Dual-mode Bluetooth low energy and 2.4GHz support

Nordic Semiconductor (CEO Choi Soo-chul, Korea) announces that LG Electronics has selected Nordic Semiconductor's award-winning nRF51822 multiprotocol capable System-on-Chip (SoC) to launch the MEB-300 dual-mode optical mouse, which supports both Bluetooth low energy (formerly Bluetooth Smart) and proprietary 2.4GHz operation.

LG Electronics' MEB-300 mouse, which employs Nordic's multi-protocol ULP (Ultra Low Power) wireless technology, is interoperable with not only existing PCs that are not compatible with Bluetooth 4.1 (or later), but also Windows PCs, tablets, and smartphones that support the latest version of the Bluetooth standard. (Bluetooth Low Energy became a key element of the Bluetooth core specification with the release of Bluetooth 4.0.)

When using the MEB-300 mouse on a conventional PC, the nRF51822 SoC's 2.4GHz dedicated RF protocol is applied, and connection is made by plugging Nordic's nRF24LU1+ 2.4GHz USB dongle into the PC's USB port. When pairing with Bluetooth 4.1 or higher versions, compatibility with the device is possible without additional hardware.

If you are pairing the LG MEB-300 mouse with a Bluetooth 4.1 (or higher) device for the first time, press and hold the sliding mode switch button on the back of the mouse to the left for 2 seconds to initiate pairing. After pairing, the slide button can be automatically paired by simply moving it to the left.

To operate the mouse with the USB dongle, simply slide the mode switch button to the right. Dual-mode operation allows consumers to seamlessly switch between non-Bluetooth 4.1-compatible devices and Bluetooth 4.1 (or later)-enabled PCs. Furthermore, consumers can continue using the MEB-300 on their existing PCs even after upgrading to a newer model.

The LG MEB-300 mouse features a uniquely designed "beetle-style" sliding cover for enhanced comfort and a slim, portable design. Featuring three buttons (left, right, and a scroll wheel), the mouse comes in a two-tone color palette and runs on two AAA batteries, extending battery life thanks to the nRF51822 SoC's ULP operation characteristics.

Nordic's nRF51822 SoC is a powerful and flexible multiprotocol SoC ideal for ultra-low-power Bluetooth low energy and dedicated 2.4GHz wireless applications. The nRF51822 features a 32-bit ARM® Cortex™ M0 CPU with 256kB/128kB flash and 32kB/16kB RAM. The integrated 2.4GHz transceiver is fully compatible with the latest Bluetooth low energy specification, Bluetooth 4.2, and also supports dedicated 2.4GHz RF protocol software.

The nRF24LU1+ single-chip solution enables ultra-small USB dongles for wireless peripherals. It integrates a USB 2.0 compatible device controller, an 8-bit application microcontroller, and an nRF24L01+ compatible 2.4GHz RF transceiver, enabling it to support a wide range of applications such as PC peripherals, sports accessories, and gaming peripherals.

An LG Electronics official pointed out, “More and more people are using tablets and smartphones as PCs, and they are demanding easier control functions for this.” He added, “The LG MEB-300 easily switches between Bluetooth low energy and 2.4GHz USB modes, and supports all devices, so there is no need to purchase a separate mouse for incompatible devices.”

“Nordic’s nRF51822 SoC is a very powerful single-chip solution that supports multiprotocol operation, making it a perfect fit for the dual-mode mouse we wanted. A single-chip multiprotocol solution is effective both from a cost and engineering overhead perspective, but other chipset makers don’t offer this,” he said. “Nordic’s technical support for this project was also excellent and very helpful.”

“Multi-protocol operation will allow consumers to get the best experience in both modes,” says Steel Ytterdal, Nordic Semiconductor’s director of sales for the Asia Pacific region. “It will also extend battery life and allow the same mouse to be used on a desktop, a handheld device, or a smartphone.” “Best of all, users don’t have to upgrade their existing computing equipment to benefit from the MEB-300’s form factor and wireless performance, as they can take advantage of Nordic’s proven, best-in-class 2.4GHz dedicated wireless technology until they purchase a new computer with the latest Bluetooth technology.”