Cloud2GND and Ezurio (formerly Laird Connectivity) have announced the Aurawave AW100 series modules designed to simplify the development of Auracast and Bluetooth LE Audio products.
Aurawave AW100PA modules are built on Ezurio’s BL5340PA and BL5340 modules powered by a Nordic nRF5340 wireless SoC, but the BL5340PA variant adds an nRF21540 RF front-end module to extend range and improve connection robustness. The module also integrates an AKM AK4558 audio codec chip with a good signal-to-noise ratio and low total harmonic distortion (THD).
Aurawave AW100 specifications:
- Wireless module – Ezurio BL5340PA Series Module
- SoC – Nordic Semi nRF5340
- Dual-core CPU
- Arm Cortex-M33 application processor @ 128MHz with 1 MB Flash & 512 KB RAM
- Arm Cortex-M33 network processor @ 64 MHz with 256 KB Flash & 64 KB RAM
- Wireless – Bluetooth 5.4 LE (Bluetooth LE 6.0 ready), Bluetooth mesh, NFC, Thread, Zigbee, 802.15.4, ANT, and 2.4 GHz proprietary (note: only BLE 5.4 is used by the module)
- Dual-core CPU
- FEM – Nordic nRF21540 Front End Module
- Internal Antenna
- SoC – Nordic Semi nRF5340
- Storage – 32MBit QSPI Flash
- Audio
- Codec – AKM AK4558 digital sigma-delta 32-bit codec
- 108dB Dynamic Range S/N DAC
- 100dB S/(N+D) DAC
- 108dB Dynamic Range S/N ADC
- 92dB S/(N+D) ADC
- Analog I/Os
- 3.5mm TRS stereo Line input
- 3.5mm TRS stereo Line output
- I2S + Line In/Out on 40-pin header
- Audio paths
- nRF5340 I2S Controller –> AK4558EN I2S Target –> Line Out
- Header I2S Controller –> BL5340 I2S Target –> LE Audio
- Line In –> AK4558EN I2S Controller –> BL5340I2S Target -> LE Audio
- BLE audio range up to 250 meters
- Codec – AKM AK4558 digital sigma-delta 32-bit codec
- USB – USB-C connector for power, audio, and AT control
- Expansion – 40-pin header (2×20 2.54mm pitch)
- Audio – I2S In/Out, Line Audio In/Out, PDM multiplexed with GPIO pins
- USB
- I2C, SPI, 2x UART
- 5x GPIO
- +5V and GND
- Debugging – SWD programming interface
- Misc
- Push-button control
- 2-color Green/Blue LED
- Supply Voltage – 5V DC
- Dimensions – 65 x 32mm (6-layer PCB)
- Temperature Range – -20°C to +70°C
The module can be used in Standalone mode using AT commands over USB serial port for the initial configuration, USB-C power, and broadcast analog or digital audio through, respectively, a 3.5mm jack or devices with USB Audio class drivers. Alternatively, the AW100 module can be connected to a host through its 40-pin GPIO header, I/O pins, or USB power, and AT control via UART/GPIO or USB. In that case, audio over I2S, USB, or line-level analog is supported through the 40-pin header.
It’s not the first nRF5340-based Bluetooth LE audio kit we’ve covered, but the main benefit here is that you could integrate the ezurio BL5340PA or BL5340 module into your own design after you’re done with the kit.
Resources for the AuraWave AW100 module, including product brief, datasheet, firmware, AT command set documentation, technical drawing, and more, can be found on the product page on the Ezurio website, where you can also purchase the Aurawave AW100 module/kit for $199. A few more details may also be found in the press release.
Thanks to TLS for the tip.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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