Advanced Laboratories: RF Link Using The eZ430-RF2500 Texas Instruments Incorporated University of Beira Interior (PT)

MSP430 Teaching Materials
UBI
Chapter 15
Advanced Laboratories
RF link using the eZ430-RF2500
Texas Instruments Incorporated

University of Beira Interior (PT)
Pedro Dinis Gaspar, António Espírito Santo, Bruno Ribeiro, Humberto Santos
University of Beira Interior, Electromechanical Engineering Department
www.msp430.ubi.pt
Copyright 2009 Texas Instruments

>> Contents All Rights Reserved
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Contents
UBI
 Introduction
 The application
 The hardware
 The software
 Configuration
 Algorithms
 New challenges

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Introduction (1/3)
UBI
 This laboratory demonstrates the operation of a small

wireless communication application;
 The purpose of this laboratory is to send and receive text

messages, making use of RF links between the central unit
(base unit) and the various peripheral units (remote
units).
 It is an integrated application, using some peripherals of

the MSP430, in particular, the USCIx communication
modules;
 Additionally, it uses the CC2500 radio transceiver as an

interface to external devices;
 Even though the application is simple, it is motivating to

the user because the IO console allows easy interaction
with the system;
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Introduction (2/3)
UBI
 This laboratory has the following objectives:
 To demonstrate the importance of software organization as

a fundamental part of an embedded systems project:
• To approach the problem using a top-down approach,
applying the necessary abstraction to organize the
software into functional layers.
 To give an example of the management of a complex

project, integrating together more than one functional
module:
• To develop a modular structure so that several functional
modules co-exist together within a single software
project.

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Introduction (3/3)
UBI
 This laboratory has the following objectives (continued):
 Make use of the wireless communications capability of the

MSP430, demonstrating its practical advantages;
 Consolidate knowledge acquired during the previous

laboratories, namely:
• From the MSP430 communications interfaces
laboratories:
– SPI mode to access the transceiver CC2500;
– UART mode to interface with the IO console.

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The application (1/4)
UBI
 This laboratory establishes communications between

various RF units;
 The stations are identified by an ID, i.e., the address for

presentation to the network. When a station wants to
communicate with another station, it must use the
address of the target station in the message;
 The CC2500 has several ways to communicate, which

determine the size of the messages exchanged;
 In order to simplify the communication process, fixed-

size address and data have been used (maximum
message size 64 bytes). This corresponds to the size of
the CC2500 FIFO.

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UBI
 CC2500 packages format:

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UBI
 This laboratory has two units with distinct functional

differences:
 The code differs between the two units:
 One unit contains the base station functionality:

• Receives messages from all peripheral units;
• Works as a radio beacon;
• Sends to to all remote stations;
• Acknowledges messages received.
 The other unit acts as a remote station.

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UBI
 Block Diagram of the Application:

RS232 Console in PC RS232 Console in PC
You Are Table#01 Remote station You Are Table#02
RS232 Remote station
You Are Table#01 ID 0x01 RS232
You Are Table#02
ID 0x02
...... ......
You Are Table#01 You Are Table#02
RS232 Console in PC
Messages from
We Are Table#01 Remote stations to
Base station We Are Table#03 Base station
RS232 We Are Table#02
ID 0x43
Messages from Base ......
station to Remote We Are Table#n
station #3
RS232 Console in PC RS232 Console in PC
You Are Table#03 Remote station Remote station You Are Table#n
RS232 RS232
You Are Table#03 ID 0x03 ID 0xn You Are Table#n
...... ......
You Are Table#03 You Are Table#n

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The hardware (1/4)
UBI
 The application is ready to run on the eZ430-RF2500

hardware development kit (see Chapter 3 for details).
The devices used are the:
• CC2500 radio transceiver;
• MSP430F2274;
• RS232 interface, accessed through the USB interface,
which is available for development.

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The hardware (2/4)
UBI
 The CC2500 is a radio frequency transceiver operating in

the widely used ISM/SRD (Industrial-Scientific-
Medical /Short-Range-Devices) 2.4 GHz frequency band;
 It is a low-cost device with low power consumption,

designed for consumer electronics applications.

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The hardware (3/4)
UBI
 The communications protocol uses very little data

formatting. It is up to the user to define the
communications protocol that best suits their application
and implement their own software;
 The CC2500 is a low pin-out device, because it integrates

all the radio functions, except the antenna;
 This device is not sufficiently independent that it can

operate without the aid of a microcontroller;
 When coupled to the MSP430, connection is made

between:
• Access to internal registers: SPI interface belongs to the
USCIB0 unit;
• Status pins: GDO0 and GDO2 (P2.6 and P2.7).
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The hardware (4/4)
UBI
 CC250 RF transceiver:

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The software (1/5)
UBI
 Internal structure:
 Structured in layers:
• Base layer: Hardware abstraction layer. Responsible for
separating the higher layers of software from the
hardware;
• Middle SPI layer: Ensures the communication functions for

the correct operation of CC2500;
• UART layer: Provides connection to the PC via RS232;
• CC2500 layer: Access and control functions controlling the

CC2500 (SPI and the GPIO);
• Application layer: Uses the features offered by layers at a

lower level to implement the tasks necessary for the
correct operation of the application.
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The software (2/5)
UBI
 Software structure:
Application
CC2500
UART
SPI
Hardware Definition
CC2500 + SPI +UART

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The software (3/5)
UBI
 Each layer has different functional responsibilities:
 Hardware definition layer:
File Description
TI_CC_CC1100-CC2500.h Definitions specific to the
CC1100/2500 devices
(Chipcon’s/TI SmartRF Studio
software can assist in
generating register contents)
TI_CC_MSP430.h Definitions specific to the
MSP430 device
TI_CC_hardware_board.h Definitions specific to the board
(connections between MSP430
and CCxxxx)
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The software (4/5)
UBI
 SPI layer:
File Description
TI_CC_spi.h Function declarations for hal_spi.c
TI_CC_spi.c Functions for accessing
CC1100/CC2500 registers via SPI
from MSP430
 CC2500 layer:
File Description
cc1100-CC2500.c Initialization of messages,
transmission and reception
functions.
TI_CC_CC1100-CC2500.h Function declarations for cc1100-
CC2500.c
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The software (5/5)
UBI
 UART layer:
File Description
hal_uart.c Initialization of messages and
transmission functions via
RS232.
hal_uart.h Function declarations for
hal_uart.c

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Configuration (1/5)
UBI
 Clearly defined start-up of the multiple hardware

modules and the various software modules;
 Important: The unit’s address needs to be changed

during compilation, to allocate a unique address.
START
Configure MSP430 IO
Initialize MS430 Interface
Put CC2500 in RX state

Power-Up reset signal
sequence to CC2500
Set device Adress
Write RF Settings to
CC2500 Enter Sleep mode 3

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Configuration (2/5)
UBI
 Base station code: CC2500

 Two interrupt service routines
(ISR) and two buffers:
RX Buffer TX Buffer
Port2 Timer A
ISR ISR
UART Timer A
RS232
TX

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Configuration (3/5)
UBI
 Base station code:

• Port2 ISR:
– Enabled by GDO0, which causes a L-H transition when
it receives a valid Sync_Word;
– H-L transition at the end of a message reception;
– The contents of the received messages are sent to the
IO console via the RS232 connection;
• The Timer_A service routine is used to send a message to

check for correct reception from the remote stations
(maximum of 15);
• The two buffers are used to hold the messages:

– The transmit buffer is used to build the message for
later transmission;
– The receive buffer is used to hold the data read from
the CC2500 FIFO when a message is received.
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Configuration (4/5)
UBI
 Remote station code: CC2500
 Composed of two interrupt

service routines (ISR) and
two buffers:
RX Buffer TX Buffer
Port2 Port1
RSI RSI
UART Keyboard
RS232 GPIO
TX Switch

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Configuration (5/5)
UBI
 Remote station code:

• Port2 ISR:
– Enabled by the GDO0, which causes a L-H transition
when it receives a valid Sync_Word;
– H-L transition at the end of a message reception;
– Received message contents to IO console (RS232).
• Port1 ISR: Generated when the button is pressed, sending

the signal announcing the presence of the remote station;
• Two buffers used to hold the messages:

– Transmit buffer is used to build the message for later
transmission;
– The receive buffer is used to hold the data read from
the CC2500 FIFO after receiving a message.

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Algorithms (1/2)
UBI
 Transmission algorithm implemented by Port1 ISR:

START ISR P1
Switch pressed?
Yes
Build a packet
Write data to TX buffer
No Send
Put CC2500 in TX state Packet
Wait forGDO0 to finish
Clear flag
END

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Algorithms (2/2)
UBI
 Reception algorithm used by the Port2 ISR in both

stations: START ISR P2
Rx Buffer have
data
Yes
Read first byteof FIFO

(len byte)
Read
packet
No Read len byte from FIFO
Read status byte
Clear flag
END

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New challenges
UBI
 This laboratory has brought together the range of ideas

and concepts taught in the CDROM. It can also be used
as the basis for other and more exciting new challenges;
 Using the present laboratory as a starting point, develop

an application to exchange written messages between a
series of stations scattered inside a room, a kind of
"wireless messenger“;
 The messages typed into the IO console for a particular

address would be sent by wireless support to the
console addressed.

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New challenges
UBI
 To achieve this objective, it is useful to define a small

set of user-defined commands, such as:
• Address allocation at the local station;
• Address allocation at the remote station;
• Sending a message;
• Neighbourhood screening of possible talking partners;
• Among others…

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Advanced Laboratories: RF Link Using The eZ430-RF2500 Texas Instruments Incorporated University of Beira Interior (PT)

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MSP430 Teaching Materials

Texas Instruments Incorporated

Copyright 2009 Texas Instruments

Copyright 2009 Texas Instruments

 This laboratory demonstrates the operation of a small

 The purpose of this laboratory is to send and receive text

 It is an integrated application, using some peripherals of

 Additionally, it uses the CC2500 radio transceiver as an

 Even though the application is simple, it is motivating to

 This laboratory has the following objectives:

 To demonstrate the importance of software organization as

 To give an example of the management of a complex

Copyright 2009 Texas Instruments

 This laboratory has the following objectives (continued):

 Make use of the wireless communications capability of the

 Consolidate knowledge acquired during the previous

Copyright 2009 Texas Instruments

 This laboratory establishes communications between

 The stations are identified by an ID, i.e., the address for

 The CC2500 has several ways to communicate, which

 In order to simplify the communication process, fixed-

Copyright 2009 Texas Instruments

 CC2500 packages format:

Copyright 2009 Texas Instruments

 This laboratory has two units with distinct functional

 The code differs between the two units:

 One unit contains the base station functionality:

• Works as a radio beacon;

• Sends to to all remote stations;

• Acknowledges messages received.

 The other unit acts as a remote station.

 Block Diagram of the Application:

RS232 Console in PC RS232 Console in PC

Copyright 2009 Texas Instruments

 The application is ready to run on the eZ430-RF2500

Copyright 2009 Texas Instruments

 The CC2500 is a radio frequency transceiver operating in

 It is a low-cost device with low power consumption,

Copyright 2009 Texas Instruments

 The communications protocol uses very little data

 The CC2500 is a low pin-out device, because it integrates

 This device is not sufficiently independent that it can

 When coupled to the MSP430, connection is made

Copyright 2009 Texas Instruments

• Middle SPI layer: Ensures the communication functions for

• UART layer: Provides connection to the PC via RS232;

• CC2500 layer: Access and control functions controlling the

• Application layer: Uses the features offered by layers at a

Copyright 2009 Texas Instruments

 Each layer has different functional responsibilities:

 Hardware definition layer:

Copyright 2009 Texas Instruments

 Clearly defined start-up of the multiple hardware

 Important: The unit’s address needs to be changed

Put CC2500 in RX state

Copyright 2009 Texas Instruments

 Base station code: CC2500

Copyright 2009 Texas Instruments

 Base station code:

• The Timer_A service routine is used to send a message to

• The two buffers are used to hold the messages:

 Remote station code: CC2500

 Composed of two interrupt