Using the EBlue Bluetooth Module

You will need:

• FI40/28 Board (3.3V System)
• Bluetooth Interface Cables
• EBlue Bluetooth Module (x2)
• Comm.Key Set
• DC Power Supply (6V-12V)
• PC running FIDE (available under 'downloads')

IMPORTANT:
PLEASE READ BEFORE CONNECTING YOUR BLUETOOTH MODULES!!!
The EBlue Bluetooth Module operates at 3.3V ONLY. You will need to connect it using a special bluetooth interface cable. (the one with the blue shrink tube in the center)

1. Connecting to the FI Board: The Bluetooth Module draws power from the UART port, as such, the FlamingICE Boards that you are using MUST be a 3.3V system. Another way is that if you have the 5V system, you can connect it to a logic level shifter (5V to 3.3V) before connecting it to the EBlue Module. We sell the logic level shifter with JST connectors on both sides for this purpose.
2. Connecting to the PC: Similarly, the Bluetooth Module draws power from the USB Port. No logic level shifter is required in this instance but you should make sure that you're using the Bluetooth Interface Cable and not the normal Download Interface Cable. 

This is what i mean when i say Bluetooth Interface Cable. 

At AIS Cube, we have 2 interface cables, the one with the blue tubing in the foreground is specifically for the Bluetooth Module. You know, blue for bluetooth? So anyway, this is important because the Interface Cable for the bluetooth has an extra power line for powering up the Bluetooth Module. Warning: Interchanging these 2 cables could burn your boards in some circumstances.  The other cable with the black tubing is our download interface cable. This is what you will be using when you're downloading programs from the PC to the FI Board. 

Note: When you buy the Bluetooth Module, the blue interface cable would be attached to the Bluetooth Module for immediate usage, just as the Black interface cable would be packed along with the Comm.Key Set.

Connection Diagram:

Above: Connecting to the PC.

Overview Of Both Connection Types:

Above: Example Connection for wireless communication between the FI Board and PC.

Note: If you wish to control 2 devices wirelessly from the PC, this is how you can connect it. (Click for larger image)

Using the EBlue on the PC.

You can test out if the EBlue Connection is secure before transferring it to the embedded side by connecting both EBlue Modules to the PC. (Essentially you can use this to send messages and talk to yourself OR plug one on another PC and communicate between 2 PCs wirelessly without needing a LAN) .

Before you start,

1. Make sure you have already installed FIDE and the Comm.Key driver.
2. Follow the Connection diagram for connecting to the PC, but don't plug in to the PC yet. (As in, you should already have it connected this way: EBlue > Bluetooth Interface Cable > Comm.Key (Download Key) > USB Cable. )

We first have to pair the Bluetooth Modules using EasyConnect(tm). (Pairing will only need to be done once, or until you want to change pairs)

Step by Step instructions:

1. Press and hold the EasyConnect button(the Blue button!) on both units. (I hope you have nimble fingers)
2. Still holding on to the buttons, Apply Power to both (plug in the USB Cables into a USB port each)
3. You should see a blue LED turn on on each unit.
4. Release the hold on the push buttons.

Factory default communication parameters are 115200 Baud, 8 Data Bits, 1 Stop Bit, No Parity and No Flow Control.

Testing it on the PC will not require any code. Here's How;

Obtain the port numbers used by the EBlue modules. You can get the port numbers through: Control Panel > System > Device Manager > Ports

Look for "USB Serial Port". In this case, one of them is COM3.

Obtain the other COM port number the same way.
1.    Now, open FIDE > Tools > Data Comm
2.    From Data Comm, open Comm Settings under the edit tab.
 
Set the COM port number (in this case, 3) and baud rate (115 200) and click ‘OK’. The COM port will automatically be open.

Repeat procedure from step 1 for the other COM port while changing the port number. Keep in mind that the devices should work using the same baud rate set.

Note: By Default, the Data Representation is in ASCII. So everything that is sent and received will be in ASCII Format. You may change this under: Edit > Data Format.

Now, Type something in the transmit box (eg, 'A')  and hit the ‘Enter’ key to send the data. You should see the data immediately in the receive box of the other Data Comm. window. Do the same for the other window and you should now have something in the receive box for both windows.

You have successfully tested both receive and transmit functions of the EBlue on the PC.

To try it out on the FI Board, connect it like so;

Note: You do not need to pair it up again. The devices will remember the pairing even if you power it off. 

The EBlue is an RS232 bridge. Normal communication using FI commands can be used to send and receive data through the EBlue.  By default the EBlue is set to 115200 kbps. No resetting is required and immediate usage on the FI is possible.

Below is an example on how to use the EBlue with the FI.  The program waits in a loop until it receives a data from comm1 and echoes it back using the OS.Comm1.TX statement.

FI CODE:

Public Sub Main()
Debug.Print "EBlue TEST"
Dim RX_DAT as integer

Do
    If OS.Comm1.HasData() Then
	RX_DAT = OS.Comm1.RX()
	OS.Comm1.TX(RX_DAT)
    End If
Loop

End Sub

And that's it!

Please note, if you already have a ready application which requires connection to the PC and is currently connected through the normal download key, just do the pairing on the EBlue Modules, and connect as above. No changes to the code is required. But of course, make sure it's a 3.3V system.