DataBridge

Getting Started

Getting Started with DataBridge Wireless I/O Modules

This document includes information to assist in using Starman Electrics DataBridge Wireless I/O modules. Included is information for module selection, antenna selection, circuit board design, and example schematics.

About DataBridge Modules

DataBridge is a wireless I/O transceiver module used for pointto-point bridging of analog, digital, and UART data. Two modules automatically link together bridging both sides through a low-latency, full-duplex wireless RF link and function as a wireless cable.

Index
Module Selection Antenna Selection Design Considerations Design Examples:
Minimum Configuration Wireless Digital and Analog I/O Bridge Wireless On/Off Digital Switches Wireless Potentiometer for 5.0V Analog Wireless Monitoring of 4-20mA Signals Wireless UART link for Microcontrollers Wireless microcontroller link from PC Serial Wireless Data Acquisition to PC Serial Wireless Data Acquisition to PC USB Microcontroller Data Acquisition and Control Configuring NETID for Multiple Networks

Applications
Wireless Telemetry Remote Data Acquisition Remote Control Industrial Wireless Systems Serial Cable Replacement

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Selecting a Module
DataBridge modules are manufactured with five models, each available in SMD (surface mount) and DIP (0.100 pitch) for breadboard compatibility. All DataBridge models can be mixed and matched.

Models
Model SE1200A SE1200B SE1200C SE1200D SE1200E Power 1mW 1mW 1mW 100mW 100mW Range 1km 1km 1km 4km 4km Antenna Internal Ceramic SMA Connector U.FL Connector SMA Connector U.FL Connector

Considerations
When choosing a model consider the required transmission range, surrounding interference, antenna type, manufacture quantity, and package format. Range If long range is required or your application will be used in noisy RF environments, it is recommended to get a 100mW module. Antenna Type An internal antenna is only available for 1mW power modules. For 100mW modules, an external antenna is needed. You can choose from either SMA or UFL connector type. SMA connectors are recommended for prototyping, and UFL connectors are recommended for high volume manufacturing. Package For prototyping and testing, it is recommended to use the DIP package for use with a breadboard. For high volume or custom PCB, it is recommended to use the SMD package, as it provides cost savings and a smaller footprint.
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Selecting an Antenna
Selecting the correct antenna can be important for good reception and noise rejection. For low power SE1200A models with integrated antenna, no additional antenna is needed. All other models require an external antenna. When selecting an antenna, consider the following factors: Frequency Should be designed for 2.4Ghz, and 50 ohm impedance. Connector For SE1200B and SE1200D models, use an SMA-male connector. For SE1200C and SE1200E models, use a U.FL connector. Gain/Directivity Consider selecting an antenna with some gain as it will concentrate the wireless signal in a particular direction and reduce interference from sources not in that direction. For omni-directional applications (all directions) consider selecting a halfwave antenna with 2-4dB gain. Quarter-wave types may be inefficient. For directional applications, many antennas are available that offer substantial gain and directivity. These antennas can improve reception significantly, however they can be expensive. Also, be sure to check local laws to operate within legal limits. Radiation Pattern If available, study the radiation pattern for the antenna, and orient the signal towards the connecting device.

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Design Considerations:
Power Requirements It is important to maintain input voltage of 2.7V to 3.6V. High power (100mW) modules will draw about 82mA current, and low power (1mW) modules will draw about 35mA current. Both master and slave configurations have the same current draw. Reset on Power-up To ensure proper operation on power-up, it is recommended to add a reset circuit to all designs using DataBridge. Adding a reset circuit is as simple as connecting a 10k pull-up resistor to the RESET input, along with a 100nF capacitor to ground. See circuit on the right for an example. Configuration Settings Refer to the datasheet and the schematic examples on the following pages for information on device configuration. As a minimum, the following needs to be connected for proper operation: Device Power (Pin 24, 25, 26) Master/Slave Configuration (Pin 4) Sleep Configuration (Pin 41) Internal Requirement (Pin 9 to Pin 13) Circuit Board Design When designing for SE1200A-SMD modules, it is important to keep components, traces, and ground planes at least 20cm away from the three sides of the antenna. Refer to the datasheet for more information on specific PCB footprint dimensions and restrictions. Footprint and schematic libraries are available from Starman Electric on request.

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Applications and Circuit Examples
The following pages include several circuit examples for using DataBridge Wireless I/O modules for analog, digital, and UART data acquisition and control. Example 1: Example 2: Example 3: Example 4: Example 5: Example 6: Example 7: Example 8: Example 9: Example 10: Example 11: Minimum Configuration Wireless Digital and Analog I/O Bridge Wireless On/Off Digital Switches Wireless Potentiometer for 5.0V Analog Wireless Monitoring of 4-20mA Signals Wireless UART link for Microcontrollers Wireless microcontroller link from PC Serial Wireless Data Acquisition to PC Serial Wireless Data Acquisition to PC USB Microcontroller Data Acquisition and Control Configuring NETID for Multiple Networks

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Example 1: Minimum Configuration

Notes
Power of 3.3V and ground connected for each module. One device is configured as Master, the other as Slave. Sleep is disabled by connecting CFG (SLEEP) to ground. Pins 9 and 13 connected together (used internally). Reset circuit is added to RESET pin (recommended).

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Example 2: Wireless Digital and Analog I/O Bridge

Notes
One device is configured as Master, the other as Slave. The master is used to sample data, and the slave regenerates the signals. In this example, the basic function of DataBridge devices is illustrated through a digital and analog wireless bridge. The link bridges the digital and analog inputs of the master device to the slave device outputs. Inputs are sampled and repeated 200 times per second, with a latency of 5mS. Devices will connect automatically upon power-up, and a digital link indication can be obtained from output pin 32.

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Example 3: Wireless On/Off Digital Switches

Notes
One device is configured as Master, the other as Slave. Master Digital Inputs 1 and 2 are connected to switches. Slave Digital Outputs 1 and 2 are connected to LEDs. In this example, both switches connect to ground when not pressed, so both LEDs are off. When switch 1 is pressed, LED1 lights up. When switch 2 is pressed, LED 2 lights up. When using digital inputs, keep in mind that each input has a 40kohm pull-up so it will be high by default unless tied to ground directly, driven low by another device, or through a 5k or less pull-down.

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Example 4: Wireless Potentiometer for 5.0V Analog Control

Notes
One device is configured as Master, the other as Slave. Master Analog Input 1 is connected to a potentiometer. Slave Analog Output 1 is connected to a voltage amplifier. In this example, the master device senses the voltage on a potentiometer connected to 5.0V. Since the maximum analog input range for the device is 2.4V, it is reduced through the added 10.7k resistor. The voltage is wirelessly transmitted and regenerated at the Slave analog output 1, with a range of 0 to 2.4V. The Analog output is then connected to a voltage amplifier that has a gain of 2.08, set by the resistors. The amplifier consists of a basic LM324 opamp connected as a noninverting voltage amplifier. The final analog output varies from 0 to 5V depending on the position of the potentiometer. Keep in mind that the opamp must be powered by a voltage greater than 5V.
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Example 5: Wireless Monitoring of 4-20mA Signals

Notes
One device is configured as Master, the other as Slave. MAX4072 converts the 4-20mA current to a 0-2.4V voltage. Output of MAX4072 is connected to Slave Analog Input 1. The MAX4072 acts as a high-side current amplifier for the 4-20mA current across the 2.4ohm resistor. The MAX4072 is set to a gain of 50 using the GSEL input. This current is converted at a voltage of 0 to2.4V, and sampled by the slave device. The signal is wirelessly transmitted to the master, where it is regenerated on the analog output (DAC1). It would also be possible to read the current value through both master and slave UART outputs by configuring the CFG(DEBUG) setting. More detail on the CFG(DEBUG) function is documented in the following examples.

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Example 6: Wireless UART link for Microcontrollers

Notes
One device is configured as Master, the other as Slave. The UART link is configured at 115.2kbps baudrate. Both devices are connected to a micro-controller. In this example, both devices are connected to a separate micro-controller through the UART interface. The baud rate is configured to be 115.2kbps by pulling the CFG (UART) pin to 3.3V through a pull-up resistor. CFG (debug) is connected to GND to prevent the output of I/O status information on the UART. When UART data is received from one micro-controller, it is transferred to the other micro-controller at 115.2kbps. To configure a different baud rate, adjust the voltage on CFG(UART) using a resistor voltage divider. See the datasheet for more information on the proper voltage settings.

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Example 7: Wireless microcontroller link from PC Serial COM Port

Notes
One device is configured as Master, the other as Slave. Master device connects to PC using MAX3232 translator. The UART is configured at 115.2kbps baud rate. In this example, the PC can communicate wirelessly with the slave device which connects to a micro-controller. The master device is connected to a PC Serial interface through a MAX3232 logic level translator, and relays all Serial COM information to the slave device. The baud rate is configured to be 115.2kbps by pulling the CFG (UART) pin to 3.3V through a pull-up resistor. CFG (debug) is connected to GND to prevent the output of I/O status information on the UART. To configure a different baud rate, adjust the voltage on CFG(UART) using a resistor voltage divider. See the datasheet for more information on the proper voltage settings.
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Example 8: Wireless Data Acquisition to PC Serial COM Port

Notes
One device is configured as Master, the other as Slave. Master device connects to PC using MAX232 translator. The UART is configured at 115.2kbps baud rate. CFG (debug) is connected to 3.3V to output of I/O status information on the UART. In this example, the devices are connected for wireless data acquisition from the slave device , and data is outputted to the PC Serial Port. The slave device samples the information from the digital and analog inputs, and wirelessly transfers the data to the master device. The master device then outputs the slave I/O information to the UART. The MAX3232 chip translates the logic levels from the UART, and output the data to the PC through the Serial COM interface. The baud rate is configured to be 115.2kbps by pulling the CFG (UART) pin to 3.3V through a pull-up resistor. In order to output I/O status information to the UART, the CFG(debug) input is connected to 3.3V. See datasheet for the data format to the I/O status information.
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Example 9: Wireless Data Acquisition to PC USB Port

Notes
One device is configured as Master, the other as Slave. Master device connects to PC using FTDI TTL-232R-3V3 cable. The UART is configured at 115.2kbps baud rate. CFG (debug) is connected to 3.3V to output of I/O status information on the UART. In this example, the devices are connected for wireless data acquisition from the slave device, and data is outputted to the PC USB Port. The slave device samples the information from the digital and analog inputs, and wirelessly transfers the data to the master device. The master device then outputs the slave I/O information to the UART. The FTDI TTL-232R-3V3 cable translates the logic levels from the UART and transfers the data to the PC through the USB interface. The baud rate is configured to be 115.2kbps by pulling the CFG (UART) pin to 3.3V through a pull-up resistor. In order to output I/O status information to the UART, the CFG(debug) input is connected to 3.3V. See datasheet for the data format to the I/O status information.
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Example 10: Microcontroller Acquisition/Control with Link Indication

Notes
One device is configured as Master, the other as Slave. Master device connects to micro-controller for control and data acquisition. Master link output connects to micro-controller.
In this example, the master device connects to a micro-controller for data acquisition and control of the slave device. Both analog inputs are sampled at the slave device and transferred wirelessly to the master microcontroller. Firmware can be written for the micro-controller to process the data, and then control outputs to the slave device. In this example two digital inputs are connected to the microcontroller for control. The micro-controller can also see the state of the wireless connection from the LINK output. For the Slave device, CFG(SLEEP) is connected to 3.3V so that if communication is lost the slave device goes to sleep to preserve power. If desired, the master device can also be put to sleep by bringing CFG(SLEEP) high. See the datasheet for more information on sleep functions for master and slave devices.

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Example 11: Configuring Network ID for Multiple Network Pairs

(Default)

(Equivalent)

Network Configuration
Up to 16 device pairs can operate in the same area by selecting a unique Network ID. The network ID is determined through a 4-bit binary input with 16 unique possible combinations. The 4-bit network ID is configured through the four CFG(NET ID) inputs pins 33, 34, 35, and 36. Both master and slave devices must have the same Network ID configuration for communication to occur. The CFG(NET ID) inputs are connected to 40kohm pull-ups connected to 3.3V. Connecting all four NET ID pins to 3.3V is equivalent to leaving them floating. The two figures at the top illustrate equivalent Network ID configurations, due to internal pull-ups. The two figures on the right are examples of two unique networks configurations.
(Master)

(Network 1)

(Slave)

(Network 2)

(Master)

(Slave)

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Federal Communication Commission Interference Statement
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one of the following measures:
- Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. - Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver. - Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected. - Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

This device complies with Part 15 of FCC Regulations. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. FCC Caution: Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate this equipment. WARNING! FCC Radiation Exposure Statement: This portable equipment with its antenna complies with FCCs RF radiation exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolled environment. To maintain compliance follow the instructions below;
1. This transmitter must not be co-located or operating in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter. 2. Avoid direct contact to the antenna, or keep it to a minimum while using this equipment.

This transmitter module is authorized to be used in other devices only by OEM integrators under the following condition:
The transmitter module must not be co-located with any other antenna or transmitter.

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Disclaimer
Starman Electric reserves the right to make changes without further notice to any products or information herein. Starman Electric makes no warranty, representation or guarantee regarding the suitability of its products for any particular purpose, nor does Starman Electric assume any liability arising out of the application or use of any product or circuit, and specifically disclaims any and all liability, including without limitation consequential or incidental damages. The products described are not intended for use in life support systems, appliances or systems where malfunction of these products can reasonably be expected to result in personal injury, death or severe property or environmental damage. Starman Electric will not be liable to you or any third party for any claims or damages arising in connection with above-mentioned uses of the products. Should Buyer purchase or use Starman Electric products for any such unintended or unauthorized application, Buyer shall indemnify and hold Starman Electric and its officers, employees, subsidiaries, affiliates, and distributors harmless against all claims, costs, damages, and expenses, and reasonable legal fees arising out of, directly or indirectly, any claim of personal injury or death associated with such unintended or unauthorized use, even if such claim alleges that Starman Electric was negligent regarding the design or manufacture of the part. Starman Electric conveys no license or title under any patent, copyright, or mask work right to these products, and makes no representations or warranties that these products are free from patent, copyright, or mask work infringement, unless otherwise specified.
Copyright 2010 Starman Electric. All rights reserved. Starman Electric, Starman Electric Logo, DataBridge and combinations thereof, are trademarks of Starman Electric in the US and other countries.

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User Guide Revisions
Revision
1.0

Date
01-May-2010

Notes
Initial Release

Support and Sales Information Starman Electric Po Box 13511 San Luis Obispo, CA 93406 United States of America Phone: (805) 699-5312 Website: http://www.starmanelectric.com Support: support@starmanelectric.com Sales: sales@starmanelectric.com

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