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NORA-W30 series
Stand-alone dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules
System integration manual
Abstract
This manual provides a functional overview combined with best-practice design guidelines for
integrating NORA-W30 series stand-alone, dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy modules in
customer applications. It also describes open CPU application development solutions using the
Realtek SDK. The multi-radio modules are ultra-compact, cost-efficient, and designed in the NORA
form factor for a wide range of industrial applications. The module series also includes variants with
or without an internal antenna.
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Summary of Contents for Ublox NORA-W30 Series
- Page 1 Abstract This manual provides a functional overview combined with best-practice design guidelines for integrating NORA-W30 series stand-alone, dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy modules in customer applications. It also describes open CPU application development solutions using the Realtek SDK. The multi-radio modules are ultra-compact, cost-efficient, and designed in the NORA form factor for a wide range of industrial applications.
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Page 2: Document Information
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual Document information Title NORA-W30 series Subtitle Stand-alone dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules Document type System integration manual Document number UBX-22021119 Revision and date 17-May-2024 Disclosure restriction C1-Public Product status Corresponding content status Functional sample Draft For functional testing. -
Page 3: Table Of Contents
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual Contents Document information ..........................2 Contents ................................3 Module overview ............................ 7 1.1 Module architecture ........................... 7 Module integration ..........................8 2.1 CPU and memory ............................9 2.2 Power management ........................... 9 2.2.1 SPS, digital I/O and system supply (VDD)..................9 2.2.2 Power supply configuration ......................10... - Page 4 NORA-W30 series - System integration manual 3.1 Overview ..............................18 3.2 Antenna interface .............................18 3.2.1 RF transmission line design (NORA-W301) ................19 3.2.2 Antenna design (NORA-W301) ......................20 3.2.3 NORA-W301 U.FL reference design .....................23 3.2.4 Host board layout for NORA-W306 PCB trace antenna ............24 3.3 Data communication interfaces ......................25...
- Page 5 NORA-W30 series - System integration manual 6.4.2 Canada compliance statement (ISED) ..................39 6.4.3 Referring to the u-blox FCC/ISED certification ID ..............40 6.4.4 Obtaining own FCC/ISED certification ID ..................41 6.4.5 Antenna requirements ........................41 6.4.6 Software configuration and control ....................42 6.4.7 Operating frequencies ........................42 6.4.8 End product labeling requirements ....................43...
- Page 6 NORA-W30 series - System integration manual Related documentation ........................... 63 Revision history ............................64 Contact ................................64 UBX-22021119 - R04 Module overview Page 6 of 64 C1-Public...
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Page 7: Module Overview
The modules support operation in an extended temperature range of –40°C to +105°C and are qualified for professional grade applications. 1.1 Module architecture NORA-W30 series modules are based on the Realtek RTL8720DF chip. Module variants allow developers to select either an external antenna with NORA-W301 or an on-module antenna with NORA-W306. -
Page 8: Module Integration
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual Module integration NORA-W30 series modules come in a stand-alone (host-less), open CPU configuration that allows customer applications to run on the module itself – without any need for a supporting host MCU. The module supports Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n and Bluetooth ®... -
Page 9: Cpu And Memory
ID 2.2 Power management 2.2.1 SPS, digital I/O and system supply (VDD) NORA-W30 series have a single power supply input, VDD, which is also the I/O voltage reference. Nominal voltage is 3.3 VDC ±10%. UBX-22021119 - R04 Module integration... -
Page 10: Power Supply Configuration
For electrical specifications, see also the appropriate NORA-W30 series data sheet [2]. 2.3 Module reset NORA-W30 series modules can be reset (rebooted) with a low-level input on the nRESET pin. The logic level of this pin is normally set high using an internal pull-up resistor. The low-level input triggers a “... -
Page 11: Tickless
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual 2.4.2 Tickless Tickless is a FreeRTOS™ low-power feature which halts the CPU when no task is scheduled. 2.4.3 Sleep The dual-core design of KM0 and KM4 is largely for saving power. KM4 is used for the main application while KM0 is used for power-save, Wi-Fi firmware, and power/clock control. -
Page 12: Peripheral Assignments
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual State during boot Internal pull-up/down Behavior Description Boot to test mode Test Mode (SWD_DATA) 50 kΩ pull-up Normal boot Bootloader – download image from UART Booting Mode (PA7) 50 kΩ pull-up Boot from internal flash Table 3: NORA-W30 series bootstrap pins 2.6 Peripheral assignments... -
Page 13: Pin Multiplexing
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual 2.7 Pin multiplexing Only certain functions may be enabled at one time. Table 4 describes the pin multiplexing options. Port Name FUNC_ID0 FUNC_ID1 FUNC_ID2 FUNC_ID3 FUNC_ID4 FUNC_ID5 FUNC_ID6 FUNC_ID7 FUNC_ID8 FUNC_ID9 FUNC_ID10 FUNC_ID11 FUNC_ID12... -
Page 14: Real-Time Clock
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual Table 5 describes the pin multiplexing for Always ON (AON) power domain – pins that can wake the module from deep sleep. Port name Bootstrap FUNC_ID0 FUNC_ID28 FUNC_ID29 FUNC_ID30 FUNC_ID31 Default pull GPIO (default) -
Page 15: Antenna Integration
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual 2.9 Antenna integration Antenna interfaces are different for each module variant in the NORA-W30 series. The modules support either an internal antenna (NORA-W306) or external antennas connected through a dedicated antenna pin (NORA-W301). 2.9.1 External antenna interface The NORA-W301 module is equipped with an antenna signal (ANT) pin. -
Page 16: Serial Peripheral Interface (Spi)
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual • IR_UART: high-speed UART capable of transmitting and decoding modulated infrared signals compatible with the Infrared Data Association (IrDA) specification. • LP_UART1: low-power UART with a maximum baud rate of 115200 kbps. Can wake MCU from sleep. -
Page 17: Digital Interfaces
Table 2.13 Debug NORA-W30 series uses the Arm® Serial Wire Debug (SWD) interface , SWD_DATA and SWD_CLK, for programming and debugging both cores of the Realtek RTL8720DF within the module. 2.14 No-connect pins Do not connect No-Connect (NC) pins. These pins are allocated for future functionality . -
Page 18: Design-In
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual Design-in Follow the design guidelines described in this chapter to optimize the integration of NORA-W30 series modules in the final application board. 3.1 Overview Although all application circuits must be properly designed, there are several points that require special attention during application design. -
Page 19: Rf Transmission Line Design (Nora-W301)
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual 3.2.1 RF transmission line design (NORA-W301) RF transmission lines, such as the ones from the ANT pad up to the related internal antenna pad, must be designed so that the characteristic impedance is as close as possible to 50 . -
Page 20: Antenna Design (Nora-W301)
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual • Ensure solid metal connection of the adjacent metal layer on the PCB stack-up to main ground layer, providing enough vias on the adjacent metal layer. • Route RF transmission lines far from any noise source, such as switching supplies, digital lines, and any other sensitive circuit, to avoid crosstalk between RF traces and high impedance or analog signals. - Page 21 NORA-W30 series - System integration manual Table 7 summarizes the requirements for the antenna RF interface: Item Requirements Remarks Impedance The impedance of the antenna RF connection must match 50 nominal characteristic impedance the 50 impedance of the ANT pin.
- Page 22 NORA-W30 series - System integration manual Typically, the RF plug is available as a cable assembly. Different types of cable assembly are available. The user should select the cable assembly best suited to the application. The key characteristics of the assembly are: •...
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Page 23: Nora-W301 U.fl Reference Design
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual • Further to the custom PCB and product restrictions, antennas may require tuning/matching to comply with all the applicable required certification schemes. It is strongly advised that you consult the antenna manufacturer for specific design-in guidelines and plan validation activities for the final prototypes, such as tuning, matching, and performance assessments. -
Page 24: Host Board Layout For Nora-W306 Pcb Trace Antenna
NORA-W3x6 has six extra GND pads under the antenna, which must be connected for a good antenna performance. Detailed measurements of the footprint, including these extra GND pads, are given in the NORA-W30 series data sheet [2]. • Large parts or parts with a high physical profile that include metal, must not be placed closer than 10 mm to the module antenna. -
Page 25: Data Communication Interfaces
• Verify with PCB manufacturer allowable stack-ups and controlled impedance dimensioning. • Verify that the power supply design and power sequence are compliant with the specification of NORA-W30 series module. See also the NORA-W30 data sheet [2]. UBX-22021119 - R04... -
Page 26: Component Placement
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual 3.4.2 Component placement • Place accessory parts, like bypass capacitors, as close as possible to the module to improve filtering capability. Prioritize the placement of the smallest size capacitor close to module pads. • Do not place components close to the antenna area. Follow the recommendations given by the antenna manufacturer to determine the distance of the antenna in relation to other parts of the system. -
Page 27: Module Footprint And Paste Mask
The RF keep-out area is not required for NORA-W301. 3.6 Thermal guidelines NORA-W30 series modules have been successfully tested in -40 °C to +105 °C. A good grounding is important for temperature relief at high ambient temperatures. UBX-22021119 - R04... -
Page 28: Esd Guidelines
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual 3.7 ESD guidelines The immunity of devices, integrating NORA-W30 modules, against Electro-Static Discharge (ESD) is part of the Electro-Magnetic Compatibility (EMC) conformity. This immunity is required for products bearing the CE marking, compliant with the R&TTE Directive (99/5/EC), the EMC Directive (89/336/EEC), and the Low Voltage Directive (73/23/EEC) issued by the Commission of the European Community. -
Page 29: Design-In Checklists
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual 3.8 Design-in checklists 3.8.1 Schematic checklist All module pins have been properly numbered and designated in the schematic (including thermal pins). Power supply design complies with the specification. See Power management. ... -
Page 30: Open Cpu Software
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual Open CPU software 4.1 Realtek SDK Realtek provides application development information and SDKs through the Ameba IoT website [16] and repositories on GitHub [17] 4.1.1 Standard SDK NORA-W30 is supported through the standard Realtek SDK that covers the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) and IAR development environments. -
Page 31: Flashing Open Cpu Software
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual 4.1.5 Flashing open CPU software NORA-W30 includes a serial bootloader from Realtek that facilitates loading over UART. A SWD connection is available for debugging. The evaluation kit, EVK-NORA-W30, also includes a J-Link On board (LINK-OB) debug interface. No additional hardware is required for flash loading or interactive debugging. -
Page 32: Wi-Fi Mac And Bluetooth Device Addresses And Calibration
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual 4.2 Wi-Fi MAC and Bluetooth device addresses and calibration A block of four public MAC addresses are allocated to each NORA-W30 module. The base address is encoded in the data matrix. The addresses that are intended to be allocated are: •... -
Page 33: Handling And Soldering
5.2 Packaging, shipping, storage, and moisture preconditioning For information pertaining to reels, tapes or trays, moisture sensitivity levels (MSL), shipment and storage, as well as drying for preconditioning, refer to the NORA-W30 series data sheet Packaging information reference guide [1]. -
Page 34: Reflow Soldering Process
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual 5.3 Reflow soldering process NORA-W30 series modules are surface mounted devices supplied in a Land Grid Array (LGA) package with gold-plated solder lands. The modules are manufactured in a lead-free process with lead-free soldering paste. -
Page 35: Cleaning
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual 5.3.1 Cleaning Cleaning the modules is not recommended. Residues underneath the modules cannot be easily removed with a washing process. • Cleaning with water will lead to capillary effects where water is absorbed in the gap between the baseboard and the module. -
Page 36: Regulatory Compliance
Only authorized antenna(s) may be used. Refer to Approved antennas for the list of authorized antennas. In the end-product, the NORA-W30 series module must be installed in such a way that only authorized antennas can be used. • For end products using the NORA-W301, the end-product must use the specified antenna trace... -
Page 37: European Union Regulatory Compliance
NORA-W30 data sheet [2]. 6.2.2 Compliance with the RoHS directive NORA-W30 series modules comply with the Directive 2011/65/EU (EU RoHS 2) and its amendment Directive (EU) 2015/863 (EU RoHS 3). 6.3 Great Britain regulatory compliance For information about the regulatory compliance of NORA-W30 series modules against requirements and provisions in Great Britain, see also the NORA-W3 UKCA Declaration of Conformity [14]. -
Page 38: Fcc/Ised End-Product Regulatory Compliance
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual 6.4 FCC/ISED End-product regulatory compliance u-blox represents that the modular transmitter fulfills the FCC/ISED regulations when operating in authorized modes on any host-product given that the integrator follows the instructions as described in this document. Accordingly, the host-product manufacturer acknowledges that all host-products referring to the FCC ID or ISED certification number of the modular transmitter and placed on the market by the host-product manufacturer need to fulfil all of the requirements mentioned below. -
Page 39: United States Compliance Statement (Fcc)
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual 6.4.1 United States compliance statement (FCC) NORA-W30 series modules have modular approval and comply with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: 1. This device may not cause harmful interference, and 2. -
Page 40: Referring To The U-Blox Fcc/Ised Certification Id
☞ The approval type for all NORA-W30 series variants is a single modular approval. Due to ISED Modular Approval Requirements (Source: RSP-100 Issue 10), any application which includes the module must be approved by the module manufacturer (u-blox). The application manufacturer must provide design data for the review procedure. -
Page 41: Obtaining Own Fcc/Ised Certification Id
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual 6.4.4 Obtaining own FCC/ISED certification ID Integrators who do not want to refer to the u-blox FCC/ISED certification ID, or who do not fulfil all requirements to do so may instead obtain their own certification. With their own certification, the integrator has full control of the grant to make changes. -
Page 42: Software Configuration And Control
6.4.6 Software configuration and control ☞ “ od ar trans itter” ereafter refers to NORA-W30 series (FCC ID XPYNORAW3). As the end product must comply with the requirements addressed by the OET KDB 594280 [11], the host-product integrating the NORA-W30 must comply with the following requirements: •... -
Page 43: End Product Labeling Requirements
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual Channel center Channel Master device Client device Remarks number frequency [MHz] 1 – 11 2412 – 2462 12 – 13 2467 – 2472 Canada (ISED): Devices are restricted to 36 – 48 5180 – 5240 indoor operation only and the end product must be labelled accordingly. - Page 44 NORA-W30 series - System integration manual FCC end product labeling In accordance with 47 CFR § 15.19, the end product shall bear the following statement in a conspicuous location on the device: Contains FCC ID: XPYNORAW3 This device complies with part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: This device may not cause harmful interference, and This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
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Page 45: Japan Radio Equipment Compliance (Pending)
5 GHz and” The NORA-W30 series module is restricted on the Japanese market to be used indoors only if the product is operating in the 5.2/5.3 GHz band. Table 15 shows the Giteki certification IDs allocated to NORA-W30 series modules. -
Page 46: Ncc Taiwan Compliance (Pending)
ISM radio wave radiated devices. 6.7.2 Labeling requirements for end product End products based on NORA-W30 series modules and targeted for distribution in Taiwan must carry labels with the textual and graphical elements shown below. Contains Transmitter Module 內含發射器模組... -
Page 47: Australia And New Zealand Regulatory Compliance (Pending)
Management Group web site www.rsm.govt.nz. 6.10 South Africa regulatory compliance (pending) NORA-W30 series modules are compliant and certified by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA). End products that are made available for sale or lease or supplied in any other manner in South Africa shall have a legible label permanently affixed to its exterior surface. -
Page 48: Approved Antennas
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual 6.11 Approved antennas 6.11.1 Antenna accessories Name U.FL to Reverse Polarity SMA adapter cable Applicable NORA-W361 modules For information about how to integrate the U.FL connector with the NORA-W361 ANT pin, see also NORA-W361 U.FL reference design. -
Page 49: Output Power Compliance
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual AFG4507W2S-0200S Manufacturer Abracon Gain 3.5 dBi (2.4 GHz), 5.3 dBi (5 GHz) Impedance 50 Ω Size (HxWxL) 45.0 x 7.8 x 0.2 mm Type Flat patch Comment For best performance, the antenna should be attached to a plastic enclosure or part. -
Page 50: Product Testing
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual Product testing 7.1 u-blox in-line production test As part of our focus on high quality products, u-blox maintain stringent quality controls throughout the production process. This means that all units in our manufacturing facilities are fully tested and that any identified defects are carefully analyzed to improve future production quality. -
Page 51: Oem Manufacturer Production Test
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual 7.2 OEM manufacturer production test As all u-blox products undergo thorough in-series production testing prior to delivery, OEM manufacturers do not need to repeat any firmware tests or measurements that might otherwise be necessary to confirm RF performance. Testing over analog and digital interfaces is also unnecessary during an OEM production test. -
Page 52: Appendix
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual Appendix A Wi-Fi transmit output power limits All power settings apply to the NORA-W301 and NORA-W306 unless otherwise noted. A.1 FCC / ISED regulatory domain Table 16 through Table 20 list the maximum allowable conducted output power limits for operation in the FCC/ISED regulatory domains. -
Page 53: Ised Wi-Fi Output Power For 5 Ghz Band
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual Mode Channel(s) Maximum power setting 802.11a, OFDM 36, 64, 100, 104 16 dBm 40, 56, 60 17 dBm 44, 48, 149 - 165 18 dBm 116–136 15.5 dBm 140, 144 14 dBm 802.11n, HT20 36–48, 52–60, 108–112, 149–165... -
Page 54: Red And Ukca Regulatory Domains
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual A.2 RED and UKCA regulatory domains Table 19 Table 20 list the maximum allowable conducted output power limits for operation in the RED and UKCA regulatory domains. A.2.1 Wi-Fi output power for 2.4 GHz band The output power limits are for use with a max allowed in-band antenna gain of 3.8 dBi. -
Page 55: B Reference Trace Design (Nora-W3X1 Only)
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual B Reference trace design (NORA-W3x1 only) Designers can take full advantage of the NORA-W3 Single-Modular Transmitter certification approval for NORA-W3x1 by integrating the u-blox reference design described in this appendix into their products. This approach requires compliance with the following rules: •... -
Page 56: Floor Plan
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual B.1 Floor plan Figure 18 shows the critical components and positioning of the copper traces in the reference design. The itemized references are described in Table 4 4 4 Figure 18: NORA-W3x1 antenna reference design... -
Page 57: Rf Trace Specification And Pcb Stack-Up
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual B.2 RF trace specification and PCB stack-up The RF trace is a 50 Ω coplanar microstrip using the dimensions layer stack-up described in Table Figure 19: Coplanar microstrip dimensions Reference Item Value Spacing 300 ± 50 μm Conductor width 195 ±... -
Page 58: Keep Out Areas
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual B.2.2 Keep out areas There are keep-out areas on layers 1 and 2, around the U.FL connector and RF pin of the NORA-W3x1 module. The microstrip spacing accounts for the layer 1 keep-out around the module RF pin. The U.FL connector requires that there be no copper underneath. - Page 59 NORA-W30 series - System integration manual On layer 2, the keep-out under the U.FL is duplicated, including the spacing around the U.FL RF pad on layer 1. Also on layer 2, a keep-out under the RF pad of the NORA-W3x1 module is required. See...
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Page 60: Component Placement
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual B.2.3 Component placement In addition to the U.FL connector and module RF pin, three size 0201 component locations are included in the trace design, designated as C1, C2 and C3. Only C1, the series capacitor, is populated. -
Page 61: C Glossary
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual C Glossary Abbreviation Definition ASCII American Standard Code for Information Interchange Analog to Digital Converter Always ON Arm (Advanced RISC Machines) Holdings Automatic Test Equipment Central Processing Unit Data Circuit-terminating Equipment* / Data Communication Equipment*... - Page 62 NORA-W30 series - System integration manual Abbreviation Definition Surface Mount Technology Serial Peripheral Interface To Be Confirmed Through-Hole Technology Transport Layer Security UART Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter Universal Serial Interface (see I2C, SPI, and UART) VSWR Voltage Standing Wave Ratio...
- Page 63 NORA-W30 series - System integration manual Related documentation Package information guide, UBX-14001652 NORA-W30 data sheet, UBX-22021117 Realtek RTL8720 data sheet (registration required) Realtek user manual (registration required) Realtek application note (registration required) JEDEC: Moisture/Reflow Sensitivity Classification for Nonhermetic Solid State Surface Mount...
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Page 64: Ubx-22021119 - R04
NORA-W30 series - System integration manual Revision history Revision Date Name Comments 23-Nov-2022 brec Initial release 24-Mar-2023 brec Changed disclosure restriction to C1-Public, removed audio codec 20-Dec-2023 brec Updated product status in Document information, updated certification labeling requirements in Regulatory...
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