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The EM9301 is a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) 4.1 controller, not a complete application processor. It handles radio and Bluetooth controller functions while an external microcontroller normally runs the application, BLE profiles and services. Its low-voltage options make it relevant to compact battery-powered devices, but the DCDC and no-DCDC versions have different supply requirements.

What the EM9301 does

EM Microelectronic’s EM9301 is a single-chip BLE controller designed to operate as either a master or a slave. The manufacturer’s version 4.0 datasheet, published in 2016, specifies Bluetooth 4.1 and a 1 Mbps on-air data rate. “Controller” is the important distinction: in a typical design, the EM9301 provides the BLE radio and controller functions, while a separate host MCU runs the product’s application and BLE profiles and services.

The chip communicates with that host over the Bluetooth Host/Controller Interface (HCI), using UART or SPI as the documented transport. It is intended for compact, battery-powered products; the manufacturer lists remote sensing, wireless mice and keyboards, watch and sport sensors, alarm and security systems, healthcare systems and beacons among its target applications.

Power and current figures

The EM9301 is offered in DCDC and no-DCDC configurations. The choice changes the supply arrangement and the supported voltage range, so a design should be based on the datasheet for the exact variant rather than treating the parts as interchangeable.

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Configuration Supply information in the cited manufacturer documents Design implication
DCDC Can operate directly from a single 1.5 V battery and function down to 0.8 V, according to the EM9301 manufacturer datasheet. Relevant when the design needs operation from a low-voltage battery; confirm the exact supply circuit and variant requirements in its datasheet.
No-DCDC Intended for a 3 V battery or other 3 V source. A later datasheet revision specifies operation down to 1.9 V. Use the voltage limits from the specific revision and part being designed into the product.

EM Microelectronic-Marin SA’s 2016 datasheet gives these typical current figures: 12 mA transmitting at 0 dBm, 13 mA receiving, 9 µA in BLE connected-idle mode for the no-DCDC version, and less than 0.5 µA in off mode. These are manufacturer specifications, not independent measurements. The stated transmit figure is tied to 0 dBm; the cited figures do not by themselves establish current for every radio setting, board design or operating condition.

Can it run from a coin cell?

Possibly, depending on the cell, selected EM9301 variant and product design. The DCDC version’s stated ability to operate from a single 1.5 V battery and down to 0.8 V is relevant to low-voltage battery designs, but it does not certify compatibility with every coin cell. Check the cell’s voltage under load, available pulse current, usable capacity and the EM9301’s exact supply requirements. A battery’s nominal voltage alone is not enough to establish whether the finished device will work reliably.

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  • Module working voltage 3.6 V to 6V
  • Default rate of 9600,default pin:1234, the user can be set up.click the button into AT MODE
  • Can be switched via AT commands as master or slave mode , the device can be connected via AT commands specified

How it connects to a host microcontroller

The usual integration model is an external host MCU connected to the EM9301 through HCI over UART or SPI. The host supplies application code and the BLE profiles and services; the EM9301 supplies the controller and radio functions. This division means the EM9301 should not be treated as a standalone BLE application SoC.

The manufacturer’s reference schematic includes the controller, host MCU, antenna network, crystal and an optional DCDC path. When adapting it, verify the circuit against the datasheet revision and exact variant you intend to use, including the supply arrangement, crystal, RF layout, and reset and interrupt connections. The EM9301 has a supply-voltage detector (SVLD) intended to monitor battery charge condition.

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HiLetgo HC-06 RS232 4 Pin Wireless Bluetooth Serial RF Transceiver Module Bi-Directional Serial Channel Slave Mode for Arduino
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Radio, antenna and package

  • RF output: Programmable from -18 dBm to +4 dBm, according to the manufacturer datasheet.
  • Antenna interface: A 200-ohm differential antenna port. The datasheet says matching elements are not needed when an appropriate PCB antenna design is used; that statement depends on the antenna and layout, not on arbitrary board routing.
  • Package: QFN24 measuring 5 mm × 5 mm, or die form.
  • Radio rate: 1 Mbps on air, as specified for this Bluetooth 4.1 controller.

The compact package and differential antenna interface can support space-conscious designs, but they do not remove the need to follow RF layout and antenna guidance for the selected board.

Controller, module and development options

There are distinct integration levels associated with the EM9301. A bare controller requires the surrounding host, RF and support circuitry; a module can package more of that system; and a development kit is a historical development option rather than a guarantee of a currently supported toolchain.

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Option What the cited documentation establishes What to verify
EM9301 controller IC QFN24 5 mm × 5 mm or die; HCI host connection over UART or SPI; DCDC and no-DCDC configurations. Exact part and datasheet revision, supply configuration, required external components, sourcing and lifecycle status.
ALPW-BLEM003 module The ALPWISE datasheet describes a module built around the EM9301, with a Cortex-M0 MCU, 64 kB flash, an integrated ALPWISE BLE SDK, UART or I2C access, four ADCs and up to 16 GPIOs subject to pin multiplexing. Current stock, support, SDK availability and module documentation. Those current conditions were not established by the cited module datasheet.
ENSEMBLE EM9301 development kit and ALPW-BLESDK80c51 EE Times historically reported that the SDK supplied a compatible BLE stack, profiles, services and example applications for the ENSEMBLE kit. Present-day availability and toolchain support. The historical report does not establish that either remains obtainable or supported.

The ALPW-BLEM003’s Cortex-M0 and SDK make its integration model different from that of the bare controller: the module documentation describes a microcontroller and BLE software as part of the module. Do not assume the module’s UART or I2C access is the same interface as the bare EM9301’s documented UART/SPI HCI connection.

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Choosing a version and evaluating a design

  1. Start with the power source. Decide whether the design needs the DCDC or no-DCDC configuration, then check the applicable minimum and normal supply conditions in that part’s datasheet.
  2. Decide where the application runs. For a bare controller, plan for an external host MCU and the BLE host-side software, including profiles and services. If evaluating a module, confirm which MCU and software are included and what interfaces the module exposes.
  3. Check the radio and board design. Confirm that the programmable output range, differential antenna interface, PCB antenna design and layout fit the product’s requirements.
  4. Review the support circuitry. Use the reference schematic as a starting point, then verify the crystal, power path, reset and interrupt connections, and other requirements for the exact variant and datasheet revision.
  5. Validate availability before committing. The cited manufacturer and module documents are older, and the historical development-kit report does not prove current stock or support. Confirm supply, documentation and toolchain access with a current distributor or vendor before basing a production design on them.

Where to buy the EM9301

The available documentation identifies the EM9301 controller and ALPW-BLEM003 module but does not establish present-day sellers, inventory, pricing or lifecycle status. Check current distributors or contact the manufacturer or module vendor for exact-part availability and documentation. For an older component, verify the precise variant, package, datasheet revision and supply status before finalizing the bill of materials; do not infer current availability from a historical development-kit reference.

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