2009 Microchip Technology Inc.
Preliminary
DS70599B
MRF24J40MB
Data Sheet
2.4 GHz IEEE Std. 802.15.4™
20 dBm RF Transceiver Module
DS70599B-page ii
Preliminary
2009 Microchip Technology Inc.
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Trademarks
The Microchip name and logo, the Microchip logo, dsPIC,
K
EE
L
OQ
, K
EE
L
OQ
logo, MPLAB, PIC, PICmicro, PICSTART,
rfPIC and UNI/O are registered trademarks of Microchip
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ECONOMONITOR, FanSense, HI-TIDE, In-Circuit Serial
Programming, ICSP, Mindi, MiWi, MPASM, MPLAB Certified
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Generation, PICC, PICC-18, PICDEM, PICDEM.net, PICkit,
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32
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All other trademarks mentioned herein are property of their
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© 2009, Microchip Technology Incorporated, Printed in the
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Printed on recycled paper.
Note the following details of the code protection feature on Microchip devices:
•
Microchip products meet the specification contained in their particular Microchip Data Sheet.
•
Microchip believes that its family of products is one of the most secure families of its kind on the market today, when used in the
intended manner and under normal conditions.
•
There are dishonest and possibly illegal methods used to breach the code protection feature. All of these methods, to our
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•
Microchip is willing to work with the customer who is concerned about the integrity of their code.
•
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Code protection is constantly evolving. We at Microchip are committed to continuously improving the code protection features of our
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are for its PIC
®
MCUs and dsPIC
®
DSCs, K
EE
L
OQ
®
code hopping
devices, Serial EEPROMs, microperipherals, nonvolatile memory and
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and manufacture of development systems is ISO 9001:2000 certified.
2009 Microchip Technology Inc.
Preliminary
DS70599B-page 1
MRF24J40MB
Features:
• IEEE Std. 802.15.4™ Compliant RF Transceiver
• Supports ZigBee
®
, MiWi™, MiWi P2P and
Proprietary Wireless Networking Protocols
• Small Size: 0.9" x 1.3" (22.9 mm x 33.0 mm),
Surface Mountable
• Integrated Crystal, Internal Voltage Regulator,
Matching Circuitry, Power Amplifier, Low Noise
Amplifier and PCB Antenna
• Easy Integration into Final Product – Minimize
Product Development, Quicker Time to Market
• Radio Regulation Certified for United States
(FCC), Canada (IC) and Europe (ETSI)
• Compatible with Microchip Microcontroller
Families (PIC16F, PIC18F, PIC24F/H, dsPIC33
and PIC32)
• Up to 4000 ft. Range
Operational:
• Operating Voltage: 2.4-3.6V (3.3V typical)
• Temperature Range: -40
C to +85C Industrial
• Simple, Four-Wire SPI Interface
• Low-Current Consumption:
- RX mode: 25 mA (typical)
- TX mode: 130 mA (typical)
- Sleep: 5
A (typical)
RF/Analog Features:
• ISM Band 2.405-2.475 GHz Operation
• Data Rate: 250 kbps
• -102 dBm Typical Sensitivity with -23 dBm
Maximum Input Level
• +20 dBm Typical Output Power with 56 dB TX
Power Control Range
• Integrated Low Phase Noise VCO, Frequency
Synthesizer and PLL Loop Filter
• Digital VCO and Filter Calibration
• Integrated RSSI ADC and I/Q DACs
• Integrated LDO
• High Receiver and RSSI Dynamic Range
MAC/Baseband Features:
• Hardware CSMA-CA Mechanism, Automatic ACK
Response and FCS Check
• Independent Beacon, Transmit and GTS FIFO
• Supports all CCA modes and RSS/LQI
• Automatic Packet Retransmit Capable
• Hardware Security Engine (AES-128) with CTR,
CCM and CBC-MAC modes
• Supports Encryption and Decryption for MAC
Sublayer and Upper Layer
FIGURE 1:
PIN DIAGRAM
2
3
4
5
6
1
7
V
IN
GND
8
9
10
RESET
WAKE
SDO
SDI
SCK
CS
NC
GND
INT
12
11
GND
2.4 GHz IEEE Std. 802.15.4™ 20 dBm RF Transceiver Module
MRF24J40MB
DS70599B-page 2
Preliminary
2009 Microchip Technology Inc.
Table of Contents
1.0
Device Overview .......................................................................................................................................................................... 3
2.0
Circuit Description ........................................................................................................................................................................ 9
3.0
Regulatory Approval ................................................................................................................................................................... 19
4.0
Electrical Characteristics ........................................................................................................................................................... 23
Appendix A: Revision History............................................................................................................................................................... 25
Index ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 27
The Microchip Web Site ....................................................................................................................................................................... 29
Customer Change Notification Service ................................................................................................................................................ 29
Customer Support ................................................................................................................................................................................ 29
Reader Response ................................................................................................................................................................................ 30
Product Identification System............................................................................................................................................................... 31
TO OUR VALUED CUSTOMERS
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2009 Microchip Technology Inc.
Preliminary
DS70599B-page 3
MRF24J40MB
1.0
DEVICE OVERVIEW
The MRF24J40MB is a 2.4 GHz IEEE Std. 802.15.4™
compliant, surface mount module with integrated
crystal, internal voltage regulator, matching circuitry,
Power Amplifier, Low Noise Amplifier and PCB
antenna. The MRF24J40MB module operates in the
non-licensed 2.4 GHz 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 MRF24J40MB module is compatible with
Microchip’s ZigBee
®
, MiWi™ and MiWi P2P software
stacks. Each software stack is available as a free
download, including source code, from the Microchip
web site: http://www.microchip.com/wireless.
The MRF24J40MB module has received regulatory
approvals for modular devices in the United States
(FCC), Canada (IC) and Europe (ETSI). Modular
approval removes the need for expensive RF and
antenna design, and allows the end user to place the
MRF24J40MB module inside a finished product and
not require regulatory testing for an intentional radiator
(RF transmitter).
1.1
Interface Description
Figure 1-1 shows a simplified block diagram of the
MRF24J40MB module. The module is based on the
Microchip Technology MRF24J40 IEEE 802.15.4™
2.4 GHz RF Transceiver IC. The module interfaces to
many popular Microchip PIC
®
microcontrollers via a
4-wire serial SPI interface, interrupt, wake, Reset,
power and ground, as shown in Figure 1-2. Table 1-1
provides the pin descriptions.
Data communications with the MRF24J40MB module
are documented in the “MRF24J40 IEEE 802.15.4™
2.4 GHz RF Transceiver Data Sheet” (DS39776). Refer
to the MRF24J40 Data Sheet for specific serial
interface protocol and register definitions.
FIGURE 1-1:
MRF24J40MB BLOCK DIAGRAM
Note:
See Section 3.0 “Regulatory Approval”
for specific requirements to be followed by
the integrator.
PCB
Antenna
PA
Physical
MAC
Interface
Power
Management
SPI
20 MHz
Crystal
Digital
I/O
Power
MRF24J40MB IEEE Std. 802.15.4™ Module
MRF24J40
LNA
MRF24J40MB
DS70599B-page 4
Preliminary
2009 Microchip Technology Inc.
FIGURE 1-2:
MICROCONTROLLER TO MRF24J40MB INTERFACE
TABLE 1-1:
PIN DESCRIPTION
Pin
Symbol
Type
Description
1
GND
Power
Ground
2
RESET
DI
Global hardware Reset pin
3
WAKE
DI
External wake-up trigger
4
INT
DO
Interrupt pin to microcontroller
5
SDI
DI
Serial interface data input
6
SCK
DI
Serial interface clock
7
SDO
DO
Serial interface data output from MRF24J40
8
CS
DI
Serial interface enable
9
NC
—
No connection
10
V
IN
Power
Power supply
11
GND
Ground
Ground
12
GND
Ground
Ground
Legend: Pin type abbreviation: D = Digital, I = Input, O = Output
SDO
I/O
SDI
SCK
INTx
MRF24J40MB
CS
SDI
SDO
SCK
INT
I/O
WAKE
V
IN
GND
PIC
®
MCU
I/O
RESET
2009 Microchip Technology Inc.
Preliminary
DS70599B-page 5
MRF24J40MB
1.2
Mounting Details
The MRF24J40MB is a surface mountable module.
Module dimensions are shown in Figure 1-3. The
module Printed Circuit Board (PCB) is 0.032" thick with
castellated mounting points on the edge. Figure 1-4 is
a recommended host PCB footprint for the
MRF24J40MB.
The MRF24J40MB 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 1.2", be
kept clear of metal objects. A host PCB ground plane
around the MRF24J40MB acts as a counterpoise to the
PCB antenna. It is recommended to extend the ground
plane at least 0.4" around the module.
FIGURE 1-3:
MODULE DETAILS
FIGURE 1-4:
RECOMMENDED PCB
FOOTPRINT
MRF24J40MB
DS70599B-page 6
Preliminary
2009 Microchip Technology Inc.
FIGURE 1-5:
MOUNTING DETAILS
0.315”
Edge of PCB
Keep area around antenna
(approximately 1.2 inches)
clear of metallic structures
for best performance
PCB Ground Plane (Counterpoise)
Underneath and extend as far as possible
to the sides and below the module
(at least 0.4 inches on each side)
for best performance
0.4”
0.4”
0.4”
1.2”
1.2”
2009 Microchip Technology Inc.
Preliminary
DS70599B-page 7
MRF24J40MB
1.3
Operation
1.3.1
PA/LNA CONTROL
Operation of the Power Amplifier (PA) IC3 and Low Noise
Amplifier (LNA) IC5 is controlled by the MRF24J40
internal RF state machine via RF switches, IC2 and IC4,
and the GPIO1 and GPIO2 pins on the MRF24J40.
Figure 1-6 shows the PA/LNA block diagram. Figure 2-1
is the schematic diagram for the module.
The internal RF state machine is configured for the PA/
LNA mode by setting TESTMODE (0x22F<2:0>) = 111.
Pins, GPIO1 and GPIO2, then control the RF switches,
PA and LNA automatically when the MRF24J40
receives and transmits data.
FIGURE 1-6:
PA/LNA BLOCK DIAGRAM
1.3.2
ENERGY DETECTION (ED)
Before performing an energy detection (see
Section 3.6.1 “RSSI Firmware Request (RSSI
Mode 1)” in the “MRF24J40 Data Sheet” (DS39776)),
perform the following steps:
1.
Configure the internal RF state machine to normal
operation (TESTMODE (0x22F<2:0>) = 000).
2.
Configure GPIO2 and GPIO1 direction for the
output (TRISGP2 (0x34<2>) = 1 and TRISGP1
(0x34<1>) = 1).
3.
Set GPIO2 (0x33<2>) = 1 and GPIO1
(0x32<1>) = 0. This enables the LNA and
disables the PA.
4.
Perform the energy detection following the steps
in Section 3.6.1 “RSSI Firmware Request
(RSSI Mode 1)” in the “MRF24J40 Data Sheet”
(DS39776).
1.3.3
SLEEP
To get the lowest power consumption from the
MRF24J40MB module during Sleep, it is necessary to
disable both the PA and LNA. To do this, perform the
following steps:
1.
Configure the internal RF state machine to normal
operation (TESTMODE (0x22F<2:0>) = 000).
2.
Configure the GPIO2 and GPIO1 direction for
output (TRISGP2 (0x34<2>) = 1 and TRISGP1
(0x34<1>) = 1).
3.
Set GPIO2 (0x33<2>) = 0 and GPIO1
(0x32<1>) = 0. This disables the LNA and the PA.
4.
Put the MRF24J40 to Sleep following the steps
in the “MRF24J40 Data Sheet” (DS39776).
When waking the module, re-enable the PA/LNA mode.
Note:
A complete explanation of the operation of
the PA/LNA control is documented in the
“MRF24J40 Data Sheet” (DS39776),
Section 4.2 “External PA/LNA Control”.
MRF24J40
GPIO1
GPIO2
PCB
Antenna
Balun
RFP
RFN
PA
PA2423L
LNA
PA
RF Switch
AS179-92
RF Switch
AS179-92
LNA
uPC8233TK
V1 V2
V1 V2
Note:
The LNA will amplify the received signal.
The RSSI value will include the receive
signal strength plus the LNA amplification.
MRF24J40MB
DS70599B-page 8
Preliminary
2009 Microchip Technology Inc.
NOTES: