APC320

APC320
20dBm Medium Power ISM RF Transceiver Module V1.30

Features Application
 2000m distance cover(1000bps)  Home and building automation
 GFSK modulation  Automatic meter reading
 Frequency on 433MHz, 470MHz, 868MHz,  Security and alarm system
915MHz  Wireless remote telemetry
 40Kbps [Link] data rate  Industrial data acquisition
 UART/TTL interface  Wireless data communication
 20dBm [Link] power  Wireless embedded system
 -121dBm sensitivity @1k bps  Remote monitor and control
 Supply voltage 5V, 3.3V optional  Wireless data transmission

DESCRIPTION

APC320 is a high efficient transceiver module designed for operations in the unlicensed ISM
(Industrial Scientific Medical) and LPRD bands based on RFIC SI4463 from Silicon labs. GFSK
modulation/demodulation, multi-channel operation, high bandwidth efficiency and anti-blocking
performance make APC320 module easy to realize the robust and reliable wireless link.

The module can be configured to work in different channels. It adopts the high efficient looped
interleaving EDAC (Error Detection and correction) coding with coding gain up to 3dB which
keeps in advance in error correction and coding efficiency over normal FEC (Forward Error
Correction) coding. Because of its high reliability in correction, modules can filter error and fake
information automatically and realize truly transparent wireless link, which makes APC320 very
suitable in the rigid communication environment.

APC320 integrates dual 256 bytes buffer. When the buffer is empty, users can transfer nearly 256

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bytes data at a time and even limitless data transfer can be achieved as long as Air data rate is
configured to be faster than UART data rate (MCU to RF module). APC320 provides standard
UART/TTL interface. Users can choose six Air data rates and three parity checks which make
APC320 possibly tailor-made for different applications. APC320 operates at 2.1~3.6V with low
power consumption, it can works in four different modes which are very suitable for battery
powered-up applications.

PIN FUNCTIONS

PIN Name Function Description

1 GND Ground Ground (0V)
2 VCC Power Power supply. 2.1~3.6V
3 SETA Input Parameter setting A; pull-up resistor: 47K Ohm
4 RXD Input UART input, TTL level; pull-up resistor:47K Ohm
5 TXD Output UART output, TTL level
6 AUX Output Data in/out indication
7 SETB Input Parameter setting B; pull-up resistor: 10M Ohm
Table 1: APC320 Pin functions

ELECTRICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Symbol Parameter (condition) Min. Typ. Max. Units

VCC Supply Voltage 2.1 3.6 V
Temp Operating temperature range -20 25 70 °C
RH Operating relative humidity 10 90 %
Freq Frequency range 433/470/868/915 MHz
Mod Modulation type GFSK
Current in receive mode @10K bps 15
Ir mA
@40K bps 16
It Current in transmit mode @ 20dBm 95 mA
Is Sleep mode @3.3V 2.5 4.0 uA
Pout Maximum output power 20 dBm
Receiving sensitivity @1K bps -121 dBm
Sen
Receiving sensitivity @10K bps -111 dBm
DRGFSK Air data rate 1 40 Kbps
DRIN UART data rate 1.2 115.2 Kbps
Tw Wake-up period 50 5000 ms
Wake-up & Search preamble time
@1K bps 20 ms
Tr(1)
@2K bps 13 ms
@5K bps 6.1 ms

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 APC320

@10K bps 3.9 ms

@20K bps 2.8 ms
@40K bps 1.8 ms
ZANT Antenna Impedance 50 Ohm
Table 2: APC320 Electrical Specifications

ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM RATINGS

Symbol Parameter Min. Max. Units

VCC Supply Voltage -0.3 3.7 V
VI Input voltage -0.3 VCC+0.3 V
VO Output voltage -0.3 VCC+0.3 V
TST Storage temperature -55 125 °C
Table 3: APC320 Maximum Ratings

WORK MECHANISM

1. CODING FORMAT FOR WIRELESS DATA PACKAGE

PREAMBLE SYNC WORD DATA+FEC+CRC

Table 4: APC320 Coding Format

The preamble is alternative “1010” codes which are used to make the clock of receiver
synchronous with transmitter. In normal conditions, 40-bits preamble is enough for use. When
APC320 works in power-saving mode, the preamble also can be functioned to wake up the
receiver so it must be long enough in order to obtain such a function.

E.g. if the receiver is configured to wake up at the interval of one second, it wakes up every
second and searches the preamble for 16-bits long time. In this case the transmitter must be
configured to work in mode 2 so the longer preamble plus synchronous words will be sent,
which means the receiver can detect the preamble in wake-up period successfully.

This section shows the data frame structure in wireless transmission. The preamble, sync word,
FEC/CRC are processed by APC320 modules automatically so users only need to send data to
modules at the predefined UART data format and do not need to consider these factors.

2. WORKING MODE

APC320 can work in 4 different modes which can be realized by configuring the levels of SETA
and SETB pins. Figure 1. The two pins have weak pull-up and can’t be floated in normal
operation in case the module will work unsteadily. Please note that the interface level of the host
must be very close to the working voltage of APC320 and the tolerance between them can’t
exceed ±0.3V or else there will be large sink or source current. For example, if the working

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voltage of APC320 is 3.3V, the power supply for the host should be in the range of 3.0~3.6V.

Figure 1: Connection Diagram

2.1 Normal mode: SETA=0 & SETB=0

The APC320 module sets AUX pin to low and monitor the level of SETB after the RXD pin of
module receives the first byte from the host successfully. After the module receives the last byte of
data package, it will wait for a short period (2~3 bytes). If there is no data coming in this period,
the AUX pin will be set to high and the module will transmit the 40-bits long preamble, sync word
and data after CRC and FEC. When all the data are sent out wirelessly, the module will enter
corresponding mode according the levels of SETA and SETB. In this mode the preamble in
transmitted data package is not long so the receiver module must work in Mode 1 or 2 (continuous
receive status).

After transmit is finished, the module works in continuous receive status in this mode. When the
module detects the data from present wireless channel and checks the data package is effective
after decoding, it will set AUX pin to low and output data to UART interface. When data transfer
is finished, the AUX pin will be set to high again. Figure 2.

Figure 2: Timing Sequence in Data Transmission

In the situation that needs the data packages to be sent continuously with delay as less as possible,
users can take full use of AUX pin to reduce the waiting time of 2~3 bytes long. When APC320
detects the data from the host through RXD pin, it will set AUX pin to low. The module will set
AUX pin to high again when it begins to transmit this package wirelessly. As soon as the host

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detects the AUX is high again, it can transfer the second package to the RXD pin of APC320 so
the module doesn’t need to wait for 2~3 bytes time and transmits the data in the buffer out
wirelessly at once. Figure 3.

Figure 3: Continuous Transmission in Normal Mode

2.2 Wake-up mode: SETA=0 & SETB=1

The APC320 module sets AUX pin to low and monitor the level of SETB after the RXD pin of
module receives the first byte from the host successfully. After the module receives the last byte of
data package, it will wait for a short period (2~3 bytes). If there is no data coming in this period,
the AUX pin will be set to high and transmit a long preamble (1 wake-up period plus extra 40 bits),
sync word and data after CRC and FEC. When all the data are sent out wirelessly, the module will
enter corresponding mode according the levels of SETA and SETB. In this mode the preamble in
transmitted data package is long enough so the receiver module can work in Mode 1, 2 or 3.

After transmit is finished, the module works in continuous receive status in this mode. When the
module detects the data from present wireless channel and checks the data package is effective
after decoding, it will set AUX pin to low and output data to the host through UART interface.
When data transfer is finished, the AUX pin will be set to high again. Different from Mode 1, the
RSSI value is attached at the end of received data package automatically so the last byte of each
data package is the RSSI value in this mode.
RSSI (in dBm) = (RSSI_value /2) – 130

2.3 Power saving mode: SETA=1 & SETB=0

The serial port of module is disabled. The receiver will wake up at predefined interval and monitor
if there is any preamble coming in present wireless channel. If the preamble is detected, the
module will be in receive mode continuously and wait for the whole preamble and sync word.
After receiving the data package and verifying it successfully, the module will set AUX pin to low
in order to wake up the host (MCU or other external device). After 5 ms delay, the module will
enable UART interface and output data to the host. When data transfer is finished, the UART
interface will be disabled again and AUX will be set to high. If the levels of SETA and SETB are
not changed, the module will enter into sleep mode again and wake up at the next wake-up period.

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Figure 4.

Figure 4: Transmit Module in Mode 2 and Receive Module in Mode 3

2.4 Sleep mode: SETA=1 & SETB=1

In this mode, the UART port is disabled and levels of port are kept in previous status. The RF
circuit, MCU clock and related peripheral circuits are all shut down but the watchdog and low
frequency clock still work so that the MCU can be waken up quickly in a very short time and the
watchdog can be cleared. The current of module is about 2.5uA in this mode.

APC320 module enters into sleep status by software control. In sleep status the levels of serial
port are kept in the same status just before entering sleep mode. It only needs 20us to wake up the
module from sleep status, which means data can be output to serial port after SETA pin is set to
low for more than 20us. When the module is in transmit/receive process, it only can enter power
saving or sleep mode after the transmitting or receiving process is finished.

When APC320 works in power saving or sleep mode, users can set pin SETA to low to wake up
the module and output data to its RXD pin. If the module receives the first byte of data package,
it will set AUX pin to low and check the level of pin SETB. If SETB is high, longer preamble is
transmitted; otherwise the normal preamble is transmitted. If users want to let the module enter
into sleep mode after transmission is finished, users can set SETA to high after AUX pin is low
because the module will check the level of SETA automatically when data is transmitted out
successfully. If the SETA pin is high, the module then enters into sleep mode. Users can judge if
the wireless data transmission is finished by checking the level of AUX.

PARAMETER SETTING

Users can configure the parameters (frequency, data rate, output power, etc.) of RF modules by
MCU or PC through converter boards.

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 APC320

Figure 5: Setting Connection Diagram

BY PC: The interface of APC320 is UART/TTL. Users have to use an level converter
board to connect the PC, Figure 5. APPCON provides two types converter boards
(TTL-to-RS232 and TTL-to-USB) to do it. Then run the RF-Magic software(The software should
be run as administrator). Figure 6. when the status bar of software shows “Found Device”. Users
could read/write the parameters for module configuration.

Figure 6: APPCON TOOL for APC320 Module

BY MCU: The module can work normally after power-on for 500ms (T1). When configuring
the APC320, users need to switch it to Mode 4 from other modes. After the module enters into
sleep mode for 10ms or more (T2), it can be configured through MCU. When commands are
output to RXD pin, the module will be waken up no matter what status of UART interface is and it
will use 9600 bps (UART data rate) and no parity check as default data format to configure
parameters. If the commands are set correctly, the module will give response and then it will be
reset and initialized. After 500ms (T4), the module will work with the new parameters. Please note

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that if the commands are set incorrectly, the module will give no feedback but it will still be reset
and initialized. Users can take this advantage to wake up modules in long-term sleep or in the
cases which need to reset the modules.

The commands of APC320 are in HEX format. The configuring data rate is 9600 bps and no parity
check. The command set includes two commands: Read command and Write command.

Read command: 0xFF,0x56,0xAE,0x35,0xA9,0x55,0xF0

Response: 0x24,Mt,Mv,Freq,DRGFSK,POUT,DRIN,Parity,TW

Write command: 0xFF,0x56,0xAE,0x35,0xA9,0x55,0x90,Freq,DRGFSK,POUT,DRIN,

Parity,TW
Response: 0x24,Mt,Mv,Freq,DRFSK,POUT,DRIN,Parity,TW

Symbol Unit Bytes Explanation

Mt --- 1 Module model: 0x0a
Mv --- 1 Module version: 0x00~0xff
Freq. KHz 3 433920 KHz = 0x06, 0x9F, 0x00
DRGFSK Kbps 1 1, 2, 5,10, 20, 40 equal to 0x00,0x01,0x02,0x03,0x04,0x05
0~7 = 0x00 to 0x07. One increment to increases 3dBm. 0x07
POUT dBm 1
refers to the max output power (20dBm)
1.2, 2.4, 4.8, 9.6, 19.2, 38.4, 57.6, 115.2 equal to 0x00, 0x01,
DRIN Kbps 1
0x02, 0x03, 0x04, 0x05, 0x06, 0x07
Parity --- 1 0x00: no parity; 0x01: even parity; 0x02: odd parity
Tw s 1 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5 equal to 0x00~0x0b
Table 6: APC320 Parameter Coding

E.g. If the user wants to set the module work at Freq (433.920MHz), DRGFSK (10K bps), POUT
(20 dBm), DRIN (9.6k bps), Parity (no parity), TW (1s wake-up period), the command can be
written as below:

Write Command: 0xFF,0x56,0xAE,0x35,0xA9,0x55,0x90,0x06,0x9F,0x00,0x03,0x07,0x03,

0x00,0x05

Response: 0x24,0x0a,0x01,0x06,0x9F,0x00,0x03,0x07,0x03,0x00,0x05

Please note that the value of module version might be different when the software version of
APC320 is updated.

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MECHANICAL DATA

Figure 7: Mechanical Dimension

Add: Room 904-905, Junzi Plaza, Qiaoxiang

Road, Futian District, Shenzhen, China
Tel: 0086-755-82787392
Fax: 0086-755-82787392
Email: appcontech@[Link]
Web: [Link]

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