ST UM2667 BlueNRG-M2SP module
Introduction
The X-NUCLEO-BNRG2A1 expansion board provides Bluetooth low energy connectivity for developer applications and can be plugged onto an STM32 Nucleo development board (e.g., NUCLEO-L476RG with ultra-low power STM32 microcontroller) through its Arduino UNO R3 connectors.
The expansion board features the Bluetooth® v5.2 compliant and FCC certified BlueNRG-M2SP application processor module based on the ST BlueNRG-2 System-on-Chip. This SoC manages the complete Bluetooth low energy stack and protocols on its Cortex-M0 core and programmable Flash, which can accommodate custom applications developed using the SDK. The BlueNRG-M2SP module supports master and slave modes, increased transfer rates with data length extension (DLE), and AES-128 security encryption.
The X-NUCLEO-BNRG2A1 interfaces with the STM32 Nucleo microcontroller via SPI connections and GPIO pins, some of which can be configured by the hardware.
X-NUCLEO-BNRG2A1 expansion board
Typical Applications
The X-NUCLEO-BNRG2A1 expansion board can be used for the evaluation of the BlueNRG-M2 device in many applications, such as:
- point-to-point communication
- sensor application
- home automation and lighting
- direct test mode (DTM)
Acronyms and Abbreviations
List of Acronyms
|
Acronym |
Description |
|
EEPROM |
Electrically erasable programmable read only memory |
|
GHz |
Giga Hertz |
|
GUI |
Graphical user interface |
|
LED |
Light emitting diode |
|
MCU |
Microcontroller unit |
|
P2P |
Point-to-point communication |
|
RF |
Radio frequency communication |
|
SPI |
Serial peripheral interface |
|
SWD |
Serial wire debug |
Getting Started
Overview
The X-NUCLEO-BNRG2A1 expansion board main features are:
- Based on the BlueNRG-M2SP module FCC certified module (FCC ID: S9NBNRGM2SP and IC: B976C-BNRGM2SP)
- Compatible with STM32 Nucleo boards
- Equipped with Arduino UNO R3 connector
- Amazon AWS qualified
- Scalable solution, capable of cascading multiple boards for larger systems
- Free comprehensive development firmware library and examples for BlueNRG-2 compatible with STM32Cube
- BlueNRG-M2SP:
- Bluetooth v5.2 compliant
- Supports master and slave modes
- BLE data packet length extension
- Embedded BALF-NRG-02D3 integrated matched balun with harmonic filter
- Interfaces:
- 1 UART, 1 I²C, 1 SPI, 14 GPIOs, 2 multifunction timers, 10-bit ADC, Watchdog & RTC, DMA controller, PDM stream processor, SWD debug interface
- Small form factor: 11.5mmx13.5mm
- Complemented with Bluetooth low energy protocol stack library (GAP, GATT, SM, L2CAP, LL)
- AES security co-processor
- Bluetooth low energy SDK with a wide range of profiles
- Embedded BlueNRG-2 BLE SoC:
- High performance, ultra-low power Cortex-M0 32-bit based core
- Programmable embedded 256 KB Flash
- 24 KB embedded RAM with data retention
- Up to +8 dBm available output power
- Down to -88 dBm Rx sensitivity
- Up to 96 dB link budget with excellent link reliability
Hardware and Software Requirements
To use STM32 Nucleo development boards with the X-NUCLEO-BNRG2A1 expansion board, connect the boards as shown below.
X-NUCLEO-BNRG2A1 expansion board connected to an STM32 Nucleo development board
The X-NUCLEO-BNRG2A1 can be connected to any STM32 Nucleo development board. The following software and hardware specifications are required:
- a PC/laptop with Microsoft Windows (7 and above) to install the software package (X-CUBE-BLE2).
- DTM project to be flashed in the module
- a type A USB to mini-B USB cable to connect the STM32 Nucleo to the PC/laptop
- a 5-pin connector programming wire to program the X-NUCLEO-BNRG2A1 using the STM32 Nucleo
Board Setup
- Step 01: Check that the jumper on J10 connector is connected to provide the required voltage to the board devices.
- Step 02: Connect the X-NUCLEO-BNRG2A1 to the STM32 Nucleo board as shown in Figure 2.
- Step 03: Connect jumper J14 to select the SPI clock for the SPI.
- Step 04: Program the STM32 Nucleo with the corresponding firmware to use the X-NUCLEO-BNRG2A1 as a network coprocessor.
The evaluation kit is ready-to-use.
Hardware Description and Configuration
Interconnection Details
The X-NUCLEO-BNRG2A1 expansion board and the NUCLEO-L476RG development board connection details are listed in the table below.
X-NUCLEO-BNRG2A1 and NUCLEO-L476RG connection details (left connector)
|
Signal name |
|||||||||||||
| NC | IOREF | RESET | +3V3 | +5 V | GND | GNDS | VIN | A0 | A1 | A2 | A3 | A4 |
A5 |
|
Connector name |
|||||||||||||
| CN6 Power |
CN8 Analog |
||||||||||||
|
Pin number |
|||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
6 |
|
NUCLEO-L476RG MCU port |
|||||||||||||
| PA0 | PA1 | PA4 | PB0 | PC1 |
PC0 |
||||||||
|
X-NUCLEO-BNRG2A1 expansion board signals |
|||||||||||||
| NC | IOREF | RESET | +3V3 | +5 V | GND | GND | VIN | DIO7/ BOOT | DIO1/ SPI_CS | – | – | – |
– |
X-NUCLEO-BNRG2A1 and NUCLEO-L476RG connection details (right connector)
|
Signal name |
|||||||||||||||||
| D15 | D14 | – | – | D13 | D12 | D11 | D10 | D9 | D8 | D7 | D6 | D5 | D4 | D3 | D2 | D1 |
D0 |
|
Connector name |
|||||||||||||||||
| CN5 Digital |
CN9 Digital |
||||||||||||||||
|
Pin number |
|||||||||||||||||
| 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
1 |
|
NUCLEO-L476RG MCU port |
|||||||||||||||||
| PB8 | PB9 | AVDD | GND | PA5 | PA6 | PA7 | PB6 | PC7 | PA9 | PA8 | PB10 | PB4 | PB5 | PB3 | PA10 | PA2 |
PA3 |
|
X-NUCLEO-BNRG2A1 expansion board signals |
|||||||||||||||||
| – | – | AREF | GND | DIO0/ SPI_C LK | DIO2 | DIO3 | – | – | DIO4 | – | DIO6 | DIO12 | DIO14 | DIO 0/ SPI_ CLK | DIO5 | DIO 11/ SPI_ CS | DIO8 |
Note:
- To use PA1 as SPI_CS with DIO1 mount resistor R70.
- To use PA1 as SPI_CS with DIO11 mount resistor R76.
- To use PA2 as SPI_CS with DIO11 mount resistor R86.
- To take control of RESET in the STM32 application with PA8, mount resistor R117.
SPI and GPIO Connection Options
The SPI and GPIO connection options between the STM32 Nucleo and BlueNRG-M2 on the X-NUCLEO-BNRG2A1 expansion board can be used to enable different configurations in case a signal conflict occurs when using other expansion boards.
X-NUCLEO-BNRG2A1 interface with STM32 Nucleo development board
|
X-NUCLEO-BNRG2A1 |
BlueNRG-M2SP | Default STM32 port | Optional STM32 port |
| PA0_SPI_IRQ_PB14_BNRG1BOOT | DIO7/BOOT | PA0(1) PB14(2) |
– |
|
DIO1_SPI_CS |
DIO1 | PA1 | – |
| DIO11_SPI_CS | DIO11 | PA1 |
PA2 |
|
SPI_CLK |
DIO0 | PA5 JP14: pins 1-2 shorted |
PB3 |
- To use PA0 for another purpose (for example, to plug another shield that uses PA0), unsolder R85.
- To use PB14, physically connect PB14 of the X-NUCLEO-BNRG2A1 to PB14 of the Nucleo-64 development board and change the code from STM32CubeMX so that it uses PB14 instead of PA0. This requires:
- to assign pin PB14 to GPIO_EXTI14
- to enable interrupts for “EXTI Line[15:10]” in NVIC
- to set “Exti Line” to PB14 in the BlueNRG-M2SP software package
X-NUCLEO-BNRG2A1 jumpers
|
Jumper |
Signals |
Description |
|
J10 |
3.3 V |
Power connector |
|
J11 |
User application | |
|
J12 |
SWD |
For SWD debugging/programming |
|
J13 |
User application | |
|
J14 |
SPI_CLK |
To select the SPI clock pin PA5 or PB3
Default: pins 1-2 shorted |
|
J15 |
PA0_SPI_IRQ_PB14_BNRG1BOOT |
This jumper is connected to DIO7 of the BlueNRG-2 and must be shorted for boot pin high. DIO7 can be used for Bootloader activation. |
Current Measurement
To monitor the X-NUCLEO-BNRG2A1 expansion board power consumption, insert an ammeter probe between pin 1 and 2 of the jumper J10 connector.
X-NUCLEO-BNRG2A1 Component Placement Details
The figure below shows the component placement on the X-NUCLEO-BNRG2A1 expansion board.
X-NUCLEO-BNRG2A1 on-board Device Placement
- ST morpho connector (not mounted by default)
- Arduino UNO R3 connector
- Arduino UNO R3 connector
- BlueNRG-M2SP
- J15 – boot pin jumper
- J14 – SPI_CLK select jumper
- ST morpho connector (not mounted by default)
- Arduino UNO R3 connector
- Arduino UNO R3 connector
- J10 – power jumper
- J11 – user application jumper
- J12 – SWD jumper
- J11 – user application jumper
X-NUCLEO-BNRG2A1 on-board Device Description
BlueNRG-M2SP Module
The BlueNRG-M2SP is a Bluetooth® low Energy System-on-Chip application processor certified module (FCC ID: S9NBNRGM2SP, IC ID: 8976C-BNRGM2SP), compliant with BT specifications v5.2 and BQE qualified. The module supports multiple roles simultaneously and can simultaneously act as a Bluetooth Smart master and slave device.
The BlueNRG-M2SP is based on BlueNRG-2 System-on-Chip and includes Bluetooth Low Energy stack and protocols.
The device interfaces with STM32 Nucleo boards through SPI and GPIOs.
BlueNRG-M2SP device details
|
Description |
Features |
| BlueNRG-M2SP |
Order code |
|
SMD 23 pin |
Package |
| 1.7- 3.6 V |
Operating Voltage |
SPI EEPROM
The M95640-RMC6TG 64 Kbit serial SPI bus EEPROM with high-speed clock interface can be mounted on the X-NUCLEO-BNRG2A1 expansion board.
It can be used to store the configuration parameters related to application or settings of the BlueNRG-2 RF device.
Its main features are:
- Compatible with the Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) bus
- Memory array – 64 Kb (8 Kbytes) of EEPROM – Page size: 32 bytes
- Write (byte write within 5 ms, page write within 5 ms)
- Additional Write lockable page (identification page)
- Write Protect: quarter, half or whole memory array
- High-speed clock: 20 MHz
M95640-RMC6TG connection with NUCLEO-L476RG development board
|
M95640-RMC6TG EEPROM |
NUCLEO-L476RG | Pin no. | Connector name | Signal name |
| D (PA7_SPI_MOSI) | PA7 | 4 | CN5 |
D11 |
|
Q(PA6_SPI_MISO) |
PA6 | 5 | CN5 | D12 |
| C(SPI_CLK) | PB3/PA5 | 4/6 | CN9/CN5 |
D3/D13 |
|
/S(PB6_SPI_CSN) |
PB6 | 3 | CN5 |
D10 |
Note:
- The SPI EEPROM IC is not mounted on the board.
- To use PB3 or PA5 with C(SPI_CLK), select jumper J14.
- To use PB6 as SPI_CSN, mount resistor R77.
M95640-RMC6TG device details
|
Description |
Features |
| M95640-RMC6TG |
Order code |
|
MLP8 |
Package |
| 1.8 to 5.5 V |
Operating voltage |
Schematic Diagrams
X-NUCLEO-BNRG2A1 schematic diagram – BlueNRG-M2SP
X-NUCLEO-BNRG2A1 schematic diagram – Arduino connectors
X-NUCLEO-BNRG2A1 schematic diagram – morpho connectors
X-NUCLEO-BNRG2A1 schematic diagram – M95640-RMC6TG
X-NUCLEO-BNRG2A1 schematic diagram – resistor mapping
Bill of Materials
X-NUCLEO-BNRG2A1 bill of materials
|
Item |
Q.ty | Ref. | Part/Value | Description | Manufacturer | Order code |
| 1 | 1 | U8 | SMD 20 PIN | Very low power application processor module for Bluetooth® low energy v5.2 | ST |
BlueNRG-M2SP |
|
2 |
2 | U9 | UFDFPN8 (MC) 2
x 3 mm |
64 Kbit SPI bus EEPROM with high-speed clock | ST | M95640-RMC6TG |
| 1 | 1 | CN5 | Pass-through: male on bottom, female on top. 10×1 2.54 mm pitch | Arduino connector CN5 10 pins | SAMTEC |
SSQ-110-03-F-S |
|
2 |
2 | CN6, CN9 | Pass-through: male on bottom, female on top. 8×1 2.54 mm pitch | Arduino connectors CN6 and CN9 8 pins | SAMTEC | SSQ-108-03-F-S |
| 3 | 3 | CN7, CN10 | Pass-through: female on bottom, male on top. 19×22.54 mm pitch | ST morpho connectors CN7 and CN10 38 pins (not mounted) | SAMTEC |
|
|
4 |
4 | CN8 | Pass-through: male on bottom, female on top. 6×1 2.54 mm pitch | Arduino connector CN8 6 pins | SAMTEC | SSQ-106-03-G-S |
| 5 | 5 | J10 | 2 pin connector, 2.54mm pitch | Power supply connector to module VDD | Any |
Any |
|
6 |
6 | J11 | 3 pin connector, 2.54mm pitch | Jumper | Any | Any |
| 7 | 7 | J12 | 5 pin connector, 2.54mm pitch | SWD programming connector | Any |
Any |
|
8 |
8 | J13 | 3 pin connector, 2.54mm pitch | Interface selector | Any | Any |
| 9 | 9 | J14 | 3 pin connector, 2.54mm pitch | SPI1_CLK selection between D13 and D3 pin of Arduino connector | Any |
Any |
|
10 |
10 | J15 | 2pin connector, 2.54mm pitch | Boot pin connect to VDD , for wake up device when in sleep | Any | Any |
| 1 | 1 | C47 | 10 nF,16 V SMD
0805 |
Capacitor | Any |
Any |
|
2 |
2 | C48 | 100 nF,16 V ‘SMD
0805 |
Capacitor | Any | Any |
| 3 | 3 | C49 | 100 nF,16 V SMD
0805 |
Capacitor | Any |
Any |
|
1 |
1 | R71, R73, R76, R77, R79, R80, R82, R85 | SMD 0805 | Resistors | Any | Any |
| 2 | 2 | R74, R75 | SMD 0805 | 100K | Any |
Any |
|
3 |
3 | R78 | 220, ‘SMD 0805 | Resistors | Any | Any |
| 4 | 4 | R81,R83,R84,R8 7,R117,R70,R86 | SMD 0805 | Resistor (not mounted) | Any |
Any |
|
5 |
5 | R88, R119 | 10 K, SMD 0805 | Resistors | Any | Any |
| 6 | 6 | R116 | 47 K, ‘SMD 0805 | Resistor | Any |
Any |
|
1 |
1 | D1 | SMD 0805 | Yellow LED | Dialight |
598-8150-107f |
Formal notices required by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”)
Any changes or modifications to this equipment not expressly approved by STMicroelectronics may cause harmful interference and void the user’s authority to operate this equipment.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including any interference that may cause undesired operation.
This device uses, generates and radiated radio frequency energy. The radio frequency energy produced by this device is well below the maximum exposure allows by Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
The X-NUCLEO-BNRG2A1 contains FCC certified module BlueNRG-M2SP (FCC ID: S9NBNRGM2SP).
Formal notices required by the Industry Canada (“IC”)
This device complies with Industry Canada licence-exempt RSS standard(s). Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.
Documents / Resources
 |
ST UM2667 BlueNRG-M2SP module [pdf] User Manual UM2667, BlueNRG-M2SP module |
