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Semtech
LLCC68
Data Sheet Rev. 1.0
DS.LLCC68.W.APP July 2019
LLCC68
Long Range, Low Power, sub-GHz
RF Transceiver
www.semtech.com
Figure A: LLCC68 Block Diagram
General Description
The LLCC68 sub-GHz radio transceiver is ideal for long
range wireless applications. It is designed for long battery
life with just 4.2 mA of active receive current consumption.
The LLCC68 can transmit up to +22 dBm with highly
efficient integrated power amplifiers.
The LLCC68 supports LoRa® modulation for LPWAN use
cases and (G)FSK modulation for legacy use cases. It is
highly configurable to meet different application
requirements for industry and consumer use.
The device provides LoRa® modulation compatible with
Semtech transceivers used by the LoRaWAN™ specification
released by the LoRa Alliance™.
The radio is suitable for systems targeting compliance with
radio regulations including but not limited to ETSI EN 300
220, FCC CFR 47 Part 15, China regulatory requirements
and the Japanese ARIB T-108. Continuous frequency
coverage from 150 MHz to 960 MHz allows the support of
all major sub-GHz ISM bands around the world.
Applications
The level of integration and the low consumption of the
LLCC68 enable a new generation of Internet of Things
applications.
• Smart meters
• Supply chain and logistics
• Building automation
• Agricultural sensors
• Smart cities
• Retail store sensors
• Asset tracking
• Street lights
• Parking sensors
• Environmental sensors
• Healthcare
• Safety and security sensors
• Remote control applications
LoRa
TM
Modem
Analog Front End & Data Conversion
FSK
Modem
Data
Buffer
ADC
PA
LNA
Matching
+
LPF
LDODC-DC
SPI
Protocol
Engine
OSC
PLL
LLCC68
Data Sheet Rev. 1.0
DS.LLCC68.W.APP July 2019
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Ordering Information
QFN 24 Package, Pb-free, Halogen free, RoHS/WEEE compliant product.
Revision History
Part Number Delivery Minimum Order Quantity
LLCC68IMLTRT Tape & Reel 3’000 pieces
Version ECO Date Modifications
1.0 047881 July 2019 First Release
LLCC68
Data Sheet Rev. 1.0
DS.LLCC68.W.APP July 2019
3 of 106
Semtech
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Table of Contents
1. Architecture.................................................................................................................................................... 11
2. Pin Connection .............................................................................................................................................. 12
2.1 I/O Description ................................................................................................................................. 12
2.2 Package View .................................................................................................................................... 13
3. Specifications ................................................................................................................................................. 14
3.1 ESD Notice .......................................................................................................................................... 14
3.2 Absolute Maximum Ratings ........................................................................................................ 14
3.3 Operating Range .............................................................................................................................. 14
3.4 Crystal Specifications ..................................................................................................................... 15
3.5 Electrical Specifications ................................................................................................................. 15
3.5.1 Power Consumption .......................................................................................................... 16
3.5.2 General Specifications....................................................................................................... 18
3.5.3 Receive Mode Specifications........................................................................................... 19
3.5.4 Transmit Mode Specifications ........................................................................................ 21
3.5.5 Digital I/O Specifications .................................................................................................. 21
4. Circuit Description........................................................................................................................................ 22
4.1 Clock References .............................................................................................................................. 22
4.1.1 RC Frequency References................................................................................................. 22
4.1.2 High-Precision Frequency Reference........................................................................... 22
4.1.3 XTAL Control Block ............................................................................................................. 23
4.1.4 TCXO Control Block ............................................................................................................ 24
4.2 Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) .............................................................................................................. 24
4.3 Receiver ............................................................................................................................................... 25
4.3.1 Intermediate Frequencies ................................................................................................ 25
4.4 Transmitter ......................................................................................................................................... 26
4.4.1 Power Amplifier Specifics.................................................................................................26
4.4.2 Power Amplifier Summary............................................................................................... 28
5. Power Distribution ....................................................................................................................................... 29
5.1 Selecting DC-DC Converter or LDO Regulation ................................................................... 29
5.1.1 Option A: DC-DC Regulator ............................................................................................. 30
5.1.2 Option B: LDO Regulator .................................................................................................. 30
5.1.3 Consideration on the DC-DC Inductor Selection..................................................... 31
5.2 Flexible DIO Supply ........................................................................................................................ 31
6. Modems ........................................................................................................................................................... 32
6.1 LoRa® Modem ................................................................................................................................... 32
6.1.1 Modulation Parameter ......................................................................................................32
6.1.2 LoRa® Packet Engine .......................................................................................................... 35
6.1.3 LoRa® Frame.......................................................................................................................... 35
6.1.4 LoRa® Time-on-Air............................................................................................................... 36
6.1.5 LoRa® Channel Activity Detection (CAD) .................................................................... 36
6.2 FSK Modem ........................................................................................................................................ 38
6.2.1 Modulation Parameter ......................................................................................................38
6.2.2 FSK Packet Engine............................................................................................................... 39
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6.2.3 FSK Packet Format .............................................................................................................. 40
7. Data Buffer ...................................................................................................................................................... 43
7.1 Principle of Operation .................................................................................................................... 43
7.2 Data Buffer in Receive Mode ....................................................................................................... 44
7.3 Data Buffer in Transmit Mode ..................................................................................................... 44
7.4 Using the Data Buffer ..................................................................................................................... 44
8. Digital Interface and Control .................................................................................................................... 45
8.1 Reset ..................................................................................................................................................... 45
8.2 SPI Interface ....................................................................................................................................... 45
8.2.1 SPI Timing When the Transceiver is in Active Mode............................................... 45
8.2.2 SPI Timing When the Transceiver Leaves Sleep Mode .......................................... 46
8.3 Multi-Purpose Digital Input/Output (DIO) ............................................................................. 47
8.3.1 BUSY Control Line ............................................................................................................... 47
8.3.2 Digital Input/Output .......................................................................................................... 49
8.4 Digital Interface Status versus Chip modes ........................................................................... 49
8.5 IRQ Handling ..................................................................................................................................... 50
9. Operational Modes ...................................................................................................................................... 51
9.1 Startup ................................................................................................................................................. 51
9.2 Calibration .......................................................................................................................................... 51
9.2.1 Image Calibration for Specific Frequency Bands..................................................... 51
9.3 Sleep Mode ........................................................................................................................................ 52
9.4 Standby (STDBY) Mode ................................................................................................................. 52
9.5 Frequency Synthesis (FS) Mode ................................................................................................. 53
9.6 Receive (RX) Mode .......................................................................................................................... 53
9.7 Transmit (TX) Mode ........................................................................................................................ 54
9.7.1 PA Ramping........................................................................................................................... 54
9.8 Active Mode Switching Time ...................................................................................................... 54
9.9 Transceiver Circuit Modes Graphical Illustration ................................................................. 55
10. Host Controller Interface......................................................................................................................... 56
10.1 Command Structure .................................................................................................................... 56
10.2 Transaction Termination ............................................................................................................ 56
11. List of Commands ...................................................................................................................................... 57
11.1 Operational Modes Commands ............................................................................................... 57
11.2 Register and Buffer Access Commands ................................................................................ 58
11.3 DIO and IRQ Control ..................................................................................................................... 58
11.4 RF, Modulation and Packet Commands ................................................................................ 58
11.5 Status Commands ......................................................................................................................... 59
12. Register Map ................................................................................................................................................ 60
12.1 Register Table ................................................................................................................................. 60
13. Commands Interface................................................................................................................................. 62
13.1 Operational Modes Functions .................................................................................................. 62
13.1.1 SetSleep................................................................................................................................ 62
13.1.2 SetStandby.......................................................................................................................... 63
13.1.3 SetFs....................................................................................................................................... 63
13.1.4 SetTx ...................................................................................................................................... 63
13.1.5 SetRx...................................................................................................................................... 64
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13.1.6 StopTimerOnPreamble................................................................................................... 65
13.1.7 SetRxDutyCycle ................................................................................................................. 66
13.1.8 SetCAD.................................................................................................................................. 68
13.1.9 SetTxContinuousWave.................................................................................................... 68
13.1.10 SetTxInfinitePreamble .................................................................................................. 69
13.1.11 SetRegulatorMode......................................................................................................... 69
13.1.12 Calibrate Function.......................................................................................................... 70
13.1.13 CalibrateImage................................................................................................................ 70
13.1.14 SetPaConfig...................................................................................................................... 71
13.1.15 SetRxTxFallbackMode................................................................................................... 72
13.2 Registers and Buffer Access ....................................................................................................... 72
13.2.1 WriteRegister Function...................................................................................................72
13.2.2 ReadRegister Function....................................................................................................73
13.2.3 WriteBuffer Function ....................................................................................................... 73
13.2.4 ReadBuffer Function........................................................................................................ 73
13.3 DIO and IRQ Control Functions ................................................................................................ 74
13.3.1 SetDioIrqParams................................................................................................................ 74
13.3.2 IrqMask ................................................................................................................................. 74
13.3.3 GetIrqStatus ........................................................................................................................ 75
13.3.4 ClearIrqStatus..................................................................................................................... 75
13.3.5 SetDIO2AsRfSwitchCtrl ................................................................................................... 76
13.3.6 SetDIO3AsTCXOCtrl ......................................................................................................... 76
13.4 RF Modulation and Packet-Related Functions ................................................................... 78
13.4.1 SetRfFrequency.................................................................................................................. 78
13.4.2 SetPacketType.................................................................................................................... 78
13.4.3 GetPacketType................................................................................................................... 79
13.4.4 SetTxParams ....................................................................................................................... 79
13.4.5 SetModulationParams..................................................................................................... 80
13.4.6 SetPacketParams............................................................................................................... 83
13.4.7 SetCadParams .................................................................................................................... 87
13.4.8 SetBufferBaseAddress .....................................................................................................88
13.4.9 SetLoRaSymbNumTimeout........................................................................................... 89
13.5 Communication Status Information ...................................................................................... 90
13.5.1 GetStatus.............................................................................................................................. 90
13.5.2 GetRxBufferStatus............................................................................................................. 91
13.5.3 GetPacketStatus ................................................................................................................ 91
13.5.4 GetRssiInst ........................................................................................................................... 92
13.5.5 GetStats ................................................................................................................................ 92
13.5.6 ResetStats ............................................................................................................................ 92
13.6 Miscellaneous ................................................................................................................................. 93
13.6.1 GetDeviceErrors................................................................................................................. 93
13.6.2 ClearDeviceErrors.............................................................................................................. 93
14. Application ................................................................................................................................................... 94
14.1 HOST API Basic Read Write Function ..................................................................................... 94
14.2 Circuit Configuration for Basic Tx Operation ...................................................................... 94
14.3 Circuit Configuration for Basic Rx Operation ...................................................................... 95
