• State TI Thinks Resolved
  • Locked Locked
  • Replies 6 replies
  • Answers 1 answer
  • Subscribers 17 subscribers
  • Views 1222 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Support feedback
Options
Options
Related

This thread has been locked.

If you have a related question, please click the "Ask a related question" button in the top right corner. The newly created question will be automatically linked to this question.

CC2530 Programming and General Questions

Ena Wong
Intellectual 415 points
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: CC2530, CC2520, CC2500, Z-STACK


All,

I have a question about the CC2530. There is a thermal pad on the botto of it, and it is my understanding that these are usually placed on high power devices that are in danger of getting too hot. Upon looking on the datasheet however, the max current is 9mA at 3.3V, which yields 30mW. Is there some other purpose for the thermal pad? Or am I missing something as far as power dissipation is concerned? What is the maximum power dissipated on the IC?

I also noticed that the CC2530 is complete uC. I was wondering if there was a simpler alternative. I'm looking for simply a ZigBee chip that has the RF section and the I2C interface. It doesn't have to be a transceiver, just a receiver is all that is necessary. Does TI have this?

Last are the programming questions. For my purposes, the receiver will have to be programmed and re-programmed multiple times on board. How many pins, and which ones, are actually necessary to program the CC2530? If I decide to go for the over-the-air alternative for programming, does TI supply code to help with this endeavor? In other words, does it need some program already in it in order for the over-the-air programming to work, and if so do I need a programmer for this?

Thank you!

  • 0
    TI__Mastermind 36395 points
    Ena,

    1) The pad on the bottom of the IC is there not for heat, but for getting a good ground as required by RF circuits.

    2) We have a simple 802.15.4 transceiver called CC2520, no MCU, just the radio.

    3) To program the CC2530 please follow the pin requirements as described in our "cc_debugger user" www.ti.com/.../swru197h.pdf

    Regards,
    /TA
  • 0
    TI__Mastermind 27145 points

    Hi,

    The current drain in the Transmit mode is around 40mA at 3V. Please refer to the Electrical characteristics table on Page-4 of the data sheet. The thermal pad also as a Gnd pad for the device.

    If you want only a transceiver for 2.4GHz application, you may look at our CC2500. The following is the link to the data sheet.

    http://www.ti.com/product/CC2500?keyMatch=cc2500&tisearch=Search-EN-Everything

    If you want to tuse for Zigbee application, it is better to use our Z-stack which can run on our CC2530.

    The Debug interface (DC, DD & RST) lines can be used for programming application. Please refer to data sheet and user guide of CC2530.

    CC debugger from TI can be used to program these devices. The following is the link to the CC Debugger.

    http://www.ti.com/tool/cc-debugger?keyMatch=cc debugger&tisearch=Search-EN-Everything

    Thanks,

    PM

  • 0 in reply to PM
    Intellectual 415 points
    PM,

    I decided to go with the CC2520. For programming this one, is the CC Debugger required? Do I need hardware pins for programming or can I do it wirelessly? If I do need hardware pins, can you tell me how many I need/ which ones?

    Thanks in advance!
    Ena
  • 0 in reply to Ena Wong
    TI__Mastermind 27145 points

    Hi,

    CC2520 is only a Transceiver. You need to interface CC2520 with a Microcontroller by using SPI bus and other GPIO lines.

    Please refer to sections 9.8, 9.9 and 10  of CC2520 data sheet for further details.

    CC debugger can be used to control CC2520 by using SmartRFStudio. Please refer to Figure 8 on CC Debugger user guide for CC2520-CC Debugger interface connections. This is only useful for testing purpose.

     Thanks,

    PM

  • 0 in reply to PM
    Intellectual 415 points
    PM,

    I'm not concerned with the firmware part of it. I want to know how to physically connect the programmer to the IC; which pins do I use? From what I read, it looks like it is a 4 wire interface, can you please confirm this?

    Also, is there a way to program it without any electrical connections at all?

    Thanks.
  • 0 in reply to Ena Wong
    TI__Mastermind 27145 points

    Hi,

    CC2520 has no memory to hold the program. It has a limited RAM that can be used for internal purpose only.

    You can control CC2520 by using it's SPI bus. The following physical interface is required to control CC2520.

    There is no way to control this device without any wires.

    Thanks,

    PM