© 2009-2011 Microchip Technology Inc.
Preliminary
DS70590C
MRF49XA
Data Sheet
ISM Band Sub-GHz
RF Transceiver
DS70590C-page 2
Preliminary
© 2009-2011 Microchip Technology Inc.
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ISBN: 978-1-61341-846-8
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© 2009-2011 Microchip Technology Inc.
Preliminary
DS70590C-page 3
MRF49XA
Features
• Fully Integrated Sub-GHz Transceiver
• Supports Proprietary Sub-GHz Wireless Protocols
• 4-Wire Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI)
Compatible Interface
• CMOS/TTL Compatible I/Os
• Clock and Reset Signals for Microcontroller
• Integrated 10 MHz Oscillator Circuitry
• Integrated Low Battery Voltage Detector
• Supports Power-Saving modes
• Operating Voltage: 2.2V–3.8V
• Low-Current Consumption, Typically:
- 11 mA in RX mode
- 15 mA in TX mode
- 0.3
μA in Sleep mode
• Industrial Temperature Range
• 16-Pin TSSOP Package
RF/Analog Features
• Supports ISM Band Sub-GHz Frequency Ranges
(433 MHz, 868 MHz and 915 MHz)
• Modulation Technique: FSK with Frequency
Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) Capability
• Supports High Data Rates:
- Digital mode 115.2 kbps, max.
- Analog mode 256 kbps, max.
• Differential RF Input/Output:
- -110 dBm Typical Sensitivity with 0 dBm
Maximum Input Level
- +7 dBm Typical Transmit Output Power
• High-Resolution Programmable Phase-Locked
Loop (PLL) Synthesizer
• Integrated Power Amplifier
• Integrated Low Phase Noise Voltage Controlled
Oscillator (VCO) Frequency
• Synthesizer and PLL Loop Filter
• Automatic Frequency Control (AFC)
Baseband Features
• Supports Programmable TX Frequency Deviation
and RX Baseband Bandwidth (BBBW)
• Analog and Digital RSSI Outputs with Dynamic
Range
• RX Synchronous Pattern Recognition
• 16-Bit RX Data FIFO
• Two 8-Bit TX Data Registers
• Low-Power Duty Cycle mode
• Advanced Adjacent Channel Rejection/Blocking
Capability
• Internal Data and Clock Recovery
• Supports Data Filtering
• Data Quality Indicator (DQI)
Typical Applications
• Home/Industrial Automation
• Remote Control
• Wireless PC Peripherals
• Remote Keyless Entry
• Vehicle Sensor Monitoring
• Telemetry
• Data Logging Systems
• Remote Automatic Meter Reading
• Security Systems for Home/Industrial
Environment
• Automobile Immobilizers
• Sports and Performance Monitoring
• Wireless Toy Controls
• Medical Applications
ISM Band Sub-GHz RF Transceiver
MRF49XA
DS70590C-page 4
Preliminary
© 2009-2011 Microchip Technology Inc.
Pin Diagram: 16-Pin TSSOP
INT/DIO
RSSIO
V
DD
RFN
RFP
V
SS
RESET
RFXTL/EXTREF
SDI
SCK
CS
SDO
IRQ
FSK/DATA/FSEL
RCLKOUT/FCAP/FINT
CLKOUT
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
MRF49XA
© 2009-2011 Microchip Technology Inc.
Preliminary
DS70590C-page 5
MRF49XA
Table of Contents
1.0
Introduction................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
2.0
Hardware Description................................................................................................................................................................... 9
3.0
Functional Description................................................................................................................................................................ 43
4.0
Application Details...................................................................................................................................................................... 73
5.0
Electrical Characteristics ............................................................................................................................................................ 79
6.0
Packaging Information................................................................................................................................................................ 89
Appendix A: Read Sequence and Packet Structures .......................................................................................................................... 93
Appendix B: Revision History............................................................................................................................................................... 95
The Microchip Web Site....................................................................................................................................................................... 99
Customer Change Notification Service ................................................................................................................................................ 99
Customer Support................................................................................................................................................................................ 99
Reader Response .............................................................................................................................................................................. 100
Product Identification System ............................................................................................................................................................ 101
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MRF49XA
DS70590C-page 6
Preliminary
© 2009-2011 Microchip Technology Inc.
NOTES:
© 2009-2011 Microchip Technology Inc.
Preliminary
DS70590C-page 7
MRF49XA
1.0
INTRODUCTION
Microchip’s MRF49XA is a fully integrated Sub-GHz
RF transceiver. This low-power single chip Frequency
Shift Keying (FSK) baseband transceiver supports:
• Zero-IF architecture
• Multi-channel and multi-band
• Synthesizer with PLL
• Power Amplifier (PA)
• Low Noise Amplifier (LNA)
• I/Q down converter mixers
• I/Q demodulator
• Baseband filters (BBFs) and amplifiers
The simplified functional block diagram of MRF49XA is
shown in
Figure 1-1
. The MRF49XA is an ideal choice
for low-cost, high-volume, low data rate (<256 kbps),
two-way and short range wireless applications. This
transceiver can be used in the unlicensed 433 MHz,
868 MHz and 915 MHz frequency bands, and for
applications looking for FCC, IC or ETSI certification in
the ISM band.
The MRF49XA has a low phase noise and provides an
excellent adjacent channel interference, Bit Error Rate
(BER) and larger communication coverage along with
higher output power. The MRF49XA device’s AFC
feature allows for the use of a low-accuracy, low-cost
crystal. In order to minimize the total system cost, a
communication link in most of the applications can be
created using a low-cost, generic 10 MHz crystal, a
bypass filter and an affordable microcontroller. The
MRF49XA provides a clock signal for the
microcontroller and avoids the need for a second
crystal on the circuit board. The transceiver can be
interfaced with many popular Microchip PIC
®
microcontrollers through a 4-wire SPI, interrupt (IRO)
and Reset. The interface between the microcontroller
and MRF49XA is shown in
Figure 1-2
.
The MRF49XA supports the following digital data
processing features:
• PLL and I/Q VCO with Calibration
• Receiver Signal Strength Indicator
• Data Quality Indicator
• AFC
• Baseband Power Amplifier
• TX and RX Buffers
The receiver’s Baseband Bandwidth (BBBW) can be
programmed to accommodate various deviations, data
rates and crystal tolerance requirements.
The high-resolution PLL allows:
• The usage of multiple channels in any of the
bands
• The rapid settling time allows for faster frequency
hopping, bypassing multipath fading and
interference to achieve robust wireless links
The transceiver is integrated with different Sleep modes
and an internal wake-up timer to reduce the overall
current consumption, and to extend the battery life. The
device’s small size with low-power consumption makes
it ideal for various short range radio applications.
MRF49XA
DS70590C-page 8
Preliminary
© 2009-2011 Microchip Technology Inc.
FIGURE 1-1:
FUNCTIONAL NODE BLOCK DIAGRAM
FIGURE 1-2:
MICROCONTROLLER TO MRF49XA INTERFACE
Matching
Circuitry
Antenna
10 MHz
MCU
Interface
RFP
RFN
MRF49XA
Power
Management
Memory
PA/LNA
and
PLL/CLK
Block
RF Block
Baseband
Amplifier/
Filter/
Limiter
Data
Processing
Unit
SPI
Signals
Other
Handshaking
Signals
SDO
SDI
SCK
I/O
I/O
PIC® MCU
SDI
SDO
SCK
I/O
CLKOUT*
OSC1
IRO
RCLKOUT/FCAP/FINT*
I/O
MRF49XA
* Implies optional signals.
CS
__
INT
I/O/SS
RESET*
INT/DIO*
FSK/DATA/FSEL*
© 2009-2011 Microchip Technology Inc.
Preliminary
DS70590C-page 9
MRF49XA
2.0
HARDWARE DESCRIPTION
The MRF49XA is an integrated, single chip ISM Band
Sub-GHz Transceiver. A simplified architectural block
diagram of the MRF49XA is shown in
Figure 2-1
.
The frequency synthesizer is clocked by an external
10 MHz crystal and generates the 433, 868 and 915
MHz radio frequency. The receiver with a Zero-IF
architecture consists of the following components:
• LNA
• Down Conversion Mixers
• Channel Filters
• Baseband Limiting Amplifiers
• Receiver Signal Strength Indicator
The transmitter with a direct conversion architecture
has a typical output power of +7 dBm. An internal
transmit/receive switch combines the transmitter and
receiver circuits into differential RFP and RFN pins.
These pins are connected to the impedance matching
circuitry (Balun) and to the external antenna connected
to the device.
The device operates in the low-voltage range of 2.2V–
3.8V, and in Sleep mode, it operates at a very low-current
state, typically 0.3 μA.
The quality of the data is checked or validated using the
RSSI and DQI blocks built into the transceiver. Data is
buffered in transmitter registers and receiver FIFOs.
The AFC feature allows the use of a low-accuracy and
low-cost crystal. The CLKOUT is used to clock the
external controller. The transceiver is controlled through
a 4-wire SPI, interrupt (INT/DIO and IRO),
FSK/DATA/FSEL, RCLKOUT/FCAP/FINT and RESET
pins. See
Table 2-1
for pin details.
The MRF49XA supports the following feature blocks:
• Clock Generation
• Data Filtering and Amplification
• Data Pattern Recognition and Timing
• Data Processing and Storage
• Independent Transmit and Receiver FIFO Buffers
• Registers
These features reduce the processing load, and hence,
allows the use of low-cost 8-bit microcontrollers for data
processing.
MRF49XA
DS70590C
-page 10
Prelimina
ry
©
2009-
2011 Microchip T
echnolo
gy Inc.
FIGURE 2-1:
MRF49XA ARCHITECTURAL BLOCK DIAGRAM
8
PA/LNA and PLL/CLK
Block
Baseband Amplifier/Filter/Limiter
Block
Low-Power Block
Microcontroller Interface Block
Power
Supply Block
Data Processing Block
AFC
DQI
Comparator
FIFO
Data Filtering
and Clock
Recovery Unit
I/Q
DEMOD
LBDB
WUTM
with
calibration
OSC
CLK
RSSI
1
3
2
4
10
5
16
14
11
9
15
Self Calibration
PLL and I/Q VCO with
Calibration
MIX
MIX
12
13
6
7
CLK
DATA
SDI
SCK
SDO
FSK/DATA/
FSEL
RCLKOUT/
FCAP/FINT
CLKOUT
RSSIO
V
DD
V
SS
RFP
RFN
RFXTL/
EXTREF
I
Q
____
Clock Block
LNA
PA
AMP
Cal
Ckt
AMP
Cal
Ckt
IRO
CS
__
INT/DIO
RESET