BGX13 Shield Feature Set

Get Started with the SLASH1000A HERE. The BGX13 Shield is designed to demonstrate the ease of adding Wireless Xpress products and connectivity to existing solutions. The board features the BGX13S in a fully integrated design intended to be used with an Arduino UNO maker board. Operation with an MKR Arduino board is pending. The boards functionality is being divided into three categories: BGX13, Core, and lighting groups. On all boards the BGX13 and Core functionalities are enabled – An alternative population of the core components allows for the lighting functions. Below each of these group’s hardware features are outlined. 

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Key BGX13 features

The BGX13 functionality leverages the BGX13S Wireless Xpress from Silicon Labs to provide remote access to the on-board sensors and driver. More details are available from the BGX13S datasheet<link: https://www.silabs.com/documents/login/data-sheets/bgx13s-datasheet.pdf> or online documentation<link: https://docs.silabs.com/gecko-os/1/bgx/latest/>.

UART to BLE/BT5

The BGX13 functions primarily as a Bluetooth to UART cable replacement, wirelessly connecting the Arduino MCU’s serial interface to a remote device such as a smart phone or another BGX13.  Arduino UART and optional flow control signals route to the BGX13 through the shield’s headers. Note that when a design does not use flow control,  the RTS and CTS lines may be used as two additional GPIO.   Additionally, the BGX13 can be remotely configured using the remote command mode. The data transmitted to the device and relayed to the Arduino interfaces can be used for a variety of applications.  In the use case enabled by the board component configuration by default, communication across the BLE link triggers sensor reads and lighting control events.

GPIO

The BGX shield includes two GPIO pins routed to the Arduino Uno header, along with two additional signals that can be used as either GPIO or flow control signalling. Two push buttons and two indicator LEDs connected to BGX13 GPIO provide added human interface I/O options for prototyping.

Additional shield features

Sensors and power options on the BGX13 shield provide out-of-box examples for BLE-connected smart home application prototyping.

Power Regulation

Power to all onboard components derives from power rails of the Arduino headers. A solder-selectable battery mode can be used to power the shield as a remote unit, and an onboard regulator ensures a 3.3V supply to all ICs where needed, independent of the 3.3V and 5V rails provided by a connected Arduino base board.

Logic Level Translation

To ensure compatibility of all interfaces between the BGX13 and attached Arduino device, the shield provides 8 channels of logic level translation . All logic level translation is bi-directional.

Temperature Sensor (SI7050)

A I2C-controllable temperature sensor included on the shield can be polled by the base board’s Arduino MCU. This chip features 14-bit resolution and +/-1.0 degree Celsius accuracy.

Lux Sensor

An I2C-controllable ambient light sensor is also included on the board further expands lighting demo prototyping possibilities. The high-accuracy 16-bit sensor offers a flexible configuration interface suitable for a wide variety of applications.

Additional lighting functionality

On-board lighting control components enable users to prototype BLE-connected lighting demos out-of-box. These features are powered by the Arduino base board’s 5V or 3.3V rails or by a battery through a provided connector.

PWM Lighting Driver

A I2C-controlled PWM LED driver facilitates RGBW LED control across a range of intensities. This chip provides 0% to 100% duty cycle output and controls the 0-10V output as well.

0-10V Lighting Output

A screw terminal block enables existing lighting designs to be connected to the shield and controlled with the standard 0-10V interface.

On-board RGBW LEDs

On-board LEDs provide immediate visual indication in result to commands and functions. These lights mirror the output channels of the corresponding colors.