2016 Microchip Technology Inc.
DS50002547A-page 13
RN4870/71 PICtail™/PICtail PLUS
DAUGHTER BOARD USER’S GUIDE
Chapter 1. Overview
1.1
INTRODUCTION
This document describes the hardware and software requirements for the RN4870/71
PICtail™/PICtail Plus board, part numbers: RN-4870-SNSR and RN-4871-PICtail.
The RN4870/71 PICtail™/PICtail Plus Daughter Board enables the designer to
evaluate and demonstrate the capabilities of the RN4870/71 Bluetooth
®
4.2 RF
module.
The RN4870/71 PICtail/PICtail Plus Daughter board include the following key features:
• Integrated configuration and programming interface
• LED and push button bank for prototype user inputs
• MCP2200 USB to UART bridge for plug-and-play connectivity to host
An additional daughter board is included in the RN-4870-SNSR to demonstrate
peripheral access using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).
In addition to RN4870/71 PICtail/PICtail Plus Daughter board hardware, several
smartphone applications are provided to demonstrate Bluetooth data connections to
the on-board RN4870/71 module.
The demonstration apps are available on Apple AppStore
®
and Google Play™ Store
and include:
• SmartDiscover
• SmartData
• BLESensorApp
For more information on the RN487x commands and specifications, refer to the
“ Blue-
tooth
®
4.2 Low Energy Module Data Sheet”
(DS50002489) and the
“ Bluetooth
®
Low
Energy Module User’s Guide”
(DS50002466) available for download from the Micro-
chip product web page at
1.2
RN4870/71 PICtail™/PICtail PLUS DAUGHTER BOARD DESCRIPTION
The RN4870/71 PICtail/PICtail Plus Daughter board provides rapid prototyping and
developing for Bluetooth data applications for Bluetooth Low Energy. It can be powered
via USB host or through the Microchip PICtail Plus interface. The RN4870/71
PICtail/PICtail Plus Daughter board uses the RN4870/71 module, a fully certified Blue-
tooth 4.2 Low Energy module. The RN4870/71 PICtail/PICtail Plus Daughter board pro-
vides a USB-UART converter allowing flexible interface to a host PC, a PC terminal
utility and smartphone apps to drive both BLE serial data connections and custom BLE
services. The RN4870/71 PICtail/PICtail Plus Daughter board also provides Microchip
PICtail and PICtail Plus interfaces to be able to interface with the Microchip PIC
®
micro-
controllers using standard Microchip development tools.