Introduction to RF design

Mexico June 2008 Mike Claassen

Agenda
Part I: Getting Acquainted with the CC Portfolio
Overview of a Low Power Wireless System
Overview of the TI Low Power Wireless Portfolio Features of the CC2500/CC1100 Radios Tools Overview: Packet Sniffer, RF Studio, RF Toolsticks

Hands On Performing a Simple Tx/Rx using the CC2500 and the RF Studio Software Design Tools
Typical MSP430 / CC2500 Radio Connection Overview of the RF Studio Sotware Running a simple Tx/Rx while monitoring the CC2500 Radio Status State Machine

Overview and Hands-On: Intermediate Radio Features

Adding Variable Packet & Address Filtering Adding GDO / GPIO Interrupts

Overview and Demo of Advanced Radio Features

Frequency Hopping Wake on Radio Power Profile

Agenda - Continued
Part II: Getting Acquainted TI Stack Offering
Comparison of 802.15.4, SimpliciTI, and Zigbee Stacks
Features and Benefits What is right for your application Device offering

SimpliciTI Overview
SimpliciTI Components Typical Network Topologies Typical Payload Overview

Hands On: Using SimpliciTI to Communicate End Device to End Device in a Typical Network Overview and Hands On: Adding an Access Point Overview of the Zaccel Integrated Zigbee Modem Hands On Using Zaccel in a Zigbee Network

Part III: Hardware Considerations for a LPW Design

Introduction to a Low Power Wireless System

Agenda
Definitions Radio Modulation Schemes Radio Frequency Spectrum Network Types Low Power RF Components Tools

Definitions

RF Power Definitions
dBm power referred to 1 mW
PdBm=10log(P/1mW)
0dBm = 1mW 20 dBm = 100mW 30 dBm = 1W
-110dBm = 1E-11mW = 0.00001nW 50 load : -110dBm is 0.7uV

dBc power referred to carrier

Rule of thumb:
6dB increase => twice the range 3dB increase => roughly doubles the dbm power

dBm to Watt
About dBm and W Voltage Ratio aV = 20 log (P2/P1) Power Ratio aP = 10 log (P2/P1) [aV] = dB [aP] = dB [V] = dBV [P] = dBm

Voltage Level V = 20 log (V/1V) Power Level P = 10 log (P/1mW)

e.g. 25mW max. allowed radiated power in the EU SRD band P = 10 log (25mW/1mW) = 10 * 1.39794 dBm ~ 14 dBm

dBm Typicals
dBm level 80 dBm 60 dBm 36 dBm 30 dBm 27 dBm 20 dBm 4 dBm 0 dBm 10 dBm 70 dBm 127.5 dBm Power 100 kW 1 kW 4W 1W 500 mW 100 mW 2.5 mW 1.0 mW 100 W 100 pW 0.178 fW Notes Typical transmission power of FM radio station with 30-40 miles range Typical combined radiated RF power of microwave oven elements Typical maximum output power for a Citizens' band radio station (27 MHz) in many countries Typical RF leakage from a microwave oven - Maximum output power for DCS 1800 MHz mobile phone Typical cellular phone transmission power Bluetooth Class 1 radio, 100 m range (maximum output power from unlicensed FM transmitter). Typical wireless router transmission power. Bluetooth Class 2 radio, 10 m range Bluetooth standard (Class 3) radio, 1 m range Typical maximum received signal power (10 to 30 dBm) of wireless network Typical range (60 to 80 dBm) of Wireless received signal power over a network Typical received signal power from a GPS satellite

For more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DBm

Radio Definitions
PER
Packet Error Rate, % of packets not received successfully

Sensitivity
Lowest input power with acceptable link quality (typically 1% PER)

Deviation/separation
Frequency offset between a logic 0 and 1 using FSK modulation

Blocking/selectivity
How well a chip works in an environment with interference.

Radio Modulation Schemes

Wireless Communication Systems

Transmitter

Low Frequency Information Signal (Intelligence) Modulator High Frequency Carrier Amplifier

Communication Channel

Receiver

Amplifier

Demodulator (detector)

Amplifier

Output transducer

Modulation and Demodulation

digital data 101101001

digital modulation

analog baseband signal

analog modulation

Radio Transmitter

radio carrier

analog demodulation radio carrier

analog baseband signal

synchronization decision

digital data 101101001 Radio Receiver

Source: Lili Qiu

Clock and Data Recovery

Data is asynchronous, no clock signal is transmitted. Clock is recovered (trained) with the preamble.

Received Data Train 1111 0000 1111 0000 11 00 11 00 1 0 1 0

Expected Preamble

4 clocks

2 clocks

1 clock

Recovered Clock Bit Time

Modulation Methods
Starting point: We have a low frequency signal and want to send it at a high frequency Modulation: The process of superimposing a low frequency signal onto a high frequency carrier signal Three modulation schemes available:
1. Amplitude Modulation (AM): the amplitude of the carrier varies in accordance to the information signal 2. Frequency Modulation (FM): the frequency of the carrier varies in accordance to the information signal 3. Phase Modulation (PM): the phase of the carrier varies in accordance to the information signal

Digital Modulation ASK

The modulation of digital signals is known as Shift Keying Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK/OOK): Pros: simple, duty cycling (FCC), lower transmit current Cons: susceptible to noise, wide spectrum noise

Example: Many legacy wireless systems

Rise and fall rates of the carrier's amplitude can be adjusted to reduce the spectrum noise at low to medium data rates This is called Shaped OOK

1
0 t Signal Space Diagram
Each axis represents a symbol OOK has two basis functions: sinusoid & no sinusoid OOK has two symbols: carrier & no carrier Distance between symbols predicts BER

Source: Lili Qiu

Digital Modulation - FSK

Frequency Shift Keying (FSK):
Pros: Less susceptible to noise Cons: Theoretically requires larger bandwidth/bit than ASK Popular in modern systems Gaussian FSK (GFSK) has better spectral density than 2-FSK modulation, i.e. more bandwidth efficient
1 0 1
Frequency deviation Frequency separation = 2 x df

Fc-df

fc Fc+df

Frequency

DIO=low

DIO=high

FSK modulation

1 t Signal Space Diagram / Signal Constellation

1
Source: Lili Qiu

Each axis represents a symbol Each basis function is orthogonal Distance between symbols predicts BER

Digital Modulation - PSK

Phase Shift Keying (PSK): Pros:
Less susceptible to noise Bandwidth efficient

Cons: Require synchronization in frequency and phase complicates receivers and transmitter
0 1

Signal Space Diagram / Signal Constellation

Each axis represents a symbol Each basis function is orthogonal Distance between symbols predicts BER

Source: Lili Qiu

Digital Modulation QPSK/OQPSK

Quadrature Phase Shift Keying Pros: Symbol represents two bits of data Cons: Phase in the signal can jump as much as 180O causing out of band noise Offest Quadrature Phase Shift Keying Pros: Offsetting the signal limits the phase jump to no more than 90O
2
10
AC 2

01
AC 2

1
11 00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phase-shift_keying

Digital Modulation - MSK

Minimum Shift Keying (MSK): Pros: Difference in Frequency is Half the bit rate
Very bandwidth efficient Reduced Spectrum noise

Cons: Require synchronization in frequency and phase complicates receivers and transmitter Example: IEEE 802.15.4 / ZigBee
0 1 0 1
0 1

Signal Space Diagram / Signal Constellation

Each axis represents a symbol Each basis function is orthogonal Distance between symbols predicts BER

Radio Frequency Spectrum

Electromagnetic Spectrum
SOUND RADIO LIGHT HARMFUL RADIATION

VHF = VERY HIGH FREQUENCY UHF = ULTRA HIGH FREQUENCY SHF = SUPER HIGH FREQUENCY EHF = EXTRA HIGH FREQUENCY

2.4 GHz ISM band ISM bands 315-915 MHz UWB 3.1-10.6 GHz

4G CELLULAR 56-100 GHz

Source: JSC.MIL

ISM/SRD Bands

The World-Wide 2.4 GHz ISM Band

The 24002483.5 MHz band is available for license-free operation in most countries 2.4 GHz Pros
Same solution for all markets without SW/HW alterations Large bandwidth available, allows many separate channels and high datarates 100% duty cycle is possible More compact antenna solution than below 1 GHz

2.4 GHz Cons

Shorter range than a sub 1 GHz solution (with the same current consumption) Many possible interferers are present in the band

2.4 GHz ISM-band devices

Due to the world-wide availability of the 2.4GHz ISM band it is getting more crowded day by day Devices such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, cordless phones, microwave ovens, wireless game pads, toys, PC peripherals, wireless audio devices and many more occupy the 2.4 GHz frequency band
Power

802.11b/g

Microwave oven

Cordless

Frequency
Source: Eliezer & Michael, TI

Sub 1GHz ISM Bands

The ISM bands under 1 GHz are not world-wide Limitations vary a lot from region to region and getting a full overview is not an easy task
Sub 1GHz Pros
Better range than 2.4 GHz with the same output power and current consumption (assuming a good antenna not easy for a limited space)

Sub 1GHz Cons

Since different bands are used in different markets it is necessary with custom solutions for each market More limitations to output power, data rate, bandwidth etc. than the 2.4 GHz Duty cycle restrictions in some regions Interferers are present in most bands

Sub 1GHz ISM bands

902-928 MHz is the main frequency band
The 260-470 MHz range is also available, but with more limitations

The 902-928 MHz band is covered by FCC CFR 47, part 15 Sharing of the bandwidth is done in the same way as for 2.4 GHz:
Higher output power is allowed if you spread your transmitted power and dont occupy one channel all the timeFCC CFR 47 part 15.247 covers wideband modulation Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) with 50 channels are allowed up to 1 W, FHSS with 25-49 channels up to 0.25 W Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) and other digital modulation formats with bandwidth above 500 kHz are allowed up to 1W

FCC CFR 47 part 15.249

Single channel systems can only transmit with ~0.75 mW output power

Frequency Spectrum Allocation

Unlicensed ISM/SRD bands:
USA/Canada:
260 470 MHz 902 928 MHz 2400 2483.5 MHz (FCC Part 15.231; 15.205) (FCC Part 15.247; 15.249) (FCC Part 15.247; 15.249) (ETSI EN 300 220) (ETSI EN 300 220) (ETSI EN 300 440 or ETSI EN 300 328) (Ultra low power applications) (ARIB STD-T67) (ARIB STD-T66) (ARIB RCR STD-33)

Europe:
433.050 434.790 MHz 863.0 870.0 MHz 2400 2483.5 MHz

Japan:
315 MHz 426-430, 449, 469 MHz 2400 2483.5 MHz 2471 2497 MHz

ISM = Industrial, Scientific and Medical SRD = Short Range Devices

Short-Range Wireless
Range

1000m

Proprietary Low Power Radio ZigBee/802.15.4

Building Automation Residential Control Industrial Tracking Sensors Home Automation / Security Meter Reading Gaming PC Peripherals Audio Meter Reading Building Mgmt. Automotive

100m

10m

Wi-Fi/802.11
Headsets PC Peripherals PDA/Phone PC Networking Home Networking Video Distribution

UWB
Wireless USB Video/audio links

1m 1k 10k 100k

1M

10M

Different Value Drivers for Different Applications

Data Rate (bps)

Sub 1GHz Product Selection

2.4GHz Portfolio

Stack Considerations

App MAC Physical

Software Stack Considerations

Proprietary Radio CC2500/CC1100

Proprietary Stack Up to 64 Bytes

2-24 Bytes 2or4 Bytes 1 Byte Length Field* Preamble Sync Word 1 Byte Address Field* 0-60 Bytes Data Payload (Max 60 Bytes) 2 Bytes RSSI LQI* CRC 16 Check 2 Bytes

MAC Layer

Radio Payload (Max 255 Bytes)**

Physical Layer

2.4 GHz/ ISM Band Radio Data

* Optional Settings for the radio activating these settings drops the useable payload ** Requires monitoring at refill of the 64Byte Tx Buffer

SimpliciTI Example CC2500/CC1100

Custom Application Up to 50 Bytes

MAC
4 Bytes Destination Address 4 Bytes 1 Byte 1 Byte Source Address Port Data Info 1 Byte 0 to 50 Bytes SimpliciTI Payload Device TractID Info

Layer

2-24 Bytes 2or4 Bytes 1 Byte Length Field Preamble Sync Word

0 61 Bytes Address Field Off Data Payload (Max 60 Bytes)

2 Bytes RSSI LQI

2 Bytes

Physical
CRC 16 Check

Radio Payload (Max 64 Bytes)

MRFI Layer

2.4G / ISM Band Radio Data

802.15.4 OSI Layers

2 Bytes 1 Byte Sequence Number Sequence Number Sequence Number Sequence Number 0-20 Bytes Frame Check Address Info Data Payload Frame Check Frame Check Frame Check <= 104B 2 Bytes

ACK Frame Data Frame

Frame Control Frame Control Frame Control Frame Control

MAC Layer

Command Frame Beacon Frame

Address Command Info Address Info Payload Beacon Payload

Synchronization Header

Radio Specific Header

Radio Payload (Max 127 Bytes)

Physical Layer

2.4G Radio Data

Zigbee Stack on 802.15.4

Zigbee Device Object 0 Application Object 1 Application Layer (APS) Application Object xxx Security Service Provider Network Layer (NWK)

802.15.4 Frame

Frame Control 2 Bytes

Sequence Number 1 Byte

Address Info 0-20 Bytes

Payload <= 104B <= 104B

Frame Check 2 Bytes

MAC Layer

Synchronization Header

Radio Specific Header

Radio Payload (Max 127 Bytes)

Physical Layer

2.4G Radio Data

Network Types

Network Types

Point to Point

Data path

Network Types

Star

Data path

Network Types

Mesh

Data path

Network Types

Mesh

Data path

Which Protocol?
Radio Hardware SimpliciTI Proprietary Best Suited Point to Point Topology Addressing Destination Code Size 802.15.4 Zigbee

Point to Point Star Network Source & Destination Good < 4k Medium CC25x0 CC11x0

Star Network

Mesh

Source & Source & Destination Destination Fair Medium CC2520 CC2530 Large < 64k Low - Zaccel CC2480

Minimal <1k

Complexity Low Target Devices

CC25x0 CC11x0

Low Power RF Components

Basic Building Blocks of an RF System

RF-IC
Transmitter Transceiver System-on-Chip (SoC); typically transceiver with integrated uC

Balun
Balanced to unbalanced Converts a differential signal to a single-ended signal or vice versa

Impedence Matching Filter

Used if needed to pass regulatory requirements / improve selectivity

Crystal
Reference frequency for the LO and the carrier frequency

Antenna
Antenna ( 50)

RF-IC

Balun & Match

Filter

Crystal

RF-ICs Examples
Transmitter CC1050, CC1150, and CC2550

Transceiver CC1100, CC2500, CC2400, and CC2420

System-on-Chip (SoC) Transceiver with a built-in micro controller CC1110, CC2510, CC2430

Crystals
Provides reference frequency for Local Oscillator (LO) and the carrier frequency Important characteristics: Tolerance[ppm], both initial spread, aging & over temperature Price, often a price vs. performance trade-off Size Various types: Low Power crystals (32.768 kHz)
Used with sleep modes on e.g. System-on-Chips

Crystals
Thru hole Tuning fork SMD

Temperature Controlled Crystal Oscillators (TCXO)

Temperature stability some narrowband applications

Voltage Controlled Crystal Oscillators (VCXO) Oven Controlled Crystal Oscillators (OCXO)
Extremely stable

Balun & Matching

Differential signal out of the chip

Digital Inteface

DGUARD 18

RBIAS 17 9 AVDD

Single ended signal

Balun and matching towards antenna

10 XOSC_Q2

8 XOSC_Q1

6 GDO0

7 CSn

GND 16

SI 20

GND 19

Antennas, commonly used

PCB antennas
Little extra cost (PCB) Size demanding at low frequencies Good performance possible Complicated to make good designs

Whip antennas
Expensive (unless piece of wire) Good performance Hard to fit in may applications

Chip antennas
Expensive OK performance Small size

Notes on Antennas
The antenna is VERY important if long range is important A quarter wave antenna is an easy and good solution, but it is not small (433 MHz: 16.4 cm, 868 MHz: 8.2 cm)
You can curl up such an antenna and make a helical antenna. This is often a good solution since it utilizes unused volume for a product.

If you need long range and have limited space, then talk to an antenna expert !

Extending the Range of an RF System

1. Increase the Output power 3. Increase both output power and sensitivity Add an external Power
Amplifier (PA) Add PA and LNA

2. Increase the sensitivity

Add an external Low Noise Amplifier (LNA)

4. Use high gain antennas

Regulatory requirements need to be followed
PA Filter Antenna (50)

RF-IC

Balun & Match

2/1 Switch

2/1 Switch

LNA

Crystal

Adding an External PA
CC2420EM PA DESIGN
Signal from TXRX Switch pin level shifted and buffered Level in TX: 1.8 V, level for RX and all other modes: 0V CMOS & GaAs FET switches assures low RX current consumption Simpler control without external LNA No extra signal is needed from MCU to turn off LNA in low power modes
ANT
TX path

CC2420

CC2420EM 17.4 mA 19.7 mA 0 dBm -94 dBm 230 meter

CC2420EM w/PA 30.8 mA 19.7 mA 9.5 dBm -93.1 dBm 580 meter

RF_P RF_N TXRX_SWITCH

BALUN

PA TX/RX Switch
LP filter

TX current
TX/RX Switch

RX current Output po wer Sensitiv ity

RX path

Control logic and bias network

Line of Sight Range

Radio Range Free Space Propagation

How much loss can we have between TX and RX? Friis transmission equation for free space propagation:

Pr = Pt + Gt + Gr + 20 log 20 log d or 4
d= 4 PtGtGr Pr

Pt Gt Gr 2 Pr = (4 ) 2 d 2

Pt is the transmitted power, Pr is the received power Gt is the transmitter, Gr is the receiver antenna gain Lambda is the wavelength d is the distance between transmitter and receiver, or the range

Radio Range real life

How much loss can we really have TX to RX? 120 dB link budget at 433 MHz gives approximately 2000 meters (Chipcon rule of thumb) Based on the emperical results above and Friis equation estimates on real range can be made Rule of Thumb:
6 dB improvement ~ twice the distance Double the frequency ~ half the range (433 MHz longer range than 868 MHz)

Important Factors for Radio Range

Antenna (gain, sensitivity to body effects etc.) Sensitivity Channel Selectivity Output power Radio pollution (selectivity, blocking, IP3) Environment (Line of sight, obstructions, reflections, multi-path fading)

Development Tools and EVMs

SimpliciTI: eZ430 RF-2500

Zigbee: eZ430-RFZACC06

MSP430FG4619 Exp Board

CC2500EMK

USB FET

SOC: Smart RF 05EB

EMK Adapter Jumpers for current measurements CC2500EMK LCD (SPI) LED CC2511 USB BUTTONS JOYSTICK POTMETER UART Debug interface Flash (SPI) IO jumpers

Interface with the MSP430

SmartRF05EB + CCMSP-EM + CCxxxxEM
EM Connector CC2500EMK Slot for high speed XTAL MSP430F2618 SPI Modes JTAG interface 32KHz XTAL

BSL interface

MSP430 ports

CC2520 Development kit

CC2520 DK:
2 boards with the MSP430F2618 3 EMs + antennas (the small RF) boards 3 EBs with LCD and USB (CC2511) Packet Error Rate software (runing on the MSP) Smart RF studio Packet sniffer (ZigBee) March CC2520 EM

CC2520 EMK:
2 CC2520 EMs + 2 antennas

Software (free of charge for MSP430):

ZigBee stack (March 08) IEEE 802.15.4 MAC SimpliciTI (March 08)

Free Design Tools Packet Sniffer

http://www.ti.com/litv/zip/swrc045g

Free Design Tools RF Studio

http://focus.ti.com/docs/toolsw/folders/print/smartrftm-studio.html

Software Stacks Zigbee Z-Stack

Z-Stack is compliant with the ZigBee 2006 specification and supports multiple platforms including the CC2430 System-on-Chip and the CC2420 and MSP430 platform. Z-Stack also has support for CC2431 which enables users to create ZigBee applications that can change behavior based on the nodes current location in the network. The Z-Stack has been awarded the ZigBee Alliance's golden unit status by the ZigBee test house TV Rheinland and is used by thousands of ZigBee developers world wide. Z-Stack version 1.4.3 supports the application feature called SimpleAPI. This API was designed from the point of view of the application developer rather than the ZigBee specification but it still provides a ZigBee Compliant Platform (ZCP). This is a good way for application developers to quickly build ZigBee-based wireless mesh networked applications. Two sample applications are provided to illustrate the use of the SimpleAPI, a sensor data collection network application and a home automation network application. The project file for the sample applications is in the Samples\SimpleApp. Z-Stack is well suited for: Monitoring and control applications Wireless sensor networks Home and building automation Alarm and security Asset tracking Applications where interoperability is required Applications that require a free world wide ISM band (2.4 GHz)

http://focus.ti.com/docs/toolsw/folders/print/z-stack.html

Free Software Stacks - SimpliciTI

http://focus.ti.com/docs/toolsw/folders/print/simpliciti.html

Introduction to Low Power Wireless Devices Questions?

Mike Claassen Texas Instruments