Microchip Technology MRF89XAM9A User Manual
MRF89XAM9A
Data Sheet
915 MHz Ultra Low-Power Sub-GHz
Transceiver Module
© 2011 Microchip Technology Inc. Preliminary DS00000A
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EELOQ, KEELOQ logo, MPLAB, PIC, PICmicro, PICSTART,
K
32
logo, rfPIC and UNI/O are registered trademarks of
PIC
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© 2011, Microchip Technology Incorporated, Printed in the
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Printed on recycled paper.
ISBN:
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and manufacture of development systems is ISO 9001:2000 certified.
®
MCUs and dsPIC® DSCs, KEELOQ
®
code hopping
DS00000A-page ii Preliminary © 2011 Microchip Technology Inc.
MRF89XAM9A
2
3
4
5
6
1
7
V
IN
GND
8
9
10
RESET
CSCON
SDO
SDI
SCK
CSDATA
IRQ1
GND
IRQ0
12
11 GN D
915 MHz Ultra Low-Power Sub-GHz Transceiver Module
Features
• Module designed from the MRF89XA Integrated
Ultra Low-Power, Sub-GHz Transceiver IC.
• Supports MiWi™ Development Environment
Proprietary Wireless Networking Protocols
• 4-Wire Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) with
Interrupts
• Small Size: 0.7" x 1.1" (17.8 mm x 27.9 mm),
Surface Mountable — Pin compatible with
MRF89XAM9A
• Integrated Crystal, Internal Voltage Regulator,
Matching Circuitry and Printed Circuit Board
(PCB) Antenna
• Easy Integration into Final Product — Minimize
Product Development, Quicker Time to Market
• Compatible with Microchip’s Microcontroller
Families (PIC16, PIC18, PIC24, dsPIC33 and
PIC32)
• Radio Regulation Certified for United States
(FCC), Canada (IC) and Australia/New Zealand
(C-TICK)
Operational
• Operating Voltage: 2.1–3.6V (3.3V typical)
• Temperature Range: -40°C to +85°C Industrial
• Low-Current Consumption:
- Rx mode: 3 mA (typical)
- Tx mode: 25 mA at +10 dBm (typical)
- Sleep: 0.1 µA (typical)
RF/Analog Features
• ISM Band 902–928 MHz Operation
• Modulation: FSK and OOK
• Data Rate (to conform to FCC and IC regulations):
- FSK: 50–200 kbps
- OOK: 16 kbps
• Reception sensitivity
- FSK: -107 dBm (typical) at 50 kbps
- OOK: -113 dBm (typical) at 2 kbps
• +10 dBm Typical Output Power with 21 dB Tx
Power Control Range
Media Access Controller (MAC)/ Baseband Features
• Packet handling feature with data whitening and
automatic CRC generation
• Incoming sync word (pattern) recognition
• Built-in bit synchronizer for incoming data, and clock
synchronization and recovery
• 64-byte transmit/receive FIFO with preload in Stand-by
mode
• Supports Manchester encoding/decoding
techniques
Pin diagram
© 2011 Microchip Technology Inc. Preliminary DS00000A-page 1
MRF89XAM9A
Table of Contents
1.0 Device Overview .......................................................................................................................................................................... 3
2.0 Circuit Description ........................................................................................................................................................................ 9
3.0 Regulatory Approval................................................................................................................................................................... 17
4.0 Electrical Characteristics ............................................................................................................................................................ 21
Appendix A: Revision History............................................................................................................................................................... 27
The Microchip Web Site ....................................................................................................................................................................... 29
Customer Change Notification Service ................................................................................................................................................ 29
Customer Support ................................................................................................................................................................................ 29
Reader Response ................................................................................................................................................................................ 30
Product Identification System............................................................................................................................................................... 31
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DS00000A-page 2 Preliminary © 2011 Microchip Technology Inc.
MRF89XAM9A
MRF89XA
Control
Interface
Power
Management
BasebandRF
MRF89XAM9A Module
SPI
Digital I/O
IRQ0
Power
12.8 MHz Crystal
Matching
Circuitry
and
SAW Filter
PCB
Antenna
Loop
Filter
VCO
Tank
IRQ1
CSDATA
CSCON
RESET
1.0 DEVICE OVERVIEW
The MRF89XAM9A is an Ultra Low-Power Sub-GHz
surface mount transceiver module with integrated
crystal, internal voltage regulator, matching circuitry
and PCB antenna. The MRF89XAM9A module
operates in the United States/Canada 902–928 MHz
ISM frequency band. The integrated module design
frees the integrator from extensive RF and antenna
design, and regulatory compliance testing, allowing
quicker time to market.
The MRF89XAM9A module is compatible with
Microchip’s MiWi™ Development Environment software
stacks. The software stacks are available as a free
download, including source code, from the Microchip’s
web site http://www.microchip.com/wireless.
The MRF89XAM9A module has received regulatory
approvals for modular devices in the United States
(FCC) and Canada (IC). Modular approval removes the
need for expensive RF and antenna design, and allows
the end user to place the MRF89XAM9A module inside
a finished product and not require regulatory testing for
an intentional radiator (RF transmitter). To maintain
conformance, refer to module settings in Section 3.1.1,
MRF89XAM9A SETTINGS for the United States and
Section 3.2.1, MRF89XAM9A SETTINGS for Canada.
1.1 Interface description
The simplified block diagram of the MRF89XAM9A
module is shown in Figure 1-1. The module is based on
the Microchip Technology MRF89XA Ultra Low-Power
Sub-GHz Transceiver Integrated Circuit (IC). The
module interfaces to many popular Microchip PIC
microcontrollers through a 3-wire serial SPI interface,
two chip selects (Configuration and Data), two
interrupts — Interrupt Request 0 (IRQ0) and Interrupt
Request 1 (IRQ1), Reset, Power and Ground as shown
in Figure 1-2. Ta bl e 1 -1 provides the pin descriptions.
Data communication and module configuration are
documented in the “MRF89XA Ultra Low-Power,
Integrated Sub-GHz Transceiver” (DS70622) Data
Sheet. For more information on specific serial interface
protocol and general register definitions, refer to the
“MRF89XA Data Sheet” and see Section 1.3,
Operation for specific register settings unique to the
MRF89XAM9A module operation to maintain
regulatory compliance.
®
FIGURE 1-1: MRF89XAM9A BLOCK DIAGRAM
© 2011 Microchip Technology Inc. Preliminary DS00000A-page 3
MRF89XAM9A
PIC® Microcontroller
I/O
I/O
SDO
SDI
SCK
INTx
INTx
I/O
MRF89XAM9A
CSCON
CSDATA
SDI
SDO
SCK
IRQ0
IRQ1
RESET
V
IN
GND
TABLE 1-1: PIN DESCRIPTION
Pin Symbol T ype Description
1GNDPower Ground
2 RESET DI Reset Pin
3CSCON
4 IRQ0 DO Interrupt Request Output
5 SDI DI Serial Interface Data Input
6 SCK DI Serial Interface Clock
7 SDO DO Serial Interface Data Output
8CSDATA
9 IRQ1 DO Interrupt Request Output
10 Vin Power Power Supply
11 GND Power Ground
12 GND Power Ground
FIGURE 1-2: MICROCONTROLLER TO MRF89XAM9A INTERFACE
DI Serial Interface Configure Chip Select
DI Serial Interface Data Chip Select
DS00000A-page 4 Preliminary © 2011 Microchip Technology Inc.
MRF89XAM9A
1.2 Mounting Details
The MRF89XAM9A is a surface mountable module.
Module dimensions are shown in Figure 1-3. The
module PCB is 0.032" thick with castellated mounting
holes on the edge. Figure 1-4 is the recommended host
PCB footprint for the MRF89XAM9A.
FIGURE 1-3: MODULE DETAILS
The MRF89XAM9A has an integrated PCB antenna.
For the best performance, follow the mounting details
shown in Figure 1-5. It is recommended that the
module be mounted on the edge of the host PCB and
an area around the antenna, approximately 3.4" (8.6
cm), be kept clear of metal objects for best
performance. A host PCB ground plane around the
MRF89XAM9A acts as a counterpoise to the PCB
antenna. It is recommended to extend the ground plane
at least 0.4" (1 cm) around the module.
FIGURE 1-4: RECOMMENDED PCB FOOTPRINT
© 2011 Microchip Technology Inc. Preliminary DS00000A-page 5
MRF89XAM9A
3.4”
3.4”
0.4”
0.4”
Edge of PCB
0.470”
Keep area around antenna
(approximately 3.4 (6.8 cm)
inches) clear of metallic structures
for best performance
Host PCB Top Copper Ground
Plane (Antenna Counterpoise):
Extend the host PCB top copper
ground plane under and to the left
and right side of the module at least
0.4 inches (1 cm) for best antenna
performance.
FIGURE 1-5: MOUNTING DETAILS
DS00000A-page 6 Preliminary © 2011 Microchip Technology Inc.
MRF89XAM9A
1.3 Operation
The MRF89XAM9A module is based on the Microchip
Technology MRF89XA Ultra Low-Power, Integrated
ISM Band Sub-GHz Transceiver IC. Data
communication and module configuration are
documented in the “MRF89XA Ultra Low-Power,
Integrated ISM Band Sub-GHz Transceiver Data
Sheet” (DS70622).
This section emphasizes operational settings that are
unique to the MRF89XAM9A module design that must
be followed for proper operation.
1.3.1 RESET
Pin 2 of the module, RESET, allows for an external
reset of the MRF89XA IC. RESET is connected to the
TEST8 pin of the MRF89XA IC. During normal
operations of the MRF89XAM9A, the RESET pin
should be held in a high impedance state. For more
information on Assertion of the RESET pin, refer to the
“Section 3.1.2 Manual Reset” of “MRF89XA Data
Sheet” (DS70622).
1.3.2 CRYSTAL FREQUENCY
When calculating frequency deviation, bit rate, receiver
bandwidth, and PLL R, P and S values, use crystal
frequency f
= 12.8 MHz.
xtal
1.3.3 CLOCK OUTPUT (CLKOUT)
The CLKOUT pin 19 of the MRF89XA IC is not used on
the module. Ensure that the CLKOUT signal is disabled
to minimize the current consumption.
1.3.4 FREQUENCY BAND SELECT
The Frequency Band Select (FBS<1:0>) bits in the
GCONREG<4:3> should be set for target channel
range 902–915 MHz FBS<1:0> = '00' or 915–928 MHz
FBS<1:0> = '01'.
1.3.5 VCO TANK TRIM VALUE
The VCO Trim (VCOT<1:0>) bits in the
GCONREG<2:1> should be set for VCOT<1:0> = '11'
for the inductor values of the module.
© 2011 Microchip Technology Inc. Preliminary DS00000A-page 7
MRF89XAM9A
NOTES:
DS00000A-page 8 Preliminary © 2011 Microchip Technology Inc.
MRF89XAM9A
Note 1
+
C2
1 0
μ
F
C1
0.1
μ
F
To Host
Microcontroller
To Host
Microcontroller
U1
MRF89XAM9A-I/RM
+ 3.3V
GND
RESET
CSCON
IRQ0
SDI
SCK
GND
GND
V
IN
IRQ1
CSDATA
SDO
1
2
3
4
5
6
12
11
10
9
8
7
Note: For battery powered applications, place a 10 μF capacitor in parallel with the 0.1 μF bypass
capacitor to provide a low impedance during startup sequences.
2.0 CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION
The MRF89XAM9A module interfaces to Microchip’s
PIC16, PIC 18, PIC24, dsPIC33 and PIC32
microcontrollers with a minimum of external
components through digital only connections. An
example application schematic is shown in Figure 2-2.
2.1 Module Schematic
The MRF89XAM9A module is based on the Microchip
Technology MRF89XA Ultra Low-Power, Integrated
ISM Band sub-GHz Transceiver IC. The serial I/O
(CSCON
IRQ0 and IRQ1 pins are brought out to the module
pins. Crystal X1 is a 12.8 MHz crystal with a
frequency tolerance of ±10 ppm at 25°C. The RFIO
output is matched to the SAW filter FL1 and further
matched to the PCB trace antenna.
Figure 2-2 illustrates the MRF89XAM9A schematics.
Table 2-1 details the Bill of Materials (BOM).
FIGURE 2-1: MRF89XAM9A APPLICATION SCHEMATIC
, CSDATA, SCK, SDO and SDI), RESET,
© 2011 Microchip Technology Inc. Preliminary DS00000A-page 9
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