Bluetooth communication with blink board

Introduction

Wireless communication plays a key role in enabling devices to interact seamlessly. One of the most accessible and widely used wireless technologies is Bluetooth. In this blog post, we’ll show you how to leverage the Bluetooth capabilities of the Blink Board to communicate with another Bluetooth-enabled device, such as a smartphone. This simple yet powerful communication setup allows for two-way data exchange, with real-time feedback available both through a serial monitor and a Bluetooth terminal.

By the end of this tutorial, you’ll have set up your Blink Board to send and receive data wirelessly, providing valuable feedback on both the serial monitor and the Bluetooth terminal app on your smartphone.

Objectives

• Enable Bluetooth communication between the Blink Board and a smartphone or tablet.
• Display received data on the Arduino serial monitor to help with debugging and data tracking.
• Send feedback messages from the Blink Board back to the connected device, confirming successful communication.

Hardware Requirements

• Blink Board – The core of this project, featuring built-in Bluetooth communication capabilities.
• 12V/24V Power Supply – This will power the Blink Board. Make sure you’re using an appropriate supply for your setup.
• FTDI (USB-to-Serial Adapter) – This is required for programming and debugging the Blink Board.
• Bluetooth Terminal App – A smartphone app that facilitates Bluetooth communication with the Blink Board. We recommend using a Serial Terminal App (look for the app with the familiar terminal logo).

How It Works

Overview of Bluetooth Communication

Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard that allows devices to exchange data over short distances. The Blink Board uses its built-in Bluetooth module to communicate with another Bluetooth-enabled device. This enables real-time monitoring, control, and data exchange.

Key Features of Bluetooth Communication

• Two-Way Data Exchange: The Blink Board can both send and receive data.
• Real-Time Feedback: Data is displayed on the serial monitor and the Bluetooth terminal app.
• User Commands: Users can send specific commands to the Blink Board to control connected devices or request data.

Circuit Diagram

CONNECTING THE 20 BY 4 I2C LCD TO BLINK BOARD

Setting Up the Bluetooth Terminal App

Before diving into the code, you’ll need to install a Bluetooth Terminal App on your smartphone. Here’s how to set it up:

1. Install the Bluetooth Terminal app from your app store.
2. Open the app and pair it with the Bluetooth module on the Blink Board(the name should match the one you set up in your code).
3. Once the connection is established, you can start sending and receiving messages between the Blink Board and your phone.

The app will act as a virtual terminal, allowing you to communicate directly with the Blink Board via Bluetooth.

As we’ve shown in this basic Bluetooth setup, you can use Bluetooth to send simple data, but the possibilities extend far beyond that. For example, imagine using Bluetooth to control the on/off state of an appliance or device through your Blink Board.

There are also plenty of ways you can extend this project:

• Adding Sensors: Connect sensors to your Blink Board and send real-time data (e.g., temperature, humidity, or motion) to the smartphone via Bluetooth.
• Multiple Device Communication: Experiment with multiple Bluetooth devices communicating with the Blink Board at the same time.
• User Interface: Build a custom user interface in the Bluetooth Terminal app to send and receive more complex data or commands.

With Bluetooth, the possibilities are endless, and now you have the foundation to explore even more exciting projects!