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RF
USB R
TO
1. Kit Contents
The RF to USB Reference Design contains the following items:
RF to USB Node Boards (2)
AAA batteries (2)
RF to USB Dongle (1)
Tool Stick Programming Adapter (1)
Retractable USB cord (1)
2. Introduction
This kit is intended to serve both as a simple, low-power analog data collection example and as a development
platform for wireless sensing projects.
The demonstration uses one or more node boards to communicate with a USB dongle, which acts as a network
coordinator and data collector. The system measures temperature and voltage on each dongle board and displays
them on a PC window.
The development example uses two node boards to communicate to each other. A simple code example is
provided as a jump-start for custom projects. Peripheral or low power functionality can be added to this example by
referencing an available library of code examples.
This system is intended to be a simple starting point. For more advanced radio or peripheral evaluation, a full
Si1000DK development kit is recommended.
This kit, RF to USB Reference Design 2, replaces the original RF to USB Reference Design.
3. Quick Start
This section guides you through the setup of a data collection example using two node boards to wirelessly
transmit analog measurements to a PC-based user interface.
1. Install the RF to USB Reference Design software and firmware examples from your installer package, either
downloaded from
www.silabs.com/RFtoUSB
2. Plug the dongle into an available USB port as shown in Figure 1.
Rev. 0.2 5/11
D
EFERENCE
or from a CD.
Figure 1. RF USB Dongle Connect
Copyright © 2011 by Silicon Laboratories
R F - t o - U S B - R D 2
2 U
ESIGN
SER
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UIDE
RF-to-USB-RD2
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Related Manuals for Silicon Laboratories RF-to-USB-RD2
Summary of Contents for Silicon Laboratories RF-to-USB-RD2
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Page 1: Quick Start
1. Install the RF to USB Reference Design software and firmware examples from your installer package, either downloaded from www.silabs.com/RFtoUSB or from a CD. 2. Plug the dongle into an available USB port as shown in Figure 1. Figure 1. RF USB Dongle Connect Rev. 0.2 5/11 Copyright © 2011 by Silicon Laboratories RF-to-USB-RD2... - Page 2 RF-to-USB-RD2 3. Open the PC demonstration. Default path is C:\SiLabs\MCU\RF_to_USB_RD\PC Software, RF to USB Network Demo.exe 4. Click Connect to establish communication with the dongle as shown in Figure 2. Figure 2. Click Connect Note: If an “old firmware” warning is received, click “yes” to update as shown in Figure 3.
- Page 3 RF-to-USB-RD2 6. Slide the power switch to BATT as shown in Figure 5. Figure 5. RF USB Node Power On 7. Associate the board with the dongle and PC application, and press the button as shown in Figure 6. a.Press the button.
- Page 4 RF-to-USB-RD2 3. Vary the ADC input by turning the potentiometer as shown in Figure 8. Figure 8. RF USB Node Potentiometer 4. Touch the Si1014 package to warm the internal temperature sensor as shown in Figure 9. Figure 9. RF USB Node Temperature Changes Note: The node board transmits periodically for a fixed time, then goes to sleep.
- Page 5 RF-to-USB-RD2 4. RF to USB Data Collection Demo The RF to USB kit features a wireless data sensor demonstration. This demo uses one or more node boards to transmit analog data (temperature and a potentiometer value) to a USB dongle at a fixed frequency of 919.84 MHz.
- Page 6 RF-to-USB-RD2 4. Node (1–4) Up to four nodes may be connected to the PC application. The associated node window becomes enabled (or ungreyed) as each node associates. This demonstration uses a very simple association scheme. Each node board powers up unassociated. On the first button press, the node requests a node ID from the dongle.
- Page 7 Keil, SDCC, or Raisonance compilers. The IDE connects to the Node board through the supplied ToolStick programming adapter. Visit the Silicon Laboratories web site (keyword search “IDE download”) to obtain a free copy of the Silicon Laboratories IDE. A trial version of a compiler must also be downloaded and installed.
- Page 8 RF-to-USB-RD2 5.2. Building and Downloading the Project 1. Open the Silabs IDE and load the project: C:\Silabs\MCU\RF_to_USB_RD\Firmware\PreProcessorPHY_TxRx\ppPhyTxRx.wsp 2. Set the power switch on one of the two node boards to “TS 3.3V” (ToolStick 3.3 V) Figure 11. Power Switch to TS 3.3 V 3.
- Page 9 RF-to-USB-RD2 6. Verify successful build and download as shown in Figure 15. Figure 15. Verify Successful Build and Download 7. Disconnect the IDE as shown in Figure 16. Figure 16. Disconnect IDE Rev. 0.2...
- Page 10 RF-to-USB-RD2 8. Remove the Node board from the ToolStick Debug Adapter as shown in Figure 17. Figure 17. Remove Node Board from Toolstick Adapter 9. Repeat for the second Node board. Rev. 0.2...
- Page 11 RF-to-USB-RD2 5.3. Running the Project 1. Insert a battery in each node board as shown in Figure 18. Figure 18. Insert Battery in Node Board 2. Slide the power switch to BATT. Figure 19. Slide Power Switch to BATT 3. Press the button and observe the LEDs change on the other node board with each press.
- Page 12 RF-to-USB-RD2 5.4. Understanding the Project Examine the user code. One file, mainTxRx.c, contains the user code. Other files contain the code modules from the ppPhy and do not need to be modified. The first items called in main.c set the Si1014's DC-DC converter. In this example, the DC-DC converter is used to step a single-cell battery voltage up to 3.3 V.
- Page 13 Making a measurement with the ADC: See code examples under C:\SiLabs\MCU\Examples\Si101x\ADC. Adding communications via UART or SPI: See code examples under C:\SiLabs\MCU\Examples\Si101x\UART and C:\SiLabs\MCU\Examples\Si101x\SPI Note that these code examples are installed as part of the Silicon Laboratories IDE installation. Rev. 0.2...
- Page 14 Laboratories website. The RF-to-USB dongle is intended more as a fixed demonstration tool. Silicon Laboratories will gladly provide PCB source files (in Eagle) and Gerbers, but the dongle is not intended for development work since it does not have a convenient debugging interface.
- Page 15 RF-to-USB-RD2 1. Si1014 Wireless MCU Includes MCU core, +13 dBm radio transceiver, and dc-dc converter. 2. Radio GPIO Test Points 3. RF Matching Network Direct tie (refer to “AN436: Si4030/4031/4430/4431 PA Matching”) matched for 915 MHz. 4. Printed Antenna 5. 30 MHz Crystal Reference for RF PLL 6.
- Page 16 RF-to-USB-RD2 6. PCB Schematics and Layouts Rev. 0.2...
- Page 17 RF-to-USB-RD2 Rev. 0.2...
- Page 18 RF-to-USB-RD2 Rev. 0.2...
- Page 19 RF-to-USB-RD2 Rev. 0.2...
- Page 20 RF-to-USB-RD2 Figure 28. Dongle PCB Layout (L1 Top) Figure 29. Dongle PCB Layout (L2) Rev. 0.2...
- Page 21 RF-to-USB-RD2 Figure 30. Dongle PCB Layout (L3) Figure 31. Dongle PCB Layout (L4 Bottom) Rev. 0.2...
- Page 22 RF-to-USB-RD2 Figure 32. Dongle PCB Layout (Top Assembly) Figure 33. Dongle PCB Layout (L4 Bottom Test Points) Rev. 0.2...
- Page 23 RF-to-USB-RD2 7. References The RF to USB Reference Design Demo uses a 919.84 MHz RF link. The demo firmware is written on top of ® EZMAC PRO. The RF link data rate is 128 kbps using GFSK modulation. Both demo applications use EZMAC PRO channel 19.
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Page 24: Change List
RF-to-USB-RD2 OCUMENT HANGE Revision 0.1 to Revision 0.2 Content completely revised. Rev. 0.2... - Page 25 RF-to-USB-RD2 OTES Rev. 0.2...
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Page 26: Contact Information
Silicon Laboratories products are not designed, intended, or authorized for use in applications intended to support or sustain life, or for any other application in which the failure of the Silicon Laboratories product could create a situation where per- sonal injury or death may occur.
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