Microchip Technology A090668 Users Guide

FCC Certification Scenarios for Atmel ZigBits on

Customers' products

Features

• Covers FCC certification scenarios for Atmel ZigBits’ usage

• Analyzes the custom products possibilities and likely-hoods for successful

certification

1 Introduction

Atmel’s Wireless applications play vital role in providing IEEE 802.15.4 –
compliant, ZigBee, and 6LoWPAN wireless solutions using family of RF devices
such as ZigBits, AT86RFxxx,and MegaRF single chip solutions.

These devices are purely based on Atmel’s wide range of high performance,
low-power IEEE 802.15.4-compliant transceivers for the regional 700/800/900MHz
frequency bands available in Europe and North America, and the 2.4GHz band
available world wide.

8-bit
Microcontrollers

Application Note

Rev. [0.5]-AVR-[09/10]

2 Overview

This application note describes an overview of the Certification Scenarios possible
when a designer uses the Atmel ZigBits portfolio. It also covers the changes that
affect Atmel’s existing certification due to minor or major changes on designer’s
hardware.

3 Atmel’s Range of ZigBit Modules and usage scenarios in customer products

3.1 ATZB-24-A2

It is a ZigBit Module with Dual Chip Antenna, a low-power, 802.15.4 ZigBee module
combination with the popular ATmega1281V MCU and the Atmel AT86RF230 radio
transceiver.

The ATZB-24-A2 comes with a Dual Chip Antenna and eliminates the need for costly
and time-consuming RF development and shortens time to market, while embedded

802.15.4/ZigBee software ensures standards-based wireless connectivity for a wide
range of applications.

Figure 3-1. ATZB-24-A2

3.1.1 Certification scenarios

3.1.2 Scenario # 1

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The following scenario explains the usage of the ATZB-24-A2 module with the
customer’s base board.

The ATZB-24-A2 module is bought by a designer and used on the base board.

When designers use the ATZB-24-A2 module on their base board and if the product
does not have any other radiating circuits, the designer need not re-certify the
complete product. In this case the designer has to mention on a visible area in their
product that “Product carries FCC module with FCC ID – VW4A090664”.

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3.1.3 Scenario # 2

3.2 ATZB-A24-UFL

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When designers use the ATZB-24-A2 module on their base board and if there are
additional circuits on the base board, with the additionally added circuits comprising of
another radio or switching circuits, the radiations caused by the new circuits may or
may not affect the performance of the ATZB-24-A2. If the ATZB-24-A2 does not get
affected by the additional circuits, still there are possibilities that there could be
emissions from these circuits that are out of limits specified by part 15.247. If these
additional circuits are designed to operate within compliance limits, then the
probability of successful certification is high. For more information on the type of
additional circuits, please refer appendix A.

The FCC ID of ATZB-24-A2 is VW4A090664. Customers have to mention “Product
carries Module with FCC ID VW4A090664” on their product containing the ATZB-24­A2 ZigBits. The ZigBit’s FCC ID cannot be used in replacement of the final product’s
FCC ID, if there is a requirement to have separate FCC ID for the entire product.

ZigBit Amp ATZB-A24-UFL is an amplified IEEE 802.15.4/ZigBee module. Its unique
RF design achieves a rare combination of the industry-leading range performance
and low power consumption. The ATZB-A24-UFL module’s small footprint of less
than a square inch of space makes the integration easy, with the built-in U.FL
antenna connector.

3.2.1 Certification scenarios

3.2.2 Scenario # 1

Figure 3-2. ATZB-A24-UFL

The following scenarios explain the usage of the ATZB-A24-UFL module on
customer’s base board.

The ATZB-A24-UFL module is bought by a designer and used on the base board.

Atmel’s ATZB-A24-UFL Module has been certified under Limited Modular category of
FCC part 15 subpart C, limited modular certification applies to modules that do not
fully meet the requirements for a single modular certification. Host-manufacturer must
ensure that the end-user of the host that will finally carry the module has no access to

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3.2.3 Scenario # 2

the antenna connectors, because they are standard connectors. The position of the
Antenna cable is not really fixed as part of this product, and hence the module must
be re-certified.

If there are additional circuits on the base board, with the additionally added circuits
comprising of another radio or switching circuits, the radiations caused by the new
circuits may or may not affect the performance of the ATZB-A24-UFL. If the ATZB­A24-UFL does not get affected by the additional circuits, still there are possibilities
that there could be emissions from these circuits that are out of limits specified by part

15.247. If these additional circuits are designed to operate within compliance limits,
then the probability of successful certification is high. For more information please
refer appendix A.

Designers may want to use the ATZB-A24-UFL on the base board and / or use UFL
antenna adaptor and take out the RF signal to a different antenna connector.
Sometimes customers may have requirement to use higher gain antenna than an
antenna with 0dBi gain as mentioned in sec 3.2.2. In such case designer is expected
to ensure that the compliance of the additional circuits are taken care while re­certifying the end product with ATZB-A24-UFL. Refer appendix A. for detailed
information about additional circuits on base board.

The FCC ID of ATZB-A24-UFL is VW4A090668. Customers have to mention “Product
carries Module with FCC ID VW4A090668” on their product containing the ATZB­A24-UFL ZigBits. The ZigBit’s FCC ID cannot be used in replacement of the final
product’s FCC ID, since there is a requirement to have separate FCC ID for the entire
product.

3.3 ATZB-24-B0

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ATZB-24-B0 ZigBit Module with Balanced RF Output is a low-power, 802.15.4/
ZigBee module, combination of the ATmega1281V MCU and the AT86RF230 radio
transceiver. ATZB-24-B0 module is very similar to the ATZB-24-A2 module and unlike
ATZB-24-A2 module it offers the flexibility of adding design oriented external antenna
in the application board.

ATZB-24-B0 minimizes bill of materials (BOM) and shortens time to market, while
embedded 802.15.4/ ZigBee software ensures standards-based wireless connectivity
for a wide range of applications.

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