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Altera_Forum's avatar
Altera_Forum
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10 years ago

Implementation of Bluetooth in FPGA (DE2-115)

Hi everyone! I'm a newbie in using FPGA. Currently I'm using Terasic VEEK-MT which features DE2-115 development board. And I'm using the VEEK-MT hardware demo code and build my software on top of that.

I would like to receive data sending from Arduino(using BlueBee). However, I have no idea on how to receive the data in FPGA using bluetooth.

I would like to ask what will be a good choice to implement this?

I have been thinking of using a Bluetooth to RS-232 port adapter to receive the data.

Is it possible? and how can I achieve this?

Thanks a lot for your help!!

6 Replies

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    10 years ago

    Here is one option.

    Inside FPGA you can connect RS-232 to RS-232 IP core, Nios processor, and run Linux with a Bluetooth driver on it.
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    10 years ago

    Yes you can connect a bt-uart module and use it with nios and altera_rs232 module. Double check pin and voltage before connect module to fpga

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    10 years ago

    You are going to need voltage level converters to connect Arduino compatible hardware to an FPGA board. These are available cheap from Sparkfun, Adafruit etc.

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    10 years ago

    --- Quote Start ---

    Here is one option.

    Inside FPGA you can connect RS-232 to RS-232 IP core, Nios processor, and run Linux with a Bluetooth driver on it.

    --- Quote End ---

    Hi Sir, but currently I'm using uC/OS-ii for my project and I think it is not compatible with Linux. I guess it is hard for me to change from uC/OS-ii to uClinux.

    Is there any other Bluetooth driver available that are compatible with it? or do any other Bluetooth driver can be implemented regardless or OS/kernel?

    Thanks and Regards,

    Wong
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    10 years ago

    With a serial Bluetooth module, you are not actually "implementing Bluetooth in FPGA", just exposing an UART port. The module can be preconfigured to perform transparent serial communication, no specific protocol handling required.

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    10 years ago

    --- Quote Start ---

    With a serial Bluetooth module, you are not actually "implementing Bluetooth in FPGA", just exposing an UART port. The module can be preconfigured to perform transparent serial communication, no specific protocol handling required.

    --- Quote End ---

    Thanks FvM, I just started to learn FPGA for few weeks, after some studies only I realised it can be done by simply exposing an UART port.

    However, besides receiving data from Arduino, I also need to send the processed data/result in text file format (stored in SD card in DE2-115) to Android phone. I have done some research, and it seems that a file transfer protocol (FTP) is needed to transfer a file.

    Is there any available FTP for reference? I have no idea on how can I transfer a .txt file to Android phone.

    Thanks for the help. :-)