UG164: ThunderBoard-React
(RD-0057-0201) User's Guide
The ThunderBoard-React is a cloud-connected, Bluetooth
®
Smart-enabled, sensor-driven platform that enables customers to
demo, evaluate, and develop their own unique applications.
It leverages Silicon Labs’ BGM111 Bluetooth Smart module as a wireless system-on-a-
chip (SoC) to collect to various sensor data and deliver it to the cloud through Bluetooth
Low Energy (BLE)-enabled iOS/Android mobile apps. This document provides an over-
view of the kit including hardware, software application, cloud platform and mobile app.
It also contains instructions and guidelines to evaluate the simplicity of adding Blue-
tooth to your project to connect to the cloud.
KEY POINTS
• Low-cost, Bluetooth Smart solution that
collects and delivers data to the cloud
• Hardware includes BGM111 Bluetooth
Smart module linked to sensor inputs
• ThunderBoard React connects to BLE-
enabled iOS/Android mobile apps
• Apps connect to a cloud-based multi-client,
real-time synchronization database
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UG164: ThunderBoard-React (RD-0057-0201) User's Guide
Introduction
1. Introduction
ThunderBoard-React is a low-cost, BLE solution that collects and delivers data to the cloud.
Figure 1.1. System Application Diagram
The ThunderBoard-React is a great demonstration and evaluation tool to easily add BLE connectivity to a sensor or actuator applica-
tion. The mobile app seamlessly communicates between the ThunderBoard and the cloud database to visualize sensor data collected
or control the LED states on the ThunderBoard-React hardware. Individual components of the ThunderBoard-React can be easily inte-
grated and modified in order to add BLE-to-cloud connectivity for a user’s particular application.
All instructions, collateral and source files for this solution can be found here:
http://www.silabs.com/thunderboardreact.
Figure 1.2. ThunderBoard-React
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UG164: ThunderBoard-React (RD-0057-0201) User's Guide
Quick Start
2. Quick Start
This section describes how to quickly start using the ThunderBoard-React with its mobile apps and cloud database. For detailed in-
structions, refer to Section
4. Operation.
1. Download the mobile app
a. Links to the iOS and Android mobile app can be found here:
http://www.silabs.com/thunderboardreact
2. Supply power to the Thunderboard-React
a. Insert the CR2032 battery into the battery holder ensuring the (+) are properly oriented.
b. Set SW3 switch where its toggle is closest to Vbat.
3. Connect the ThunderBoard-React to the mobile app.
a. Launch the mobile app on the phone, ensuring the phone’s Bluetooth radio is enabled.
b. On the ThunderBoard-React, press the SW-0 button. The blue LED (LED-B) should blink to indicate it is sending a BLE bea-
con.
c. Locate the device on the app which should display “ThunderBoard-React #nnnnn”.
d. Click on the device in the mobile app to connect to it.
e. A successful pair is known if the mobile app displays available demos. On the hardware, the blue LED should stop flashing
and the green LED should flash once.
4. Select the demo.
a. For this quick start, select the I/O demo.
b. Once the demo is activated, it will take you to the demonstration screen.
5. Use the demo.
a. Press the SW-0 and SW-1 on the ThunderBoard-React and witness on the mobile app its visual response along the top area
of the phone screen.
b. On the mobile app itself, press the two buttons in the middle and witness on the ThunderBoard-React that its blue LED (LED-
B) and green LED (LED-G) are statically illuminated.
c. Pressing both buttons again on the mobile app to extinguish the LEDs.
6. Stream to the Cloud.
a. Ensure the mobile phone has the ability to connect to the internet either through Wi-Fi or a cellular connection for this portion
of the demonstration.
b. While in the I/O demo, along the top portion of the screen, drag over the toggle switch to activate the cloud streaming mode.
c. Data is now being sent from ThunderBoard-React to the mobile app which is then streaming the data into the internet to a
cloud database.
d. To see the live stream select the share icon (up arrow in an open box) next to the toggle switch on the mobile app and then
select the phone’s mobile browser. This will launch the browser and place the mobile app in the background still streaming
data to the cloud.
e. In the browser witness the switch and LED data is being shown.
f. While still connected, press on the buttons on the ThunderBoard-React and witness the resultant change in states on the
cloud.
7. Share the Cloud stream session.
a. While streaming, the mobile app can send an email using the mobile phone’s email client.
b. Send an email to another device client (such as a laptop or another mobile phone with a web browser).
c. Launch off the emailed link and witness the simultaneous cloud session being displayed on this device while the original
phone is connected to the ThunderBoard-React. The cloud platform supports provides real-time data synchronization across
multiple clients.
8. End the cloud stream.
a. Method 1: return to the mobile app and move the upper toggle switch to disable the cloud stream session.
b. Method 2: back out of the I/O demonstration until reaching the looking for devices page on the mobile app.
c. Method 3: power off the ThunderBoard-React by moving the SW3 toggle switch to Vext.
9. Turn off the device:
a. On the ThunderBoard-React, move SW3 toggle switch to where it is nearest Vext.
10. Review the cloud session:
a. If emailed, this provided link will display the resultant summary of the cloud streaming session.
b. This link will be available for 30 days.
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UG164: ThunderBoard-React (RD-0057-0201) User's Guide
Overview
3. Overview
The ThunderBoard-React solution provides:
• A low-cost, Bluetooth-enabled sensor platform
• Open-source, native mobile apps
• A cloud database that supports multiple clients
This solution allows customers to demo, evaluate, and develop their own unique applications.
3.1 Part Number
The part number convention is RD-XXX-YYYY, where:
RD Reference Design
XXXX Reference Design Number
YYYY Reference Design Component
This document will use the reference design number (RD-XXXX) when describing the complete design, and the reference design com-
ponent (RD-XXXX-YYYY) when describing a specific component.
The following table provides a description and PCB marking for each part number.
Note: Some cases lack sufficient space on the PCB, and an internal “IST” marking appears on the PCB instead of the “RD” part num-
ber.
Table 3.1. Part Numbers and Description
Part Number
RD-0057-0201
RD-0057-0101
PCB Marking
N/A
IST-A0057 Rev 2.0
Description
ThunderBoard-React Bluetooth Sensor Reference Design Kit with BGM111, Si7021,
Si7201 and Si1133.
ThunderBoard-React Bluetooth Sensor Evaluation Board with BGM111, Si7021,
Si7201 and Si1133.
3.2 Reference Design Kit
Kit Contents:
• ThunderBoard-React hardware reference design
• Standex / Meder M13 magnet enclosed in plastics with screw holes
• Quick start card to obtain the latest reference design collateral
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UG164: ThunderBoard-React (RD-0057-0201) User's Guide
Overview
3.3 Hardware Features
The ThunderBoard React hardware platform contains the following features:
• Silicon Labs Blue Gecko
BGM111
Bluetooth® Smart Module
• 32-bit ARM® Cortex-M4 CPU
• 256 KB Flash
• 32 KB RAM
• TX power: up to +8 dBm
• RX sensitivity down to -93 dBm
• Silicon Labs
Si7021
relative humidity and temperature sensor
• Temperature sensor accuracy: ±0.4 oC
• Humidity sensor accuracy: ±3% RH
• I2C interface
• Silicon Labs
Si1133
ambient light and UV sensor
• Ambient light sensor range: 1 to 128 kilo lux
• UV index sensor range: 1 to 11
• I2C interface
• Silicon Labs Si7201 omni-polar, hall-effect sensor
• Operating point: 30 Gauss max
• Release point: 10 Gauss min
• Push-pull output
• Invensense
MPU-6500
6-axis motion sensor
• 3-axis accelerometer
• 3-axis gyroscope
• I2C interface
• Two momentary buttons (SW-0, SW-1)
• Blue and green LEDs (LED-B, LED-G)
• 10-pin 0.050”, 1.27 mm mini-simplicity debug connector
• PCB footprint for up to 8Mb external flash device
• Break-out pin pads to connect to BGM111 GPIOs
• CR2032 coin cell battery slot
Figure 3.1. ThunderBoard-React Hardware Diagram
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