BL653 Click

How does it work?

BL653 Click is based on the BL653, a longer-range Bluetooth LE  module for next-generation industrial IoT from Ezurio. This module, powered by Nordic’s nRF52833 silicon, integrates a powerful Cortex-M4F microcontroller, offering 512kB of flash memory and 128kB of RAM for hostless operation and efficient application processing. With its multi-wireless capabilities (Bluetooth v5.4 and NFC) and modular certifications for FCC, ISED, EU, RCM, MIC, KC, AS/NZS, and Bluetooth SIG, the BL653 Click ensures quick and hassle-free deployment in global markets. It represents the future of wireless Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) connectivity to implement reliable wireless communication in even the harshest operating environments.

This Click board™ provides a wide range of configurable interfaces, including UART, I2C, SPI, USB, and NFC, allowing easy integration into diverse industrial systems. It supports peripheral and central Bluetooth LE roles, enabling data collection, device control, and proximity-sensing applications. Its support for Bluetooth 5.4 features like direction finding (AoA and AoD) and multiple data rates, including 2Mbps, 1Mbps, and 125kbps coded PHY, ensures high-performance communication over long distances. It can be easily programmed using a simple AT command set, Zephyr RTOS, or the Nordic SDK, allowing developers to create event-driven, automated applications or implement custom solutions.

This Click board™ establishes communication between the BL653 module and the host MCU through a UART interface, using standard UART RX and TX pins and hardware flow control via CTS and RTS pins. The default communication speed is set at 115200bps, ensuring efficient data exchange. The host MCU configures communication and other features using high-level AT commands, making it easy to manage without requiring in-depth knowledge of Bluetooth protocol. Additionally, the board includes an SPI interface with a maximum clock speed of 8MHz and an I2C interface with a maximum clock speed of 400kHz.

In addition to the interface pins, the board features a reset (RST) pin for hard resetting the module when necessary and an ARN pin as AutoRUN signal of the BL653 module that selects between the two BL653 operating modes at power-up: self-contained run mode or interactive/development mode. This board also includes a USB Type-C connector for USB 2.0 Full Speed 12Mbps hardware capability, allowing both power supply and configuration via a PC. This functionality is enabled by the CP2102N, a highly integrated USB-to-UART bridge, along with the NCP1117 LDO regulator, which converts the USB supply to the necessary 3.3V for the module.

BL653 Click also includes dedicated pins for NFC support, fully compliant with the NFC Forum specification. This feature operates at 13.56MHz with a data rate of 106kbps, supporting NFC Type 2 and Type 4 tag emulation. It offers multiple modes of operation, including disable, sense, and activated, providing flexibility for integrating advanced NFC functionalities into your applications. Additionally, the board features two user-configurable buttons (BTN1 and BTN2) and two user-configurable LED indicators (a blue LED1 and an orange LED2) for customizable user interaction and status indication. For development and debugging purposes, the Click board™ is equipped with unsoldered pins for an SWD interface, enabling easy access to programming and debugging functionalities.

This Click board™ can be operated only with a 3.3V logic voltage level. The board must perform appropriate logic voltage level conversion before using MCUs with different logic levels. It also comes equipped with a library containing functions and example code that can be used as a reference for further development.

Specifications

Pinout diagram

This table shows how the pinout on BL653 Click corresponds to the pinout on the mikroBUS™ socket (the latter shown in the two middle columns).

Notes	Pin					Pin	Notes
AutoRUN Control	ARN	1	AN	PWM	16	CTS	UART CTS
Reset	RST	2	RST	INT	15	RTS	UART RTS
SPI Select / ID COMM	CS	3	CS	RX	14	TX	UART TX
SPI Clock	SCK	4	SCK	TX	13	RX	UART RX
SPI Data OUT	SDO	5	MISO	SCL	12	SCL	I2C Clock
SPI Data IN	SDI	6	MOSI	SDA	11	SDA	I2C Data
Power Supply	3.3V	7	3.3V	5V	10	NC
Ground	GND	8	GND	GND	9	GND	Ground

Onboard settings and indicators

BL653 Click electrical specifications

Software Support

BL653 Click demo application is developed using the NECTO Studio, ensuring compatibility with mikroSDK‘s open-source libraries and tools. Designed for plug-and-play implementation and testing, the demo is fully compatible with all development, starter, and mikromedia boards featuring a mikroBUS™ socket.

Example Description

This example demonstrates the use of BL653 Click board by processing data from a connected BT device.

Key Functions

• bl653_cfg_setup Config Object Initialization function.
• bl653_init Initialization function.
• bl653_cmd_run This function sends a specified command with or without parameters to the Click module.
• bl653_cmd_set This function sets a value to a specified command parameter of the Click module.
• bl653_cmd_get This function is used to get the value of a given command parameter from the Click module.

Application Init

Initializes the driver and logger.

Application Task

Application task is split in few stages:

• BL653_POWER_UP:

  Powers up the device and reads the system information.

• BL653_CONFIG_EXAMPLE:

  Sets the BT device name.

• BL653_EXAMPLE:

  Performs a BT terminal example by processing all data from a connected BT device and sending back an adequate response messages.

Application Output

This Click board can be interfaced and monitored in two ways:

• Application Output – Use the “Application Output” window in Debug mode for real-time data monitoring. Set it up properly by following this tutorial.
• UART Terminal – Monitor data via the UART Terminal using a USB to UART converter. For detailed instructions, check out this tutorial.

Additional Notes and Information

The complete application code and a ready-to-use project are available through the NECTO Studio Package Manager for direct installation in the NECTO Studio. The application code can also be found on the MIKROE GitHub account.