WICED Bluetooth SMART Development

Cypress Semiconductor's BCM9WICED_SENSE2

With the acquisition of Broadcom’s IoT business, Cypress Semiconductor has become one of the leaders in IoT and embedded systems. This is fortunate for IoT developers because it opens more avenues for WICED technology. WICED (pronounced “wik-id”) is an acronym for Wireless Internet Connectivity for Embedded Devices. According to the Cypress IoT website WICED eliminates the complexity of adding wireless capabilities to an application and streamlines adding cloud services, which, in turn, allows customers to focus on product development.

WICED SDK and EVK

The WICED SDK is pre-integrated, pre-tested and continuously updated. The SDK integrates world leading IoT cloud platforms with licensed ecosystem libraries. Additionally, WICED APIs and drivers coupled with proven production ready stacks for networking and security (among others) makes wireless connectivity simple. Within the WICED SDK is a family of small pin compatible modules called the WICED SMART family focusing entirely on Bluetooth Smart. The Cypress WICED SMART Evaluation Kit, part number BCM9WICED_SENSE2, provides a smooth out-of-box development experience.

This kit includes the BCM20737L Bluetooth Low Energy SoC, as well as four sensors from STMicroelectronics which allow for development, debug, and display of data in real time with the WICED SENSE application on your smartphone. Sensors included in the device are a gyroscope/accelerometer, eCompass, pressure and humidity/temperature. No external microprocessor is required as the BCM20737L connects directly to the sensors. The SCM9WICED_SENSE2features on-board a USB-UART bridge for simplified Host Controller Interface (HCI) through a PC terminal, along with EEPROM and serial Flash programmed by the SDK for custom application firmware development. This is all powered via USB (+5V) or a CR2032 coin cell battery.

Development Partners

Since WICED is an easy way for designers to get in to developing for IoT, Cypress has licensed this technology to many module and development kit manufacturers. Partners include Inventek Systems, Laird – Embedded Wireless Solutions, Murata, Particle, Zentri, and more.

WICED Modules & Development Kit Partners

Cypress Portfolio

Alongside the WICED SMART Evaluation Kit, Cypress offers a solar-powered BLE Beacon Reference Design Kit (RDK). The CYALKIT-E02 helps designers develop tiny solar-powered IoT devices with BLE connectivity. The Sensor board itself is about the size of a quarter and operates with just solar energy which Cypress states is managed by the S6AE103 PMIC. Packaged in the RDK is the BLE-USB Bridge and Debug Board. Cypress has a BLE-Beacon app that is used to receive and visualize sensor data or beacon signals that are transmitted by the sensor. The app is available for iOS, Android and PC.

Conclusion

Cypress Semiconductor’s WICED SDK and ecosystem makes adding wireless to your IoT device easy. When utilized with partners who produce quality development boards, your IoT design can get to market more quickly.

References:

1 – http://www.cypress.com/internet-things-iot

2 – http://www.cypress.com/documentation/development-kitsboards/cyalkit-e02-solar-powered-ble-sensor-beacon-reference-design

3 – https://community.cypress.com/welcome

4 – https://community.cypress.com/community/wiced-smart