ISM-band transceiver enables wireless video apps

The SX1233 programmable ISM-band transceiver has been launched for long-range wireless video and imaging applications.

Such applications can be found in home and building automation systems, smart meter readers, sensors, alarms, security systems, wireless monitoring and remote data measurement networks.

The transceiver combines a 600kbps bit rate, a 137dB link budget, ultra-low power consumption, excellent ACR (adjacent channel rejection) and blocking immunity, providing high-bandwidth, radio link reliability, RF robustness and strong interference immunity.

The SX1233 offers high receive (RX) sensitivity to enhance reception of weaker signals, as well as a high transmitter (TX) output power programmable in 1dB steps.

High RX sensitivity and high TX output power equate to reliable transmission over greater distances and cost savings compared with traditional radio systems that require RF repeaters.

Blocking immunity of 80dB and high linearity give the SX1233 transceiver strong front-end protection from in-band and out-of-band interference, including cellular and devices sharing the 2.4GHz band, enabling the device to meet stringent RX robustness requirements.

The zero-IF architecture of the SX1233 uses a smart AFC (automatic frequency control) engine to ensure optimum performance for low-modulation index signals without susceptibility to undesirable image and half-IF spurious products.

The SX1233 extends battery life with its low power consumption in transmit, receive and sleep modes.

Constant RF performance over the 1.8 to 3.6V operating range guaranties stable communication, even as the battery approaches end-of-life, without using a voltage regulator.

Additionally, TrueRF technology eliminates the need for a SAW filter, enabling a low-cost external component count while still satisfying ETSI and FCC regulations.

The SX1233 also integrates the VCO tank, PLL loop filter and an RF switch, further reducing the overall bill of materials.

An integrated packet engine in the SX1233 offloads RF packetisation from a microcontroller, freeing up this resource or allowing designers to choose a lower-cost or lower-power alternative.

The packet engine also provides packet transmission security via CRC error checking, AES-128 encryption and a 66-byte FIFO.

The SX1233 has a frequency range of 290 to 1,020MHz and is certified for worldwide regulations, including European (ETSI EN 300-220-1), US (FCC part 15), and Korean and Japanese ARIB regulatory standards.

It also supports global modulation formats (FSK, GFSK, MSK, GMSK and OOK).

The SX1233 comes in a 5 x 5mm, 24-pad QFN package, offering designers significant board space savings and small size.

For consumer applications with Li-Ion or alkaline batteries, the SX1233 can be bundled with Semtech's SC120 low-voltage boost converter in a 1.5 x 2 x 0.6mm package to allow for true single-cell operation in a very small form factor.

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