Gpacers GPM-RF2021 Lora Module User Guide

GPACERS LORA MODULE USER GUIDE
MODEL: GPM-RF2021
VERSION : V2021.1

PREFACE

IMPORTANT NOTES
Information contained in this publication regarding device applications and the like is provided only for your convenience and may be superseded by updates. It is your responsibility to ensure that your application meets your specifications.
GPACERS MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WRITTEN OR ORAL, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE, RELATED TO THE INFORMATION, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ITS CONDITION, QUALITY, PERFORMANCE, MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR PURPOSE.
GPACERS disclaims all liability arising from this information and its use. Use of GPACERS devices in life support and/or safety applications is entirely at the buyer’s risk, and the buyer agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless GPACERS from any and all damages, claims, suits, or expenses resulting from such use. No licenses are conveyed, implicitly or otherwise, under any GPACERS intellectual property rights unless otherwise stated.
THE GPACERS WEBSITE
Gpacers provides online support via our website at www.gpacers.com . This website is used as a means to make files and information easily available to customers. Accessible by using your favorite Internet browser, the website contains the following information:

• Technical Support – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), technical support requests, online discussion groups, Gpacers consultant program member listing
• Business of Gpacers – Product selector and ordering guides, latest Gpacers press releases, a listing of seminars and events, listings of Gpacers sales offices, distributors, and factory representatives

CUSTOMER SUPPORT
Users of Gpacers products can receive assistance through several channels:

• Distributor or Representative
• Local Sales Office
• Field Application Engineer (FAE)
• Technical Support
  Customers should contact their distributor, representative, or field application engineer (FAE) for support. Local sales offices are also available to help customers. A listing of sales offices and locations is included on the Gpacers website.
  Technical support is available through the website at: https://www.gpacers.com/home/technical-support/

DOCUMENT LAYOUT
This document describes how to use the Gpacers LoRa module as a demonstration to show how it works. The document is organized as follows:

• Chapter 1. “INTRODUCTION” – This chapter describes the module and presents the technical specification and features.
• Chapter 2. “HARDWARE DESCRIPTION ” – This chapter describes the hardware requirements for getting started with the module.
• Chapter 3. “METHOD OF OPERATION” – This chapter describes the firmware programming requirements for transceiver functions with the module.

FCC WARNING

FCC 15b devices (15.105)
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 or more 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.

FCC Part 15.21 information for a user
You are cautioned that changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void your authority to operate the equipment.
FCC Part 15.19
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. 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

• Modular Approval OEM INTEGRATION INSTRUCTIONS:
  This device is intended only for OEM integrators under the following conditions: 1) The module must be installed in the host equipment such that 20 cm is maintained between the antenna and users, and 2) the transmitter module may not be co-located with any other transmitter or antenna. As long as the conditions above are met, further transmitter tests will not be required. However, the OEM integrator is still responsible for testing their end-product for any additional compliance requirements required with this module installed (for example, digital device emissions, PC peripheral requirements, etc.). Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the user’s authority to operate this equipment.

• IMPORTANT NOTE:
  In the event that these conditions cannot be met (for example certain laptop configurations or colocation with another transmitter), then the FCC authorization for this module in combination with the host equipment is no longer considered valid and the FCC ID of the module cannot be used on the final product. In these circumstances,
  the OEM integrator will be responsible for re-evaluating the End Product (including the transmitter) and obtaining a separate FCC authorization.

• USERS MANUAL OF THE END PRODUCT:
  The OEM integrator has to be aware not to provide information to the end-user regarding how to install or remove this RF module in the user‘s manual of the End product which integrates this module.
  The end-user manual shall include all required regulatory information/warning as shown in this manual.

• Part 15 Subpart B disclaimer
  the host product manufacturer is responsible for compliance with any other FCC rules that apply to the host not covered by the modular transmitter grant of certification.

FCC WARNING

• LABEL OF THE END PRODUCT:
  THE END PRODUCT MUST BE LABELED IN A VISIBLE AREA WITH THE FOLLOWING ” Contains FCC ID: 2ARB9-GPMRF2021 “. THE FOLLOWING FCC PART 15.19 STATEMENT MUST ALSO BE AVAILABLE ON THE LABEL: THIS DEVICE COMPLIES WITH PART 15 OF FCC RULES. 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.

• MOBILE DEVICE
  THIS EQUIPMENT COMPLIES WITH FCC RADIATION EXPOSURE LIMITS SET FORTH FOR AN UNCONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT. THIS EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE INSTALLED AND OPERATED WITH A MINIMUM DISTANCE OF 20CM BETWEEN THE RADIATOR & YOUR BODY.

Introduction

1.1 OVERVIEW
The Gpacers LoRa module is a Low-Power Long Range LoRa Technology Transceiver Module,
need to build up the MCU firmware before use.
The module provides the following interfaces for various applications:

• The 22x I/O port of the connectors configured by the firmware of MCU can be used for high/low output to control the receiver, LNA, transmitter, PA functions, or converted into serial USART/SPI/I2C control signals to communicate with different peripheral devices to be integrated into the user’s system, such as OLED, GPS module, LED, Wi-Fi module… Etc.
• Use 1 magnet to power on/off the whole module through one hall switch.
• 4 ports of the connectors can output 3.3V output power.
• Use 1~4 magnet to control the i/o port of MCU through drv5032 hall switch, used as external control switches to activate the desired functions such as receiver or transmitter function.

1.2 FEATURES
The Gpacers LoRa module has the following features:

• 868/915 MHz high-frequency antenna secured on SMA connector.
• Microchip MCU firmware programming by through holes.
• Long range RF transceiver function of Semtech LoRa technology.
• 18dB LNA and 32dB PA are available for receiver and transmitter function.
• Using external magnets for ON/OFF control of Power supply and application functions Control.
• 22 I/O ports including 4 serial USART/SPI/I2C and 3.3V output power for peripherals control.

 HARDWARE DESCRIPTION

2.1 BLOCK DIAGRAM

2.2 FRONTSIDE OF BOARD
The frontside of the board shown in Figure 2-2 contains RF and MCU_POWER block, provides 6 connectors, 52 pins in total, 1 RF antenna, and a set of 5xDebug pins.

2.3 BACKSIDE OF BOARD
The backside of board shown in Figure 2-3 supports using external magnets for ON/OFF control of power supply and application functions control.

Chapter 3. Method of operation

3.1 PIN MAPPING BETWEEN MCU AND LORA TRANSCEIVER
The module contains MCU ATSAMD20J18A to control Lora transceiver SX1276, LNA Qorvo SPF5043Z, and PA Qorvo RFPA0133. The pin to pin mapping is shown in Table 3-1, Table 3-2, and Table 3-3.

Table 3-1 Pin mapping between MCU and LoRa transceiver

Table 3-2 Pin mapping between MCU and PA

Table 3-3 Pin mapping between MCU and LNA
3.2 PIN MAPPING BETWEEN MCU AND CONNECTORS
There are 52 pins of 6 connectors shown in Figure 2-2. 22 of the 52 pins configured by the firmware of MCU can be used for high/low output to control the receiver, LNA, transmitter, PA functions, or converted into serial USART/SPI/I2C control signals to communicate with different peripheral devices to be integrated into user’s system, such as OLED, GPS module, LED, Wi-Fi module… Etc. Depending on the peripherals, the user can use the Microchip studio to conduct the firmware program incorporating external control through magnets. Table 3-4 indicates the pin mapping required for firmware programming .

P21B_02

| 1| PB13| I/O| ATSAMD20J18A MCU I/O port

2

|

VCC_P3V3

|

O

| After feed-in 3.3~5V DC battery power to the pin V_IN and (1) place a magnet on Hall Switch-1 or (2) pull up pin 3V3_EN_1 to VIH, pin VCC_P3V3 will output 3.3V DC power.
3| PB12| I/O| ATSAMD20J18A MCU I/O port
4| PB10| I/O| ATSAMD20J18A MCU I/O port
5| GND| –| GND
6| PB11| I/O| ATSAMD20J18A MCU I/O port

P24A_02

| 1| PB22| I/O| ATSAMD20J18A MCU I/O port
2| PB23| I/O| ATSAMD20J18A MCU I/O port
3| PA22| I/O| ATSAMD20J18A MCU I/O port
4| PA27| I/O| ATSAMD20J18A MCU I/O port
5| PA23| I/O| ATSAMD20J18A MCU I/O port
6| PA28| I/O| ATSAMD20J18A MCU I/O port
7~10| GND| –| GND
11~12| 3V3_EN_1| I| VIH: 2.5~4.2 V, VIL: 1.35~0V; Pull up to VIH to power on the module.

P24B_02

| 1| PB03| I/O| ATSAMD20J18A MCU I/O port
2,4,6| V_IN| I| Here to feed in battery 3.3~5V DC power
3| PB02| I/O| ATSAMD20J18A MCU I/O port
5| PB01| I/O| ATSAMD20J18A MCU I/O port
7| PB00| I/O| ATSAMD20J18A MCU I/O port
8,10,1 2| GND| –| GND
9| PB31| I/O| ATSAMD20J18A MCU I/O port

11

|

VCC_P3V3

|

O

| After feed-in 3.3~5V DC battery power to the pin V_IN and (1) place a magnet on Hall Switch-1 or (2) pull up pin 3V3_EN_1 to VIH, pin VCC_P3V3 will output 3.3V DC power.

P25A_02

| 1,3,5| GND| –| GND
2| PB09| I/O| ATSAMD20J18A MCU I/O port
4| PA04| I/O| ATSAMD20J18A MCU I/O port
6| PA05| I/O| ATSAMD20J18A MCU I/O port
7| PA07| I/O| ATSAMD20J18A MCU I/O port
8| PA06| I/O| ATSAMD20J18A MCU I/O port

P25B_02

| 1,3,5,7| GND| –| GND

2,4

|

VCC_P3V3

|

O

| After feed-in 3.3~5V DC battery power to the pin V_IN and (1) place a magnet on Hall Switch-1 or (2) pull up pin 3V3_EN_1 to VIH, pin VCC_P3V3 will output 3.3V DC power.
6| PB07| I/O| ATSAMD20J18A MCU I/O port
8| PB08| I/O| ATSAMD20J18A MCU I/O port

Table 3-4 Pin mapping of connectors

3.3 POWER ON THE MCU AND LORA TRANSCEIVER
There are two ways to power on the MCU and Lora transceiver.
After feed-in 3.3~5V DC battery power to the pin V_IN and

1. place a magnet on Hall Switch-1 or
2. pull up pin 3V3_EN_1 to VIH(2.5~4.2V).

When the MCU is powered on, the power output pin VCC_P3V3 will be activated as well.
Table 3-5 specifies the technical maximum ratings of the above operations.

Hall Switch

| High magnetic threshold operate point| ±1.5| ±3| ±4.8| mT
Low magnetic threshold release point| ±0.5| ±1.5| ±3| mT
3V3_EN_1| VIH| 4.2| 3.3| 2.5| V
3V3_EN_1| VIL| 1.35| 0| 0| V

Table 3-5 Technical maximum ratings

Table 3-6 Control logic of power supply to the module.

3.4 USING HALL SWITCH AS EXTERNAL FUNCTION CONTROL
The Module adopts TI Hall switch drv5032, which can switch MCU I/O pin high/low status and power ON/OFF function with a magnet.

Hall Switch-1

|

IN

| After feed-in 3.3~5V DC battery power to the pin V_IN and (1) placing a magnet on Hall Switch-1 or (2) pulling up pin 3V3_EN_1 to VIH, pin VCC_P3V3 will output 3.3V DC power.
Hall Switch-2| IN| The user can place a magnet on the switch to modify the high/low status of MCU pin PB07 for peripherals control.
Hall Switch-3| IN| The user can place a magnet on the switch to modify the high/low

status of MCU pin PA02 for peripherals control.

Hall Switch-4| IN| The user can place a magnet on the switch to modify the high/low status of MCU pin PA03 for peripherals control.
Hall Switch-5| IN| The user can place a magnet on the switch to modify the high/low status of MCU pin PB04 for peripherals control.

Table 3-7 Hall switches control functions

3.5 PIN MAPPING BETWEEN MCU AND DEBUG PIN
ATMEL-ICE is used to edit, debug and burn firmware. Please refer to Figure 3-1 to link the
Debug pins and ATMEL-ICE with the cable when developing firmware.

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