STMicroelectronics AEK-COM-BLEV1

Overview

AEK-COM-BLEV1 from STMicroelectronics is an evaluation board based on the BlueNRG-1 Bluetooth® Low Energy system-on-chip, configured as a pre-programmed network processor with +8 dBm RF output power, -88 dBm receiver sensitivity, and 7.7 mA RX / 8.2 mA TX current draw. It supports master, slave, and simultaneous dual-role operation and integrates the BALF-NRG-02D3 balun for 50 Ω conjugate matching and harmonic filtering, targeting BLE connectivity in industrial sensor nodes.

For engineers reviewing the AEK-COM-BLEV1 datasheet, AEK-COM-BLEV1 pinout, AEK-COM-BLEV1 application, or AEK-COM-BLEV1 equivalent, this board serves as a ready-to-use SPI/I²C/UART interface platform for rapid BLE protocol validation, firmware development using DTM_UART.hex, and interoperability testing with host MCUs like the AEK-MCU-C4MLIT1.

Technical Context

The board implements the BlueNRG-1 SoC as a standalone network processor, decoupling BLE stack execution from host MCU resources. It features dedicated JTAG (SWD) debug interface, three user-controllable LEDs (red, green, blue), and dual-header connectivity (12-pin and 9-pin male) for flexible host interface selection across SPI, I²C, or UART.

Power delivery includes LDS3985PU33R LDO generating 3.3 V (VBLUE), SMPS filtering on VDD1V2, and multiple bypass capacitors (1 µF, 100 nF, 2.2 µF) per supply rail. The integrated BALF-NRG-02D3 balun enables direct SMA antenna connection with harmonics suppression compliant to ETSI EN 300 328.

Key Specifications

Availability

AEK-COM-BLEV1 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for factory automation gateways, BLE-enabled mobility service terminals, and industrial wireless sensor networks requiring stable component supply and validated RF performance.

Supply support for AEK-COM-BLEV1 includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

STMicroelectronics is a global semiconductor leader headquartered in Geneva, designing and manufacturing microcontrollers, sensors, power ICs, and wireless SoCs for industrial, automotive, and consumer applications.

The AEK-COM-BLEV1 belongs to ST's AutoDevKit™ initiative - a family of automotive-grade evaluation boards built to accelerate prototyping of functional-safety-aware, interoperable subsystems using standardized mechanical and electrical interfaces.

FAQ

Does AEK-COM-BLEV1 require external programming to operate as a BLE network processor?

No. The BlueNRG-1 SoC ships pre-programmed with DTM_UART.hex firmware, enabling immediate Bluetooth Direct Test Mode operation over UART. Users can send HCI commands directly without flashing new code unless custom application logic is needed.

What antenna types are supported by the SMA connector on AEK-COM-BLEV1?

The SMA connector supports 50 Ω impedance-matched antennas only, including PCB traces, chip antennas, or external dipoles. The integrated BALF-NRG-02D3 balun provides conjugate matching and harmonic filtering - no additional matching network is required for standard 2.4 GHz antennas.

Can AEK-COM-BLEV1 communicate with non-ST microcontrollers?

Yes. Its 12-pin and 9-pin headers expose SPI, I²C, and UART signals at 3.3 V logic levels, compatible with any host MCU supporting those protocols - including ARM Cortex-M, ESP32, PIC, and RISC-V devices - provided proper signal timing and voltage alignment are maintained.

Is the STSW-AEKBLE firmware source code available for modification?

STSW-AEKBLE is provided as compiled binary firmware for demonstration purposes only. Full source code is not publicly distributed; however, ST's BlueNRG SDK (v2.x+) contains complete BLE stack source, example projects, and HAL drivers that developers may use to build custom firmware for the BlueNRG-1 SoC on this board.