Bluetooth® Modules That Simply Work
with iPhone®, iPad®, and iPod® Devices
Summary
Microchip’s Bluetooth APL modules natively support iAP
(iPod Accessory Protocol) data connections and directly
manage authentication, reducing engineering effort and
cost, and simplifying accessory product design.
Apple® iOS devices such as the iPhone freely connect via
the Bluetooth hands-free and headset profiles. However,
establishing Bluetooth data connections with an iPhone,
iPad or iPod requires a specific discovery class and
authentication. Every Bluetooth accessory must have an
Apple authentication co-processor.
APL modules are based on the standard RN41-I/RM
and RN42-I/RM, making them footprint compatible.
Power, ground and UART connections are identical, and
connection of the Apple authentication IC is direct to the
module via a 2-wire interface. The Apple authentication
IC is not part of the module. Customer must join and
purchase authentication ICs through the MFi program.
Features
■Discoverable/Connectable with iPhone, iPod or iPad
■Dual profile allows Bluetooth connections to other
smartphone or computing platforms
■Automatically stores Bluetooth address of the last
paired device, for quick reconnection
■Secure Simple Pairing (SSP) enables ‘no PIN code
required’ operation
■Supports complete Microchip Bluetooth feature set
■Direct hardware connection to the
authentication co-processor
■Authentication without iAP firmware development
Development Tools
RN-4x-APL-EVAL Evaluation Kits Include:
■RN-4x-APLX development board which contains:
• RN4xAPL-I/RM module
• Apple authentication co-processor
• Status LEDs
• Power regulation
• RS232 and TTL signals
■Four RN4xAPL-I/RM modules
■Complete design documents including schematics
■Source code for the Microchip Diagnostic Application
Product Selector
Module Class Typ. Range Development Kit
RN41APL-I/RM Class 1 ~100m RN-41-APL-EVAL*
RN42APL-I/RM Class 2 ~30m RN-42-APL-EVAL*
*MFi membership is required to purchase the development kit of modules. Please check with your
Microchip Sales representative for availability: www.microchip.com/sales .
RN-41-APL-EVAL RN-42-APL-EVAL
