ZL70251UEB2

Ultra-Low-Power Sub-GHz RF Transceiver 779MHz to 965MHz

Ultra-Low-Power Sub-GHz RF Transceiver 779 MHz to 965 MHz

’s ZL70251 RF transceiver is the lowest-power sub-GHz ISM-band radio for continuous-monitoring, wireless-sensor applications. Because both continuous and peak power supply requirements are ultralow, the ZL70251 is the industry’s leading choice for sensor networks that are powered by a coin-cell battery or an energy-harvesting power source.

The ZL70251 is also highly integrated. Besides the antenna and in some cases its matching network, only a crystal, resistor, and two decoupling capacitors are required. Available as a 2-mm-by-3-mm CSP, the device enables applications with a very small footprint.

The ZL70251 device operates in unlicensed frequency bands between 779 MHz and 965 MHz and offers a maximum data rate of 186 kbit/s to support voice communication. For data communication, the ZL70251 supports extremely low power consumption in packet-based networks.

The device includes the RF transceiver as well as a Media Access Controller MAC that performs most link support functions including Received Signal Strength Indication RSSI, Clear Channel Assessment CCA, sniff, preamble and sync, packetization, and whitening. The device uses standard interfaces, enabling easy integration with a standard microcontroller or Digital Signal Processor DSP.

#### Features

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Ultralow transmit and receive current of less than 2.4 mA

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Low supply voltage of 1.2 V to 1.9 V

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Operates between 779 MHz and 965 MHz 915-MHz ISM band in North America; 868-MHz SRD band in Europe; 779-MHz to 787-MHz band in China

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High data rate 186 kbit/s raw

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Very small footprint

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Few external components crystal, resistor, and two decoupling capacitors

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CSP package: 2 mm by 3 mm

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Standard interfaces

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SPI bus master for packet data

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Two-wire for status and control

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Integrated MAC performing all link layer basic functions

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Full functionality over industrial temperature range −40°C to +85°C

#### Third-Party Applications

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Virtual Extension"s VEmesh Wireless Mesh Network

### Design Resources

The following kits are available to assist developers with evaluating the ZL70251 for use in a wireless sensor network or with designing RF communications systems using the ZL70251.

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ZL70251 WSN Evaluation Kit with Z-Star Protocol

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ZL70251 Application Development Kit ADK

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ZL70251 WSN Evaluation Kit with Z-Star Protocol

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ZL70251 Application Development Kit ADK

### WSN Evaluation Kit

The ZL70251 Wireless Sensor Network WSN Evaluation Kit includes one USB hub and one accelerometer sensor node to demonstrate a high-data-rate, continuous-monitoring application where the node interacts with the hub seamlessly using Microsemi"s Z-Star protocol.

The included Z-Star protocol stack software supports Carrier Sense Multiple Access CSMA transactions in a star network configuration. This robust, proprietary protocol is optimized for ultra-low-power wireless sensor networks and minimizes both packet size and transaction time. The protocol stack may be further optimized for specific customer applications for example, by varying packet length, latency, and frequency of transmission.

Each kit contains:

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One USB hub, including:

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ZL70251 with 50-Ω matching network and dual-band antenna

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USB interface to monitor and control the Z-Star network from a PC

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Microcontroller running the Z-Star protocol stack while supporting the USB interface

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Extender board for customer development

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One sensor node, including:

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ZL70251 with 50-Ω matching network and dual-band antenna

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Microcontroller running the Z-Star protocol and accelerometer application

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Plug-in accelerometer sensor board that attaches to the node board

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CR1632 coin-cell battery

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Extender board for customer development

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Software

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Two types of GUI displays see figure, right:

\- Main display, allowing configuration and control of sensor network

\- Real-time graphs of data from each sensor

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C-based API that runs on a PC supporting all commands to the USB hub

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Firmware for both USB hub and sensor node

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Source code is available with software license agreement

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Full documentation

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Software download includes User"s Guide, Source Code Overview, and hardware documentation board schematics, layout, Gerber files, and Bill of Material BOM for all included boards

#### Optional Sensor Boards

The ZL70251 WSN Evaluation Kit can be used to develop custom sensor applications.

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Accelerometer

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Physical therapy and rehabilitation monitoring

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Body activity monitoring for elderly and recovering patients 

### Application Development Kit ADK

The ZL70251 Application Development Kit ADK enables rapid evaluation, prototyping, and development of RF communication systems. The kit combines hardware and software to create an end-to-end communication system that demonstrates the ZL70251’s exceptional energy efficiency, high integration, and high data rate.

The ZL70251 ADK is an out-of-the-box solution that includes all hardware

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and software required to quickly and easily design RF communication systems. The kit includes:

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Application Development Platform ADP100A board

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Bridge board to allow for USB2.0 interface between a PC running the ADK software and the application processor on the ZL70251 evaluation boards

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Two programmable power supplies with measurement capability

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USB-rechargeable Li-Ion battery to allow hours of operation disconnected from the host PC

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ZL70251 evaluation boards BASE251 and REMOTE251

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Each board is paired with an ADP100A board, resulting in a complete RF test and evaluation platform for a base station and remote device application

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RF section includes the ZL70251, probe points of key digital and analog signals, a matching network for 779- to 928-MHz operation BASE251 includes selectable SAW filters for the European SRD band and the North American ISM band, and a 50-Ω SMA connector

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Microcontroller with JTAG debug interface controlling the ZL70251

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Programmer Cable Adapter PCA100 board

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Adapts to microcontroller IDE

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Pair of 868-MHz and 916-MHz dipole antennas

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Software

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GUI application that provides a user-friendly visual interface for controlling and demonstrating the capabilities of a ZL70251-enabled RF system including trim and tune, Clear Channel Assessment CCA, Bit Error Rate BER, and missed packets, as well as accessing ZL70251-specific registers

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Well-defined application programming interface API realized through a Windows DLL

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Embedded firmware

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Supports all radio functions for a base station and remote device application

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Supports RF evaluation by providing test modes and ZL70251 register access

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Full documentation

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Software download includes ADK User"s Guide, Source Code Overview, and extensive hardware documentation board schematics, layout, Gerber files, and Bill of Material BOM for all included boards

Using the ZL70251 ADK, customers can quickly create their own custom board designs and use Microsemi software as a starting point for software development for specific ZL70251-enabled systems. Microsemi also offers the Z-Star protocol stack, which supports wireless sensor networks.

 

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Requires a Windows-based PC to run graphical user interface GUI software. GUI application installs and runs on Windows XP or Windows 7._

Third-Party Applications and Documentation

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Virtual Extension"s VEmesh Wireless Mesh Network

Ordering Information for Related Developer Tools

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ZLE70251BADB -- ZL70251 WSN Evaluation Kit with Z-Star Protocol

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ZLE70251BADA -- ZL70251 Application Development Kit ADK

#### Packaging Information

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Soldering Profiles

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Moisture Sensitivity

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Shelf Life