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CC2520

TICC2520

Texas Instruments
A well-known 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.15.4 transceiver used in many Zigbee designs.
NRND5,306 in stock
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Overview

The CC2520 is a second-generation Zigbee and IEEE 802.15.4 RF transceiver operating in the 2.4 GHz ISM band. It provides high-performance radio capabilities with excellent selectivity and co-existence, making it a standard choice for robust wireless sensor networks. The device interfaces with a host microcontroller via a high-speed SPI bus and supports data rates up to 250 kbps.

Why Choose This Part

The CC2520 offers a significant 103dB link budget by combining -98dBm sensitivity with +5dBm output power. Its extensive hardware support for MAC operations like frame filtering and automatic CRC reduces the processing load on the host MCU, enabling the use of lower-power controllers. Additionally, it maintains a wide supply range of 1.8V to 3.8V, facilitating direct operation from various battery chemistries.

Applications

Industrial Control Systems
Utilizes the high selectivity and extended temperature range up to 125 degrees Celsius for reliable communication in harsh factory environments.
Smart Energy and Lighting
Integrated hardware support for Zigbee MAC layers and AES-128 security makes it ideal for utility metering and automated building lighting.
Home Automation
Low shutdown current of 1 microamp allows for long battery life in wireless window sensors, locks, and thermostats.

Key Specifications

GPIO 6
Type TxRx + MCU
Protocol Zigbee
Frequency 2.4GHz
Modulation DSSS, O-QPSK
Memory Size 768B RAM
Sensitivity -98dBm
Mounting Type Surface Mount
Package / Case 28-VFQFN Exposed Pad
Power - Output 5dBm
Data Rate (Max) 250kbps
Voltage - Supply 1.8V ~ 3.8V
Serial Interfaces SPI
RF Family/Standard 802.15.4
Current - Receiving 18.5mA ~ 22.3mA
Operating Temperature -40degC ~ 125degC
Current - Transmitting 25.8mA ~ 33.6mA
Supplier Device Package 28-VQFN (5x5)

Getting Started

Designers typically interface the CC2520 with an MSP430 or similar microcontroller using the SPI interface and several GPIOs for interrupts and control. Development can be accelerated using the Texas Instruments Packet Sniffer mode for protocol debugging. Refer to the CC2520EM reference designs for optimized RF layout and antenna matching guidelines.

Also Consider

CC2530 TITexas Instruments - Integrates the 802.15.4 radio with an 8051 MCU core on a single chip for more compact designs.
Mighty Gecko MG24 SiLSilicon Labs - A modern SoC alternative providing significantly higher integration and support for Matter and Thread protocols.