parallel data and three voice channels can all be used concurrently.

The virtual parallel cable can be used across the full range of Ezurio's Bluetooth modules.

These are recognised as providing leading edge wireless performance, with open field range in excess of 300 metres achieved at low power consumptions, making them ideal for battery powered applications.

'There are many applications for wireless cable replacement that have simple demands, such as transmitting switch or I/O states, driving relays or display devices or communicating data', said Nick Hunn, CTO of Ezurio.

'Although these can be implemented with a serial cable link, in many cases these simple applications require additional circuitry that takes up space and adds cost'.

'Often all the equipment designer wants to do is to reflect the status of half a dozen signals across the wireless link'.

'With the virtual parallel cable a wide range of problems can be addressed using our standard Bluetooth modules without the need for any external components'.