STMicroelectronics STEVAL-IDB006V1M

Overview

STEVAL-IDB006V1M from STMicroelectronics is a Bluetooth® Low Energy USB dongle evaluation board based on the ETSI/FCC/IC-certified SPBTLE-RF module (BlueNRG-MS IC), featuring integrated BALF-NRG-01D3 balun and chip antenna, ARM® Cortex-M3™ STM32L151CBU6 microcontroller, USB 2.0 interface, and SWD debug connector. It supports BLE 4.1 dual-role operation (master/slave) for PC-based prototyping.

For engineers reviewing the STEVAL-IDB006V1M datasheet, STEVAL-IDB006V1M pinout, STEVAL-IDB006V1M application, or STEVAL-IDB006V1M equivalent, this board enables rapid firmware development, GUI-driven BLE device testing, USB-hosted protocol validation, and BlueNRG-MS module integration verification with on-board power management and GPIO expansion.

Technical Context

The board implements a host-side BLE adapter architecture where the STM32L151CBU6 manages USB CDC communication, SPI control of the BlueNRG-MS module (SPBTLE-RF), and firmware updates via SWD. The SPBTLE-RF operates at 2.4 GHz ISM band with integrated RF front-end and chip antenna.

Power delivery includes LDS3985PU33R LDO (3.3 V @ 300 mA), USB 5 V input conditioning, and dedicated RF module supply rail (RF_MODULE_VDD). Signal routing uses dedicated SPI lines (SPI2_MOSI/MISO/CLK/CS), IRQ lines (IRQ0–IRQ3_SPxx), and reset control (RESETN_SDN).

Key Specifications

Availability

STEVAL-IDB006V1M is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for BLE protocol validation, embedded firmware development, and PC-to-peripheral connectivity testing requiring stable component supply and certified RF performance.

Supply support for STEVAL-IDB006V1M 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, analog ICs, MEMS, and power devices for industrial, automotive, and consumer applications.

This board belongs to ST's STEVAL (ST Evaluation) product line, engineered to accelerate Bluetooth Low Energy system development by providing pre-certified RF hardware, reference firmware, and PC GUI tools aligned with BlueNRG-MS ecosystem requirements.

FAQ

Does STEVAL-IDB006V1M require external antennas or RF tuning?

No. The SPBTLE-RF module integrates the BALF-NRG-01D3 balun and a calibrated chip antenna, enabling out-of-box 2.4 GHz operation without external RF components or matching network adjustments. FCC/ETSI/IC certification covers the complete board-level RF performance.

Can the onboard STM32L151CBU6 be reprogrammed with custom firmware?

Yes. The SWD debug connector (J3) provides full access to the STM32L151CBU6's programming and debugging interfaces. Users can load custom USB-CDC or SPI bridge firmware using STM32CubeIDE or ST-Link utilities without modifying hardware.

What software tools are supported for STEVAL-IDB006V1M?

ST provides the BlueNRG GUI (Windows), STSW-BLEGUI, and associated firmware packages compatible with this dongle. It also supports integration with ST's BlueNRG SDK, STM32CubeMX, and third-party BLE analysis tools via standard HCI-over-USB transport layer.

Is the USB interface isolated or galvanically separated from the RF module?

No. The USB interface shares ground and power domains with the STM32L and SPBTLE-RF subsystems. There is no galvanic isolation; the design follows standard USB-powered evaluation board practice with shared VDD/GND planes and LDO-regulated rails.