Start Bluetooth Low Energy Smartphone App Development In Minutes

TI has integrated six sensors in the kit to enable countless applications such as health and fitness, educational tools, toys and remote controls, and mobile phone accessories that can be controlled by a consumer's smartphone, tablet or laptop.



Development is quick and simple. Developers unpack the SensorTag, download the free app to a smartphone, select a sample application, and demo an app in minutes using the SensorTag's sensors. This gives developers a viable starting point to making a smartphone appcessory prototype quickly using the CC2541 Bluetooth low energy system-on-chip. The CC2541 is supported by TI's royalty-free BLE-Stack software, technical documents, reference designs and the TI E2E connectivity support community. An appcessory is a gadget that uses smartphone apps for control and monitoring. See the SensorTag and appcessory examples in action in this SensorTag video.



For manufacturers, Bluetooth low energy enables a very simple and efficient way of connecting their application to the cloud through a smartphone, tablet or laptop. The SensorTag kit allows manufacturers to quickly and easily evaluate the benefits of adding Bluetooth low energy to their device or build new applications, said Oyvind Birkenes, general manager, Wireless Connectivity Solutions, TI.



SensorTag kit and app details



The SensorTag kit is currently aimed at iOS-based applications. The iOS SensorTag App used in the evaluation process can be downloaded for free here. TI plans to provide SensorTag Apps and support for Android and Windows 8 as more Bluetooth low energy-enabled devices roll-out.



The SensorTag integrates six MEMS sensors from third parties including InvenSense (gyroscope), Kionix (accelerometer), Sensirion (humidity and temperature), TDK (barometer) as well as a magnetometer and TI's IR temperature sensor (TMP006). Additionally, several application developers have used the SensorTag to already deliver appcessories to market including Ace Sensor and Byte Works.



The CC2541-based SensorTag kit complements TI's Bluetooth offering as TI's dual-mode Bluetooth solutions including the CC2564 Bluetooth v4.0 dual-mode QFN device, BlueLink 7.0, WiLink 6.0, WiLink 7.0, and WiLink 8.0 solutions.



Availability and price



The SensorTag kit (CC2541DK-SENSOR) costs $25 and is available now on the TI eStore and from authorized distributors. The SensorTag will be demonstrated at electronica 2012 in Messe Munchen, Munich, Germany, in the TI booth 420 in Hall A4.



Vincent Hess, product manager, Sensirion:

Sensirion's integrated relative humidity and temperature sensor on TI's Bluetooth low energy SensorTag is a perfect contribution to meet the customer needs for personal health, a comfortable environment and energy efficiency. TI and Sensirion are enabling a wide range of applications such as in consumer products and gadgets, smart home applications, logistics and industrial solutions. The easy integration with TI products via digital I2C interface, the low power consumption and small size makes it a perfect match to TI Bluetooth technologies.



Armin Schober, VP of the MEMS business unit, TDK:

We are pleased to contribute our EPCOS T5400 digital pressure sensor to TI's Bluetooth low energy SensorTag. The T5400 is the smallest digital barometric pressure sensor on the market, and we developed it specifically for the needs of mobile devices and their accessories. The T5400 enriches apps in the fitness and outdoor domain, for example, heart rate monitors, running shoes or bicycle computers combined with an altimeter to track altitude changes. T5400 also improves indoor navigation without an available GPS signal.