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Learn more about designing with the Si4010 Low Power RF Transmitter:
Video: How to Design a Low Power Remote Control
Si4010 EZRadio® Family Targets One-way Wireless Links; Crystal-less RF Transmitter Si4012 Optimized for Wireless M-Bus
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Silicon Labs has expanded its EZRadio® family to target one-way wireless links with the Si4010 system-on-chip (SoC) crystal-less 8051 MCU RF transmitter. The Si4010 offers a complete remote control system simply by adding a battery with bypass capacitor, PCB antenna and push buttons. This level of integration significantly reduces the complexity and time required vs. competing discrete implementation solutions with up to 23 components.
The Si4010 is a fully integrated crystal-less CMOS SoC with RF transmitter and an embedded 8051 MCU designed for the sub 1 GHz ISM frequency bands. This chip is optimized for battery powered applications with operating voltages from 1.8 to 3.6 V and ultra-low current consumption with a standby current of less than 10 nA. The high power amplifier can supply up to +10 dBm output power with 19.5 dB of programmable range in 0.25 dB increments. Moreover, the SoC transmitter includes a patented antenna tuning circuit that automatically fine tunes the antenna for optimum transmit efficiency and low harmonic content. FSK and OOK modulation is supported with symbol rates up to 100 kbaud in FSK mode. Like all wireless devices, users are responsible for complying with applicable local regulatory requirements for radio transmissions.
In addition to the superior integration, the Si4010 offers numerous other performance enhancements and features over other solutions.
Lowest system cost RF remote control
- Highest integration SoC based on crystal-less architecture; only one external bypass capacitor required
- Automatic antenna tuning allows relaxed manufacturing tolerances
- Highest integration reduces cost, PCB area and improves manufacturing yield
Industry-leading performance and features
- Crystal-less architecture has better frequency accuracy than conventional SAW-based discrete resonator transmitters and much larger continuous frequency range than PLL-based transmitters
- Automatic antenna tuning optimizes the transmit efficiency of the antenna and maintains constant output power to provide consistent, reliable performance
- PA edge rate control reduces OOK spectral splatter to meet RF regulatory requirements
- High-speed 128-bit AES accelerator encrypts data in less than 1 ms
- Four independent 1,000,000 cycle endurance EEPROM counters
- Typical standby current <10 nA
Ease of use to reduce design complexity
- Complete integration of the remote control into a SoC reduces hardware design time and improves reliability
- Automatic antenna tuning simplifies antenna design
- 12 kB ROM library with proven functions to reduce code development and shorten time to market
A good application example for Silicon Labs Si4012 and C8051F930 low power MCU devices is wireless M-Bus T1. The Si4012 is optimized for the M-Bus T1 RF requirements with +10 dBm output power, current consumption less than 20 mA, FSK data rate of 100 kbaud and continuous data streaming with 256-byte FIFO. The C8051F930 is the premier part for low-power metering applications with its 50 nA sleep mode current, 170uA/MHz active mode current, 0.9 V battery operation, 64 kB of Flash and 4 kB of RAM memory. It can host the available Silicon Labs wireless M-Bus stack. The Si4012 + C8051F930 will exhibit the lowest system BOM solution in the market.
If you are designing a one-way wireless link such as remote keyless entry, garage and gate door openers, remote controls, home automation, wireless sensing and security devices, you should be excited about the Si4010 part family!