Anaren A13022601 User Manual

Anaren Integrated Radio

A2541E24x User’s Manual

Release Date: 06/24/13

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iii

USER’S MANUAL

Models A2541E24A and A2541E24C

Contents

1. Overview .......................................................................................................................................................... 5

1.1. A2541E24A ................................................................................................................................................. 5

1.2. A2541E24C ................................................................................................................................................. 5

1.3. Features....................................................................................................................................................... 6

1.4. Theory of Operation.................................................................................................................................. 7

1.5. Applications ............................................................................................................................................... 9

2. Approvals and Usage ................................................................................................................................... 10

2.1. Product Approvals .................................................................................................................................. 10

2.1.1. USA (Federal Communications Commission, FCC) ......................................................................... 10

2.1.1.1. FCC Labeling Requirements ................................................................................................ 10

2.1.1.2. End User Manual ................................................................................................................... 11

2.1.1.3. RF Exposure ............................................................................................................................ 11

2.1.2. Canada (Industry Canada, IC) .......................................................................................................... 11

2.1.2.1. IC Labeling Requirements .................................................................................................... 13

2.1.2.2. RF Exposure ............................................................................................................................ 14

2.1.3. Europe (Conformité Européenne, ) ............................................................................................... 15

2.2. Potential Interference Sources ............................................................................................................... 16

2.2.1. WLAN ............................................................................................................................................... 16

2.2.2. Bluetooth® ......................................................................................................................................... 16

2.2.3. Microwave ovens ............................................................................................................................... 17

2.2.4. Other Interference ............................................................................................................................. 17

2.2.5. Time critical data ............................................................................................................................... 17

2.3. Approved Usage ..................................................................................................................................... 18

2.3.1. USA and Canada............................................................................................................................... 18

2.3.2. Europe ............................................................................................................................................... 19

3. Electrical Characteristics .............................................................................................................................. 20

3.1. Absolute Maximum Ratings .................................................................................................................. 20

3.2. Operating Conditions ............................................................................................................................. 21

3.3. Pin Out ...................................................................................................................................................... 21

3.4. Recommended Layout (dimensions in mm) ...................................................................................... 23

3.5. Power Supply Considerations ............................................................................................................... 24

4. Mechanical and Process ................................................................................................................................ 25

4.1. Radio Module Details (dimensions in mm) ......................................................................................... 25

4.1.1. A2541E24A ....................................................................................................................................... 25

4.1.2. A2541E24C ....................................................................................................................................... 25

4.2. Packaging Details (dimensions in mm) ................................................................................................ 26

4.2.1. Matrix Tray Packaging ..................................................................................................................... 26

4.2.2. Tape-Reel Packaging ......................................................................................................................... 26

4.3. Soldering................................................................................................................................................... 27

4.3.1. Manual Mounting Procedure ........................................................................................................... 27

4.3.2. Automated Mounting Procedure ...................................................................................................... 28

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A2541E24x – User’s Manual Page 5 of 31
Release Date 06/24/13

1. Overview

The A2541E24A and A2541E24C are surface mount modules integrating Texas Instruments’
(TI) CC2541 system-on-chip (SoC) transceiver with the CC2590 PA/LNA device for increased
range. The A2541E24A has an integral antenna, whereas the A2541E24C utilizes an external
antenna through a U.FL connector (see Table 1). These modules incorporate a crystal, the
required RF matching and filtering for regulatory. They operate in the global non-licensed

2.4GHz ISM/SRD frequency band. The modules are ideal for achieving low power, long range
wireless connectivity without having to deal with extensive protocol, RF, antenna design and
regulatory compliance, and provide quick time to market. They are 100% tested to provide
consistent performance.

The A2541E24A and A2541E24C modules have received regulatory approvals for modular
devices in the United States (FCC), Canada (IC) and Europe (ETSI). The modular approval
allows the end user to place either an A2541E24A or an A2541E24C with an approved antenna
inside a finished product without having to perform costly regulatory testing for an intentional RF
radiator. Section 2.3 has information on the requirements for the end user/integrator to fulfill in
order to use the modules without intentional radiator regulatory testing.

The A2541E24A and A2541E24C are based on the CC2541 SoC transceiver and the CC2590
range extender chips, both from Texas Instruments (TI). The CC2541 combines the excellent
performance of a leading RF transceiver with an industry-standard enhanced 8051
microcontroller unit (MCU), in-system programmable flash memory, 8-KB RAM, and many other
powerful features. The CC2541 has various operating modes, making it highly suited for
systems where ultralow power consumption is required. Short transition times between
operating modes further ensure low energy consumption. All control lines are provided at
module level for full control of the operation. Please see the datasheets for CC2541 and
CC2590 (www.ti.com) for how to operate, program and control these modules.

The A2541E24A and A2541E24C modules measure 11 mm x 19 mm x 2.5 mm. The modules
are footprint compatible with each other.

1.1. A2541E24A

The A2541E24A has an integral antenna, providing high efficiency and near omni-directional
radiation pattern. This approach offers the lowest system cost when the application allows
collocation of radio and antenna.

1.2. A2541E24C

The A112541E24C has a compact antenna connector that allows for locating the antenna away
from the module due to form/function or in order to exit a metal enclosure, see Figure 6 - Figure
7 for more information on antenna location and enclosure considerations.

Page 6 of 31 A2541E24x – User’s Manual

Features:

 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.15.4 compliant
 2.0 to 3.6 V operation
 High-Performance and low-power 8051

microcontroller core

 Multiple power modes to control current

consumption

 256 kB Programmable Flash
 8 kB RAM with retention in all power

modes

 Programmable output power up to +9

dBm

 18 General Purpose I/O Pins
 Excellent receiver sensitivity, -92 dBm

average in BLE HGM with <1% PER.

 3 Low power/sleep modes from 0.5µA

to 270µA.

 IEEE 802.15.4 MAC Timer, General-

Purpose Timers

 RSSI/LQI support
 Battery Monitor and Temperature

Sensor

 12-Bit ADC with eight channels and

configurable resolution

 AES Security Coprocessor
 2 USARTs with several serial protocol

support

 Watchdog Timer
 RoHS Compliant
 Shielded package
 LGA Footprint
 Very Small package size:

11mm x 19mm x 2.5mm

 Approximate weight 0.7 grams

Benefits Summary:

 Operating temperature-40 oC to +85 oC
 100% RF Tested in production for

repeatable performance

 No RF engineering experience

necessary

 No protocol experience necessary
 Only requires a 2 layer Host PCB

implementation

 FCC 15.247, IC RSS-210 and IC RSS-

Gen certified.

 Compliant with ETSI EN 300 328
 No regulatory “Intentional radiator”

testing required for integrating module
into end product. Simple certification
labeling replaces testing.

Release Date 06/24/13

1.3. Features

A2541E24x – User’s Manual Page 7 of 31
Release Date 06/24/13

1.4. Theory of Operation

The A2541E24A and A2541E24C modules operate in the global 2.4 GHz ISM/SRD frequency
band. They can be used to implement a variety of networks, including point to point, point to
multi-point, peer to peer and mesh networks.

Figure 1 and Figure 2 show the functionality of A2541E24A and A2541E24C, respectively. Both
modules operate in a similar manner except the antenna part where A2541E24A communicates
through a built-in antenna, and A2541E24C communicates through an external antenna
attached to a U.FL antenna port.

The description of the functional blocks shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 is given as follows:

 Antenna

o The antenna couples energy between the air and the module. The integral

antenna and the external monopole antenna, both centered at 2441.75 MHz,
provide a near omni-directional antenna pattern with high efficiency such that the
application will work equally well in any direction. Note that the end radiation
pattern depends not only on the antenna, but also the ground plane, enclosure
and installation environment.

 Matching & Filtering

o The matching provides the correct loading of the transmit amplifier to achieve the

highest output power as well as the correct loading for the receive LNA to
achieve the best sensitivity.

o Filtering removes spurious signals to comply with regulatory intentional radiator

requirements, provides reduced susceptibility to power supply and digital noise,
and filters out RF and high frequency noise from the communication data and
control link.

 Range Extender

o The range extender serves as an RF front-end for low power transceiver. It

contains PA, LNA, switches, RF-matching and a balun.

 TX/RX Chain

o TX/RX chain handles transmitting and receiving of the communication data

based on the radio register settings. It involves the coordination of several blocks
including modulator, demodulator, AGC control, frequency synthesizer and frame
control.

 Crystal

o Crystal oscillator provides the necessary clock reference for the whole module

operation. The A2541R24A and A2541R24C modules use two crystals: a 32
MHz crystal and a 32.768 kHz crystal.

 Power Management

o Power management ensures a stable supply for the internal functions, as well as

providing means for a low power sleep mode.

 CPU and Memory

o The 8051 CPU core used in the CC2541 device is a single-cycle 8051-

compatible core. It has three different memory-access buses (SFR, DAT and

Page 8 of 31 A2541E24x – User’s Manual
Release Date 06/24/13

CODE/XDATA) with single-cycle access to SFR, DATA, and the main SRAM. It
also includes a debug interface and an 18-input extended interrupt unit.

o The memory arbiter connects the CPU and DMA controller with the physical

memories and all peripherals through the SFR bus.

o The 8-BK SRAM maps to the DATA memory space and to parts of the XDATA

memory spaces. This is an ultralow-power SRAM that retains its contents even
when the digital part is powered off.

o 256 KB flash block provides in-circuit programmable non-volatile program

memory for the device, and maps into the CODE and XDATA memory spaces. In
addition to holding the program code, it also allows the application to save data
that must be preserved such that it is available after restarting the device.

 I/O Controller

o The I/O controller is responsible for all general-purpose I/O pins. The CPU can

configure whether peripheral modules control certain pins or they are under
software control, and if so, whether they are configured as input or output.

Figure 1 The functionality of the A2541E24A, using an internal antenna

A2541E24x – User’s Manual Page 9 of 31

Item

Part Number

Manufacturer

Type

Gain (dBi)

1

Integral part of A2541E24A

Anaren

Integral Antenna

2

2

66089-2406

Anaren

Monopole whip, 6 mm lead

3

3

66089-2430

Anaren

Monopole whip, 30mm lead

3

Release Date 06/24/13

Figure 2 The functionality of the A2541E24C, using an external antenna

Table 1 Approved Antennas

1.5. Applications

 BlueTooth SMART Systems
 Industrial Control and Monitoring
 Home/Building Automation
 Lighting Systems
 Low-Power Wireless Sensor Networks
 Sports monitoring, health & wellness

Page 10 of 31 A2541E24x – User’s Manual
Release Date 06/24/13

2. Approvals and Usage

The A2541E24A and A2541E24C have been designed to meet most national regulations for
worldwide ISM band use. In particular, the radio modules have been certified to the following
standards.

2.1. Product Approvals

2.1.1. USA (Federal Communications Commission, FCC)

The A2541E24A and A2541E24C modules have been tested to comply with FCC CFR47 Part
15 sub-part C “Intentional Radiators” standard. The modules meet the requirements for modular
transmitter approval as detailed in FCC public notice DA 00-1407 released in June 26, 2000.
The modular transmitter approval eliminates the need to re-perform costly ‘intentional radiator’
testing when submitting an end product for certification.

(15.19a3) The module complies with part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device
must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired
operation.

Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance
could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

2.1.1.1. FCC Labeling Requirements

The A2541E24A and A2541E24C modules have been labeled with their own FCC ID number
and if the FCC ID is not visible when the module is installed inside another device, then the
outside of the finished product into which the module is installed must also display a label
referring to the enclosed module. This exterior label can use wording such as the following:

Contains Transmitter Module FCC ID: X7J-A13022601

-or-

Contains FCC ID: X7J-A13022601

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.

Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

(1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any
interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

A2541E24x – User’s Manual Page 11 of 31
Release Date 06/24/13

2.1.1.2. End User Manual

The end user manual should include the following statement:

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device,
pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates,
uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with
the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no
guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does
cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning
the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or
more of the following measures:

 Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
 Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
 Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver

is connected.

 Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

2.1.1.3. RF Exposure

All transmitters regulated by FCC must comply with RF exposure requirements. OET Bulletin 65

“Evaluating Compliance with FCC Guidelines for Human Exposure to Radio Frequency
Electromagnetic Fields” provides assistance in determining whether proposed or existing

transmitting facilities, operations or devices comply with limits for human exposure to Radio
Frequency (RF) fields adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The bulletin
offers guidelines and suggestions for evaluating compliance.

If appropriate, compliance with exposure guidelines for mobile and unlicensed devices can be
accomplished by the use of warning labels and by providing users with information concerning
minimum separation distances from transmitting structures and proper installation of antennas.

The following statement must be included as a CAUTION statement in manuals and OEM
products to alert users of FCC RF Exposure compliance:

To satisfy FCC requirements the antenna used with this transmitter must not be co-located or
operating in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter except as permitted by FCC multi­transmitter procedures.

2.1.2. Canada (Industry Canada, IC)

The A2541E24A and A2541E24C modules have been certified for use in Canada under
Industry Canada (IC) Radio Standards Specification (RSS) RSS-210 and RSS-Gen.

Page 12 of 31 A2541E24x – User’s Manual
Release Date 06/24/13

From section 3.2 RSS-Gen, Issue 3, December 2010, Modular Approval for Category I
Equipment or Category II Equipment:

“Modular approval permits the installation of the same module in a host device or multiple host

devices without the need to recertify the device. Equipment certification for a modular device
may be sought for either Category I equipment or Category II equipment.

Transmitters designed as modules for the installation in a host device may obtain equipment
certification as a modular device provided that the applicable RSS is met and the following
conditions in this section are met.”

In section 7.1.2 Transmitter Antenna, it has been mentioned that the user manuals for
transmitters shall display the following notice in a conspicuous location:

Notice: Under Industry Canada regulations, this radio transmitter may only operate using an
antenna of a type and maximum (or lesser) gain approved for the transmitter by Industry
Canada. To reduce potential radio interference to other users, the antenna type and its gain
should be so chosen that the equivalent isotropically radiated power (e.i.r.p.) is not more than
that necessary for successful communication.

Avis: Sous la réglementation d'Industrie Canada, ce transmetteur radio ne peut fonctionner

qu’en utilisant seulement une antenne d'un type et d’un maximum (ou moins) de gain approuvé

pour l'émetteur par Industrie Canada. Pour réduire des potentielles interférences radio pour les
autres utilisateurs, le type d'antenne et son gain doivent être choisis de sorte que la puissance
isotrope rayonnée équivalente (PIRE) ne dépasse pas ce qui est nécessaire pour une
communication réussie.

A2541E24x – User’s Manual Page 13 of 31

Item

numéro d'article

Part Number

Référence

Manufacturer

Fabricant

Type

catégorie

Gain (dBi)

Gain

1

Integral part of

A2541E24A

Partie intégrante de

A2541E24A

Anaren

Integral Antenna

antenne intégrée

2
2

66089-2406

Anaren

Monopole whip, 6 mm lead

Antenne monopôle,

longueur 6 mm

3 3 66089-2430

Anaren

Monopole whip, 30 mm lead

Antenne monopôle,

longueur 30 mm

3

Release Date 06/24/13

In section 7.1.2 Transmitter Antenna, it has been mentioned that the user manuals for
transmitters equipped with detachable antennas shall also contain the following notice in a
conspicuous location:

Notice: This radio transmitter (IC: 8975A-A13022601) has been approved by Industry Canada
to operate with the antenna types listed below with the maximum permissible gain and required
antenna impedance for each antenna type indicated. Antenna types not included in this list,
having a gain greater than the maximum gain indicated for that type, are strictly prohibited for
use with this device.

Avis: Cet émetteur radio (IC: 8975A-A13022601) a été approuvé par Industrie Canada pour
fonctionner avec les types d'antennes énumérés ci-dessous avec le gain maximal admissible et

l’impédance d'antenne requise pour chaque type d'antenne indiqué. Les types d'antennes ne

figurant pas dans cette liste, ayant un gain supérieur au gain maximal indiqué pour ce type, sont
strictement interdits pour l'utilisation avec cet appareil.

2.1.2.1. IC Labeling Requirements

From section 3.2.1 RSS-Gen, Issue 3, December 2010, Labeling Requirements for the Host
Device:

The host device shall be properly labeled to identify the modules within the host device. The
Industry Canada certification label of a module shall be clearly visible at all times when installed
in the host device, otherwise the host device must be labeled to display the Industry Canada

certification number of the module, preceded by the words “Contains transmitter module”, or the
word “Contains”, or similar wording expressing the same meaning.

From section 5.2, RSS-Gen, Issue 3, December 2010, Equipment Certification Numbers and
Labels:

Every unit of Category I radio apparatus certified for marketing and use in Canada shall bear a
permanent label on which is indelibly displayed the model number and Industry Canada
certification number of the equipment model (transmitter, receiver, or inseparable combination
thereof). Each model shall be identified by a unique combination of a model number and a
certification number, which are assigned as described below in this section.

Page 14 of 31 A2541E24x – User’s Manual
Release Date 06/24/13

The label shall be securely affixed to a permanently attached part of the device, in a location
where it is visible or easily accessible to the user, and shall not be readily detachable. The label
shall be sufficiently durable to remain fully legible and intact on the device in all normal

conditions of use throughout the device’s expected lifetime. These requirements may be met

either by a separate label or nameplate permanently attached to the device or by permanently
imprinting or impressing the label directly onto the device.

The label text shall be legible without the aid of magnification, but is not required to be larger
than 8-point font size. If the device is too small to meet this condition, the label information may
be included in the user manual upon agreement with Industry Canada.

Section 5.2 continues:

The model number is assigned by the applicant and shall be unique to each model of radio

apparatus under that applicant’s responsibility. The model number shall be displayed on the
label preceded by the text: “Model:”, so it appears as follows:

Model: model number assigned by applicant

Label:

Contains/Contient IC: 8975A- A13022601

Notice: This device complies with Industry Canada licence-exempt RSS standard(s). Operation
is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause interference, and (2) this
device must accept any interference, including interference that may cause undesired operation
of the device.

Avis: Cet appareil est conforme avec Industrie Canada RSS standard exempts de licence (s).
Son fonctionnement est soumis aux deux conditions suivantes: (1) cet appareil ne peut pas
provoquer d'interférences et (2) cet appareil doit accepter toute interférence, y compris les
interférences qui peuvent causer un mauvais fonctionnement du dispositif.

From section 7.1.4, RSS-Gen, Issue 3, December 2010, Radio Apparatus Containing Digital
Circuits (ICES-003):

“Radio apparatus containing digital circuitry which can function separately from the operation of
a transmitter or an associated transmitter, shall comply with ICES-003. In such cases, the
labeling requirements of the applicable RSS apply, rather than the labelling requirements in
ICES-003.”

For more information see: Industry Canada http://www.ic.gc.ca/

2.1.2.2. RF Exposure

All transmitters regulated by IC must comply with RF exposure limits as set forth in RSS-102,
Issue 4, section 4, “Exposure Limits”. Furthermore RSS-102, Issue 4, Section 2 “Certification
Requirements”, provides assistance in determining the specific requirements for compliance. If

A2541E24x – User’s Manual Page 15 of 31
Release Date 06/24/13

appropriate, compliance with exposure guidelines for mobile and unlicensed devices can be
accomplished by the use of warning labels and by providing users with information concerning
minimum separation distances from transmitting structures and proper installation of antennas.

The following statement must be included as a CAUTION statement in manuals and OEM
products to alert users of IC RF Exposure compliance:

Notice: To satisfy Industry Canada requirements the antenna used with this transmitter must
not be co-located or operating in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter except as
permitted by Industry Canada’s multi-transmitter procedures.

Avis: Pour satisfaire aux exigences d'Industrie Canada l'antenne utilisée avec cet émetteur ne
doit pas être colocalisée ni de fonctionner en conjonction avec une autre antenne ou un autre
émetteur, sauf dans la mesure permise par les procédures multi-émetteurs de l'Industrie
Canada.

2.1.3. Europe (Conformité Européenne, )

The A2541E24A and A2541E24C modules have been certified for use in European countries.
The following tests have been performed and the module found to be compliant to the
requirements:

 Test standard ETSI EN 300 328 V1.7.1 (2006-10)

 Maximum Isotropic Radiated Power (Normal and Extreme Conditions)

 Maximum e.i.r.p. Spectral Density

 Frequency Range (Normal and Extreme Conditions)

 Transmitter Spurious Emissions

 Receiver Spurious Emissions

 Electro-Static Discharge and RF Immunity (ETSI EN 301 489-17)

 RF Exposure (ETSI EN 62311:2008)

 Safety (IEC 60950-1:2005 and EN 60950-1:2006)

A helpful document that can be used as a starting point in understanding the use of short range
devices (SRD) in Europe is the European Radio Communications Committee (ERC)
Recommendation 70-03 E, downloadable from the European Radio Communications Office
(ERO) http://www.ero.dk.

The end user is responsible for ensuring compliance with harmonized frequencies and labeling
requirements for each country the end device is marketed and sold.

For more information see:

 Radio And Telecommunications Terminal Equipment (R&TTE)

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/rtte/index_en.htm

Page 16 of 31 A2541E24x – User’s Manual
Release Date 06/24/13

 European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT)

http://www.cept.org/

 European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) http://www.etsi.org/
 European Radio Communications Office (ERO) http://www.ero.dk/

2.2. Potential Interference Sources

The radio modules operate in the unlicensed ISM band, in which there are many other
applications e.g. WLAN, Bluetooth® and microwave ovens. This can cause interference that
may, in certain conditions, prohibit radio communication. The user is encouraged to implement a
number of channels and to alternate between those channels based on one of the below
methods.

 Sense if a particular channel is clear prior to transmitting (clear channel assessment)
 Pseudo Random channel change
 Select channels with the least interference (site survey)

Some of the most common interferences are listed below.

2.2.1. WLAN

Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) are divided into a number of overlapping channels.
Figure 3 below shows the channels used by WLAN; for the US and Canada, only channels 1-13
may be used. Predominantly, channels 1, 6 and 11 are used to achieve non-overlapping
channels. The user is therefore encouraged to select a channel scheme that also has channels
falling in between, or entirely outside, WLAN channels. Using a detection scheme (clear channel
assessment) will enable the user to find channels with minimal interference from WLAN devices.

Figure 3 WLAN channels

2.2.2. Bluetooth®

Bluetooth® divides the 2.402-2.480 GHz band into 79 channels, each of which is 1MHz wide.
However, since Bluetooth® changes channels rapidly (up to 1600 times a second), it is unlikely
to cause continuous interference in a specific channel and can be overcome by implementing a
simple acknowledge/retransmit functionality.

A2541E24x – User’s Manual Page 17 of 31
Release Date 06/24/13

2.2.3. Microwave ovens

A typical microwave oven uses a self-oscillating magnetron with a duty cycle below 50%,
because the tube is completely off for half of every AC mains cycle (8.33 ms in 60 Hz countries
and 10 ms in 50 Hz countries). The frequency of the microwave oven changes cyclically within
each AC mains synchronized on period, and is generally not predictable.

The user is encouraged to have packet transmission durations less than half the AC mains
period and implement an acknowledge/retransmit method.

2.2.4. Other Interference

Systems similar to the user’s system may also exist within range and may also be a source of
interference; some typical applications to consider are:

 Alarm systems

o These typically use low duty cycles and are therefore easy to avoid using

acknowledge/retransmit methods

 Car alarms (internal motion sensors)
 Video surveillance

o These are typically operated on a fixed channel, determined at installation time

and can be avoided by using clear channel assessment. It may be useful to
change the channel used by the video surveillance equipment also, if possible.

2.2.5. Time critical data

If the user requires specific time critical data throughput that cannot tolerate the delays of
potentially many re-transmissions, the user is encouraged to implement an environment-aware
algorithm that periodically monitors/scans the frequency band and maintain a list of “best
available” channels.

Page 18 of 31 A2541E24x – User’s Manual

Max Allowe d
Power (dBm)

PA_Table

Value (Hex)

Max Allowe d
Power (dBm)

PA_Table

Value (Hex)

GFSK 2Mbps,500kHz Deviation

2402 - 2480 8 0xCF 7.5 0xC6

GFSK 2Mbps, 320kHz Deviation

2402 - 2480 8 0xCF 7.5 0xC6

GFSK 1Mbps, 250kHz Deviation

2402 - 2480 8 0xCF 7.5 0xC6

GFSK 1Mbps, 160kHz Deviation

2402 - 2480 8 0xCF 7.5 0xC6

GFSK 250kbps, 160kHz Deviation

2402 - 2480 8 0xCF 7.5 0xC6

A2541E24A

A2541E24C

Approved Modula tion Types

Frequency band of

operation (MHz)

Max Allowe d
Power (dBm)

PA_Table

Value (Hex)

Max Allowe d
Power (dBm)

PA_Table

Value (Hex)

GFSK 2Mbps,500kHz Deviation

2402 - 2480 8 0xCF 7.5 0xC6

GFSK 2Mbps, 320kHz Deviation

2402 - 2480 8 0xCF 7.5 0xC6

GFSK 1Mbps, 250kHz Deviation

2402 - 2480 8 0xCF 7.5 0xC6

GFSK 1Mbps, 160kHz Deviation

2402 - 2480 8 0xCF 7.5 0xC6

GFSK 250kbps, 160kHz Deviation

2402 - 2480 8 0xCF 7.5 0xC6

A2541E24A

A2541E24C

Approved Modula tion Types

Frequency band of

operation (MHz)

Release Date 06/24/13

2.3. Approved Usage

The A2541E24A and A2541E24C modules have been approved for use in the US, Canada and
Europe. The user is encouraged to use minimum power required to establish a link, thus
minimizing interference.

Changes or modifications to the module and/or operation outside the limits are prohibited and
could void the user’s authority to operate the modules.

2.3.1. USA and Canada

Within the USA and Canada, the A2541E24A and A2541E24C modules have been approved
for use as digitally modulated transmitters, for which they conform to the BW (a minimum of 500
kHz 6-dB BW for US, a maximum BW of 0.5% of the carrier frequency for Canada), power
spectral density (max of 8 dBm / 3 kHz), total output power (max of 1W including the antenna
gain) and spurious radiation (harmonics and others including the restricted bands)
requirements.

Table 2 shows approved modulation types and frequencies of operations with the corresponding

maximum output power values and PA_Table register settings. These modules must be
operated at or below the indicated power levels. Using the modules with higher power levels are

prohibited, and will void the user’s authority to operate the modules under current FCC/IC

certification.

Approved Modulation Types and Power Levels for FCC/IC

Table 3 shows available power levels from the device along with the corresponding PA_Table

register settings. Users are encouraged to use minimum power required to establish a link, thus
minimizing interference and current consumption.

Table 2 Approved Modulation Types and Power Levels for FCC/IC

A2541E24x – User’s Manual Page 19 of 31

9.5 0xEF

9.0 0xE1

8.7 0xD5

8.5 0xD1

8.0 0xCF

7.5 0xC6

7.0 0xC1

5.5 0xB1

4.5 0xA1

2.5 0x91

0.5 0x81

-1.5 0x71

-3.5 0x61

-5.5 0x51

-7.5 0x41

-9.5 0x31

-11.5 0x21

-13.5 0x11

-15.5 0x01

PA_Table Value (Hex)

Power (dBm)

Max Allowe d Powe r (dBm) PA_Table Value (Hex)

GFSK 2Mbps,500kHz Deviation

2402 - 2480 8 0xCF

GFSK 2Mbps, 320kHz Deviation

2402 - 2480 8 0xCF

GFSK 1Mbps, 250kHz Deviation

2402 - 2480 8 0xCF

GFSK 1Mbps, 160kHz Deviation

2402 - 2480 8 0xCF

GFSK 250kbps, 160kHz Deviation

2402 - 2480 8 0xCF

MSK 500kbps

2402 - 2480 8 0xCF

MSK 250kbps

2402 - 2480 8 0xCF

Approved Modula tion Types

Frequency band of

operation (MHz)

A2541E24A/A2541E24C

Release Date 06/24/13

Table 3 Output Power vs. PA Table Value (tolerance +/- 1.5 dB)

For Europe, the maximum power is 100mW with a maximum spectral power density of
10mW/MHz. In order to meet the power spectral density requirements, the A2541E24A and
A2541E24C modules should have lower output power levels.

Table 4 shows approved modulation types and frequencies of operations with the corresponding

maximum output power values and PA Table register settings. Please refer to Table 3 for the
available power levels from this module.

Table 4 Approved Modulation Types and Power Levels for Europe (ETSI)

2.3.2. Europe

Page 20 of 31 A2541E24x – User’s Manual

Parameter

Min

Max

Unit

Condition/Note

Supply Voltage (Vdd)

-0.3

3.9 V

Voltage on any digital pin

-0.3

Vdd+0.3,
max 3.9

V
RF input power

10

dBm

Storage Temperature

-40

125

˚C

Solder reflow temperature

260

˚C

According to IPC/JEDEC J-STD-020D

ESD

2 kV

According to JEDEC STD 22, method
A114, Human body model

ESD

500

V

According to JEDEC STD 22, C101,
Charged Device Model (CDM)

Caution!
ESD sensitive device. Precaution should be
used when handling the device in order to
prevent permanent damage.

Caution!
This assembly contains moisture sensitive
devices and requires proper handling per
IPC/JEDEC J-STD-033

Release Date 06/24/13

3. Electrical Characteristics

3.1. Absolute Maximum Ratings

Under no circumstances shall the absolute maximum ratings given in Table 5 be violated.
Stress exceeding one or more of the limiting values may cause permanent damage to the
device.

Table 5 Absolute Maximum Ratings

A2541E24x – User’s Manual Page 21 of 31

Parameter

Min

Max

Unit

Condition/Note

Supply Voltage (Vdd)

2.0

3.6 V

Temperature Range

-40

+85

˚C

Figure 4 Module pin-out view

Where applicable:

NC = “NO Connection”. Pin is
NOT connected internally.

DNC = “Do Not Connect”. Pin
reserved for internal use, ensure
mating footprint pads are isolated.

GND = “Ground”. Connect the
maximum number possible
(minimum one for proper operation).

Release Date 06/24/13

3.2. Operating Conditions

Table 6 Operating conditions

3.3. Pin Out

The A2541E24A and A2541E24C radios share a common pin-out and foot print, thus enabling
the use of the same application PCB layout for US/Europe and low power (short range) versus
higher power (long range). Below the footprint is shown.

Page 22 of 31 A2541E24x – User’s Manual

Pin Number

Pin Name Pin Type Description

CC2590 Pin

CC2530 Pin

1 GND

Common

Ground

Connect to GND

2 DNC

Do Not Connect. Connecting this pin to anything will
significantly affect the performance of the module and may
void the end users right, under FCC, to operate the module

3 GND

Common

Ground

Connect to GND

4 DNC

Do Not Connect.

5 P2_4/OSC32K_Q1 Digital I/O

General-purpose digital I/O pin Port 2.4. This pin is also
connected to the 32.768kHz crystal.

32

6 P2_3/OSC32K_Q2 Digital I/O

General-purpose digital I/O pin Port 2.3. This pin is also
connected to the 32.768kHz crystal.

33

7 P2_2 Digital I/O General-purpose digital I/O pin Port 2.2 34

8 P2_1 Digital I/O General-purpose digital I/O pin Port 2.1 35

9 P2_0 Digital I/O General-purpose digital I/O pin Port 2.0 36

10 P1_7 Digital I/O General-purpose digital I/O pin Port 1.7 37

11 P1_6 Digital I/O General-purpose digital I/O pin Port 1.6 38

12 GND

Common

Ground

Connect to GND

13 SCL

I2C Clock or

Digital I/O

I2C Clock pin or digital I/O. Leave floating if not used. If
grounded disable pull up

2

14 GND

Common

Ground

Connect to GND

15 SDA

I2C Data or

Digital I/O

I2C Data pin or digital I/O. Leave floating if not used. If
grounded disable pull up

3

16 NC No Connect The pin is not connected internally 4

17 P1_5 Digital I/O General-purpose digital I/O pin Port 1.5 5

18 P1_4 Digital I/O General-purpose digital I/O pin Port 1.4 6

19 LNA_EN Control Pin LNA Enable Control for CC2590 Range Extender 6 7

20 PA_EN Control Pin PA Enable Control for CC2590 Range Extender 5 8

21 LNA_GAIN Control Pin High Gain Control for CC2590 Range Extender 7 9

22 GND

Common

Ground

Connect to GND

23 P1_0 Digital I/O General-purpose digital I/O pin Port 1.0 11

24 P0_7 Digital I/O General-purpose digital I/O pin Port 0.7 12

25 P0_6 Digital I/O General-purpose digital I/O pin Port 0.6 13

26 P0_5 Digital I/O General-purpose digital I/O pin Port 0.5 14

27 P0_4 Digital I/O General-purpose digital I/O pin Port 0.4 15

28 P0_3 Digital I/O General-purpose digital I/O pin Port 0.3 16

29 P0_2 Digital I/O General-purpose digital I/O pin Port 0.2 17

30 P0_1 Digital I/O General-purpose digital I/O pin Port 0.1 18

31 P0_0 Digital I/O General-purpose digital I/O pin Port 0.0 19

32 RESET_N Digital input Reset, active-low 20

33 VDD

Power

(Analog)

Analog power supply connection for the Radio and PA/LNA
(2.0V to 3.6V)

16

10,21,24,27,

28,29,31,39

34 GND

Common

Ground

Connect to GND

Release Date 06/24/13

Table 7 pin-out table, with references to chip pins

A2541E24x – User’s Manual Page 23 of 31
Release Date 06/24/13

3.4. Recommended Layout (dimensions in mm)

Figure 5 Recommended PCB layout.

Page 24 of 31 A2541E24x – User’s Manual

Figure 6 Mounting the module in a corner

Figure 7 Mounting the module along an edge

Release Date 06/24/13

3.5. Power Supply Considerations

Noise on the power supply line reduces the sensitivity of a receiver and can modulate onto a
transmitters signal, both of which causes a degradation of link quality and hence a reduction in
range.

The A2541E24A and A2541E24C modules have integral noise reduction from power supply to
the internal AVDD and DVDD pins, consisting of ferrite beads and decoupling capacitances.
This arrangement will take care of most supply voltage noise. For optimal performance in
particular noisy environments (switching regulators, motor controls, etc.) it may be necessary to
add additional noise reduction means, which can consist of a low noise LDO or additional LC
filtering.

Note that if operated from a battery source there is no need for additional noise reduction. Also
note that if the noise source can be synchronized to be off whenever the module is transmitting
or receiving then that will also suffice.

A2541E24x – User’s Manual Page 25 of 31
Release Date 06/24/13

4. Mechanical and Process

4.1. Radio Module Details (dimensions in mm)

4.1.1. A2541E24A

Figure 8 A2541E24A dimensions

4.1.2. A2541E24C

Figure 9 A2541E24C dimensions

Page 26 of 31 A2541E24x – User’s Manual
Release Date 06/24/13

4.2. Packaging Details (dimensions in mm)

AIR modules are available in Matrix Tray and Tape & Reel packaging for high-volume
assembly. Details of packaging provided below:

4.2.1. Matrix Tray Packaging

Figure 10 A2541E24A00GM and A2541E24C00GM Matrix Tray Packaging Detail (27/Tray)

4.2.2. Tape-Reel Packaging

Figure 11 A2541E24A00GR and A2541E24C00GR Tape-Reel Packaging Detail (500/Reel)

A2541E24x – User’s Manual Page 27 of 31
Release Date 06/24/13

4.3. Soldering

AIR Modules may be mounted either manually (for prototyping or low volume production), or
automatically for high-volume production.

A no-clean tin/silver/copper (SAC) solder is recommended, however lead based no-clean
pastes may also be used.

CAUTION: AIR Modules are designed for no-clean fluxes only. DO NOT use water­based fluxes that require aqueous cleaning after solder. Spot cleaning with a flux
remover and toothbrush may be performed with care.

4.3.1. Manual Mounting Procedure

The recommended soldering method is reflowing of a paste solder on a hot plate. This method
works provided the bottom of the board where the AIR module is to be mounted is accessible,
and there are no bottom-side components in the way.

An aluminum or copper block may be placed on the hot plate surface to transfer heat to a
localized area on the board where the AIR module is mounted

- Set the hot plate to the reflow temperature solder manufacturer’s recommended

- Apply solder paste to the pads on the board receiving the AIR module

- Place the AIR module carefully onto the dispensed solder

- Using tweezers or another holding device, carefully place board with AIR module onto
the hot plate surface (or metal block)

- Apply heat until reflow occurs, per solder paste manufacturer’s recommendations

- Carefully remove the board and place on a heat-resistant surface to cool

- Check assembly electrically to confirm there are no opens or shorts

Page 28 of 31 A2541E24x – User’s Manual
Release Date 06/24/13

4.3.2. Automated Mounting Procedure

The AIR Radio Module recommended solder reflow profile is based on IPC/JEDEC J-STD-020.

A2541E24x – User’s Manual Page 29 of 31
Release Date 06/24/13

Page 30 of 31 A2541E24x – User’s Manual

Date

Author

Change Note No./Notes

06/20/13

Sula

Initial Draft

06/24/13

Richardson

Initial Release

Release Date 06/24/13

DOCUMENT HISTORY

Anaren Microwave, Inc.

6635 Kirkville Road
East Syracuse, NY 13057
Tel: [phone]
[phone]
Fax: [phone]

Anaren Microwave (Europe), Inc.

12 Somerset House, Suite 16 & 17
Hussar Court, Waterlooville
Hampshire, England P07-7SG
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Anaren Communication Suzhou Co. Ltd.

No. 5 Chun Hui Road
Wei Ting, Suzhou Industrial Park
Suzhou 215122, PR China
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Attach distributor contact information

here

If you have additional questions, need samples, or would like a quote –

please email the AIR team at [e-mail] .

For a full list of our franchised distributors, please visit our website:

http://www.anaren.com/air/