Blend
The Blend (Arduino form factor) and the Blend Micro are two Arduino compatible development boards with BLE support (Atmega32u4 + nRF8001). The Blend is actually a 'BLE + Leonardo' board (Leonardo is an Arduino board).
This add-on boared support package is to add support to the Arduino IDE for these boards.
- Tested and support Arduino IDE version 1.6.7.
Unless you know how to do with this reporsitory, otherwise please use Boards Manager to install this support package.
Installation
Step 1 - Install the Blend boards to Arduino IDE:
Install using Arduino IDE (version 1.6.7) Boards Manager, follow this document:
https://github.com/RedBearLab/Blend/blob/master/Docs/BoardsManager.pdf
Step 2 - Install BLE libraries:
Install using Arduino IDE Library Manager, follow this document:
https://github.com/RedBearLab/Blend/blob/master/Docs/LibraryManager.pdf
The Blend boards can be used as a standalone Arduino board without BLE. If you use BLE function, you need to use two libraries.
1: Install Nordic nRF8001 SDK from the Arduino Library Manager
It provides a lot of BLE examples/tutorials includes how to create your own services and characteristics.
2: Install RBL nRF8001 Library from the Arduino Library Manager
- This library requires Nordic’s to work and provides a simple service and some APIs for easy to use with RBL examples and App. It is easy to use if you just want to exchange data between the board and iPhone or other BLE Central devices.
*** For Linux (e.g. Ubuntu 14.04) users: ModemManager will try to use the Blend Micro as a modem and this causes the upload process fail using Arduino IDE. To allow Arduino IDE to upload correctly, you need to fix it by modify the UDEV rule, write a simple UDEV rule to ignore it from being handled by modem manager.
In "/etc/udev/rules.d/77-mm-usb-device-blacklist.rules", simply add this single line:
ATTR{idVendor}=="03eb", ENV{ID_MM_DEVICE_IGNORE}="1"
3: Another very useful library you can use which allows to define services and characteristics in code without using Nordic's nRFgo Studio.
Driver
The board contains an USB port, which allows you to load compiled sketches on to the board, the USB will act as a USB CDC (virtual COM) port and it requires driver to work.
Download the signed driver (RBL_Windows_Driver_Installer.zip) for Windows (includes up to Windows 8 PC)
Installation
Do not connect the Blend board to any USB port before the device driver is installed. To install, unzip the file, run the .exe and follow the instructions. After that, connect your Blend board to one of USB ports.
For Mac OSX and Linux, no driver is required.
Fritzing
Blend Micro
Fritzing file for the Blend Micro
Credits
- @sandeepmistry provides another useful library for the Blend boards.
- @makenai made a Fritzing file for the Blend Micro.
Troubleshooting
Recovery Procedure for Blend Micro sketch upload failing
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Open the Blink sketch
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Reset the board, it will enter to bootloader mode for 8 seconds (the LED - L will be flashing).
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During this 8-second period, select the COM port of the board in the Arduino IDE (Menu -> Tools -> Serial Port)
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Press "Compile and Upload" and then press the reset button on the board again, it should be able to load the sketch and fix the issue.
Potential reasons for sketch upload failure
- Fail to upload a complete sketch last time. (e.g. uploading and suddenly removing power source, then the board's USB will not work since the firmware inside the board is invalid)
If you have any issue with install Arduino libraries, please read this:
https://github.com/arduino/Arduino/wiki/Library-Manager-FAQ
Resources
-
Thanks @makenai, made a Fritzing file for the Blend Micro.
Other Tutorials
https://lilyhack.wordpress.com/2014/02/03/ble-read-write-arduino-raspberry-pi/
License
Copyright (c) 2014-2016 RedBearLab
Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.