Sierra Wireless MC7350L Wireless Module User Manual AirPrime MC7350 L Hardware Integration Guide

Sierra Wireless Inc. Wireless Module AirPrime MC7350 L Hardware Integration Guide

MC7350-L - Hardware Integration Guide - Rev1.1

4115034 1.1 December 10, 2013 AirPrime MC7350-L Hardware Integration Guide
4115034 Rev 1.1 December 10, 2013 2 Hardware Integration Guide Important Notice Due to the nature of wireless communications, transmission and reception of data can never be guaranteed. Data may be delayed, corrupted (i.e., have errors) or be totally lost. Although significant delays or losses of data are rare when wireless devices such as the Sierra Wireless modem are used in a normal manner with a well-constructed network, the Sierra Wireless modem should not be used in situations where failure to transmit or receive data could result in damage of any kind to the user or any other party, including but not limited to personal injury, death, or loss of property. Sierra Wireless accepts no responsibility for damages of any kind resulting from delays or errors in data transmitted or received using the Sierra Wireless modem, or for failure of the Sierra Wireless modem to transmit or receive such data. Safety and Hazards Do not operate the Sierra Wireless modem in areas where cellular modems are not advised without proper device certifications. These areas include environments where cellular radio can interfere such as explosive atmospheres, medical equipment, or any other equipment which may be susceptible to any form of radio interference. The Sierra Wireless modem can transmit signals that could interfere with this equipment. Do not operate the Sierra Wireless modem in any aircraft, whether the aircraft is on the ground or in flight. In aircraft, the Sierra Wireless modem MUST BE POWERED OFF. When operating, the Sierra Wireless modem can transmit signals that could interfere with various onboard systems. Note: Some airlines may permit the use of cellular phones while the aircraft is on the ground and the door is open. Sierra Wireless modems may be used at this time. The driver or operator of any vehicle should not operate the Sierra Wireless modem while in control of a vehicle. Doing so will detract from the driver or operator’s control and operation of that vehicle. In some states and provinces, operating such communications devices while in control of a vehicle is an offence. Limitations of Liability This manual is provided “as is”. Sierra Wireless makes no warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied, including any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or noninfringement. The recipient of the manual shall endorse all risks arising from its use. The information in this manual is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Sierra Wireless. SIERRA WIRELESS AND ITS AFFILIATES SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ANY AND ALL DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, GENERAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOSS OF PROFITS OR REVENUE OR ANTICIPATED PROFITS OR REVENUE ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE ANY SIERRA WIRELESS PRODUCT, EVEN IF SIERRA WIRELESS AND/OR ITS AFFILIATES HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES OR THEY ARE FORESEEABLE OR FOR CLAIMS BY ANY THIRD PARTY. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall Sierra Wireless and/or its affiliates aggregate liability arising under or in connection with the Sierra Wireless product, regardless of the number of events, occurrences, or claims giving rise to liability, be in excess of the price paid by the purchaser for the Sierra Wireless product. Customer understands that Sierra Wireless is not providing cellular or GPS (including A-GPS) services. These services are provided by a third party and should be purchased directly by the Customer.
4115034 Rev 1.1 December 10, 2013 3 Hardware Integration Guide SPECIFIC DISCLAIMERS OF LIABILITY: CUSTOMER RECOGNIZES AND ACKNOWLEDGES SIERRA WIRELESS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR AND SHALL NOT BE HELD LIABLE FOR ANY DEFECT OR DEFICIENCY OF ANY KIND OF CELLULAR OR GPS (INCLUDING A-GPS) SERVICES. Patents This product may contain technology developed by or for Sierra Wireless Inc. This product includes technology licensed from QUALCOMM®. This product is manufactured or sold by Sierra Wireless Inc. or its affiliates under one or more patents licensed from InterDigital Group and MMP Portfolio Licensing. Copyright © 2013 Sierra Wireless. All rights reserved. Trademarks Sierra Wireless®, AirPrime®, AirLink®, AirVantage®, WISMO® and the Sierra Wireless and Open AT logos are registered trademarks of Sierra Wireless, Inc. or one of its subsidiaries. Watcher® is a registered trademark of NETGEAR, Inc., used under license. Windows® and Windows Vista® are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Macintosh® and Mac OS X® are registered trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. QUALCOMM® is a registered trademark of QUALCOMM Incorporated. Used under license. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Contact Information Sales Desk: Phone: 1-604-232-1488 Hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific Time Contact: http://www.sierrawireless.com/sales Post: Sierra Wireless 13811 Wireless Way Richmond, BC Canada V6V 3A4 Technical Support: support@sierrawireless.com RMA Support: repairs@sierrawireless.com Fax: 1-604-231-1109 Web: http://www.sierrawireless.com/ Consult our website for up-to-date product descriptions, documentation, application notes, firmware upgrades, troubleshooting tips, and press releases: www.sierrawireless.com
4115034 Rev 1.1 December 10, 2013 4 Hardware Integration Guide Document History Version Date Updates 1.0 December 10, 2013 Creation 1.1 Updated 5.3 Important Compliance Information for North American Users
4115034 Rev 1.1 December 10, 2013 5 Contents 1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 7 1.1. Hardware Development Components ............................................................................... 7 2. POWER INTERFACE ........................................................................................... 8 2.1. Power Supply .................................................................................................................... 8 2.2. Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) ........................................................................................... 8 2.3. Power States ..................................................................................................................... 9 3. RF INTEGRATION ............................................................................................. 10 3.1. Supported RF Bands ....................................................................................................... 10 3.2. Ground Connection ......................................................................................................... 10 3.3. Shielding Guidelines ........................................................................................................ 10 3.4. Antenna Guidelines ......................................................................................................... 11 3.4.1. Choosing the Correct Antenna and Cabling ............................................................ 11 3.4.2. Designing Custom Antennas ................................................................................... 11 3.4.3. Determining the Antenna’s Location ........................................................................ 11 3.4.4. Disabling the Diversity Antenna ............................................................................... 11 3.5. RF Desense Sources ...................................................................................................... 12 4. AUDIO INTERFACE ........................................................................................... 13 5. REGULATORY INFORMATION......................................................................... 14 5.1. Important Notice .............................................................................................................. 14 5.2. Safety and Hazards ......................................................................................................... 14 5.3. Important Compliance Information for North American Users ........................................ 15 6. REFERENCES ................................................................................................... 17 6.1. Reference Documents ..................................................................................................... 17 6.2. List of Abbreviations ........................................................................................................ 17
4115034 Rev 1.1 December 10, 2013 6 List of Tables Table 1. Power Supply Requirements ............................................................................................. 8 Table 2. ESD Specifications ............................................................................................................ 8 Table 3. Supported MC7350-L Power States ................................................................................. 9 Table 4. Supported RF Bands ....................................................................................................... 10 Table 5. Audio Pin Description ...................................................................................................... 13
4115034 Rev 1.1 December 10, 2013 7 1. Introduction The Sierra Wireless MC7350-L PCI Express Mini Card is a compact, lightweight, wireless LTE-based modem. It provides LTE connectivity for networking. 1.1. Hardware Development Components Sierra Wireless manufactures the MC Series Development Kit, a hardware development component that is used to facilitate the hardware integration process. This development kit is the hardware development board on which an MC mini card is plugged. The development kit provides access to all of the interfaces supported by the MC mini card. For instructions on using the MC Development Kit, see document [2] AirPrime MC Series Development Kit Quick Start Guide.
4115034 Rev 1.1 December 10, 2013 8 2. Power Interface 2.1. Power Supply The host device must provide power to the MC7350-L mini card over pins 2, 24, 39, 41 and 52 (VCC) as detailed in the following table. Table 1. Power Supply Requirements Signal Name Pin Specification Minimum Typical Maximum Unit VCC 2, 24, 39, 41, 52 Voltage range 3.0 3.3 3.6 V Ripple voltage - - 100 mVpp GND 4, 9, 15, 18, 21, 26, 27, 29, 34, 35, 37, 40, 43, 50 - - 0 - V Note: The host must provide safe and continuous power at all times; the module does not have an independent power supply, or protection circuits to guard against electrical issues. 2.2. Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) The OEM is responsible for ensuring that the Mini Card host interface pins are not exposed to ESD during handling or normal operation. Note: The level of protection required depends on your application. Table 2. ESD Specifications Connection Specification Operational The RF port (antenna launch and RF connector) complies with the IEC 61000-4-2 standard:  Electrostatic Discharge Immunity:  Test: Level3  Contact Discharge: ±6 kV  Air Discharge: ±8 kV Non-operational The host connector Interface complies with the following standard only:  ±2 kV Human Body Model (JESD22-A114-B)
4115034 Rev 1.1 December 10, 2013 9 Hardware Integration Guide Power Interface 2.3. Power States The MC7350-L mini card has four power states as detailed in the following table. Table 3. Supported MC7350-L Power States State Details Host is Powered Module is Powered USB Interface Active RF Enabled Normal (Default state)  Module is active  Default state when VCC is first applied in the absence of W_DISABLE_N control  Module is capable of placing / receiving calls, or establishing data connections on the wireless network  Current consumption is affected by several factors, including:  Radio band being used  Transmit power  Receive gain settings  Data rate  Number of active Tx time slots     Low power (‘Airplane mode’)  Module is active  Module enters this state:  Under host interface control:  Host issues AT+CFUN=0, or  Host asserts W_DISABLE_N, after AT!PCOFFEN=0 has been issued.  Automatically, when critical temperature or voltage trigger limits have been reached     Sleep  Normal state of module between calls or data connections  Module cycles between wake (polling the network) and sleep, at network provider-determined interval.     Disconnected Host power source is disconnected from the module and all voltages associated with the module are at 0 V.    
4115034 Rev 1.1 December 10, 2013 10 3. RF Integration 3.1. Supported RF Bands Table 4. Supported RF Bands Band/Connectivity Data Rates Notes LTE Band 4 (AWS 1700/2100 MHz) HSPA+ rates  Downlink: Up to 42 Mbps (category 24)  Uplink: Up to 5.76 Mbps (category 7) Circuit-switched data bearers up to 64 kbps MIMO support LTE Band 13 (700 MHz) GPS 1575.42 MHz GLONASS 1602 MHz 3.2. Ground Connection When connecting the mini card to system ground:  Prevent noise leakage by establishing a very good ground connection to the mini card through the host connector.  Connect to system ground using the two mounting holes at the top of the module. (Refer to document [1] AirPrime MC7350 and MC7350-L Product Technical Specification and Customer Design Guidelines for more information.)  Minimize ground noise leakage into the RF. Depending on the host board design, noise could potentially be coupled to the mini card from the host board. This is mainly an issue for host designs that have signals traveling along the length of the mini card, or when circuitry operating at both ends of the mini card interconnects. 3.3. Shielding Guidelines The mini card is fully shielded to protect against EMI and to ensure compliance with FCC Part 15 - “Radio Frequency Devices” (or equivalent regulations in other jurisdictions). Note: The module shields must NOT be removed.
4115034 Rev 1.1 December 10, 2013 11 Hardware Integration Guide RF Integration 3.4. Antenna Guidelines When selecting the antenna and cable, it is critical to RF performance to match antenna gain and cable loss. 3.4.1. Choosing the Correct Antenna and Cabling Consider the following points for appropriate antenna selection:  The antenna (and associated circuitry) should have a nominal impedance of 50Ω with a return loss of better than 10 dB across each frequency band of operation.  The system gain value affects both radiated power and regulatory (FCC, IC, etc.) test results. 3.4.2. Designing Custom Antennas Note that in designing custom antennas, a skilled RF engineer should do the development to ensure that the RF performance is maintained. 3.4.3. Determining the Antenna’s Location Consider the following points when deciding where to place the antenna:  Antenna location may affect RF performance. Although the module is shielded to prevent interference in most applications, the placement of the antenna is still very important – if the host device is insufficiently shielded, high levels of broadband or spurious noise can degrade the module’s performance.  Connecting cables between the module and the antenna must have 50Ω impedance. If the impedance of the module is mismatched, RF performance is reduced significantly.  Antenna cables should be routed, if possible, away from noise sources (switching power supplies, LCD assemblies, etc.). If the cables are near the noise sources, the noise may be coupled into the RF cable and into the antenna. 3.4.4. Disabling the Diversity Antenna Use the AT command !RXDEN=0 to disable receive diversity or !RXDEN=1 to enable receive diversity. Note: A diversity antenna is used to improve connection quality and reliability through redundancy. Because two antennas may experience difference interference effects (signal distortion, delay, etc.), when one antenna receives a degraded signal, the other may not be similarly affected.
4115034 Rev 1.1 December 10, 2013 12 Hardware Integration Guide RF Integration 3.5. RF Desense Sources Common sources of interference that may affect the module’s RF performance (RF desense) include:  Power supply noise  Can lead to noise in the RF signal  Module power supply ripple limit <= 100 mVp-p 1 Hz–100 kHz  Interference from other embedded wireless devices  Any harmonics, sub-harmonics, or cross-products of signals that fall in the module’s Rx range may cause spurious response, resulting in decreased Rx performance.  Tx power and corresponding broadband noise may overload or increase the noise floor of the module’s receiver, resulting in RF desense.  Severity of interference depends on proximity of other antennas to the module’s antennas.  Host electronic device-generated RF  Proximity of host electronics to the module’s antenna can contribute to decreased Rx performance.  Some devices include microprocessor and memory, display panel and display drivers, and switching mode power supplies. Note: In practice, there are usually numerous interfering frequencies and harmonics. The net effect can be a series of desensitized receive channels.
4115034 Rev 1.1 December 10, 2013 13 4. Audio Interface The MC7350-L supports a PCM/I2S digital audio interface using a dedicated serial link for digital audio data; all other signals, such as subcoding and control, are transmitted separately. The audio interface can be switched from PCM to I2S and vice versa via AT commands. Table 5. Audio Pin Description Signal Name Pin Description PCM_CLK/I2S_CLK 45 PCM Clock/I2S Clock PCM_DOUT/I2S_DOUT 47 PCM Data Out/I2S Data Out PCM_DIN/I2S_DIN 49 PCM Data In/I2S Data In PCM_SYNC/I2S_WS 51 PCM SYNC/I2S WS
4115034 Rev 1.1 December 10, 2013 14 5. Regulatory Information This module is designed to meet, and upon commercial release, will meet the requirements of the following regulatory bodies and regulations, where applicable:  Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of the United States  The Certification and Engineering Bureau of Industry Canada (IC)  The National Communications Commission (NCC) of Taiwan, Republic of China Upon commercial release, the following industry approvals will have been obtained, where applicable:  CDG2 Additional certifications may be obtained upon customer request; contact your Sierra Wireless account representative for details. Additional testing and certification may be required for the end product with an embedded MC7350-L modem and are the responsibility of the OEM. Sierra Wireless offers professional services-based assistance to OEMs with the testing and certification process, if required. 5.1. Important Notice Because of the nature of wireless communications, transmission and reception of data can never be guaranteed. Data may be delayed, corrupted (i.e., have errors) or be totally lost. Although significant delays or losses of data are rare when wireless devices such as the Sierra Wireless modem are used in a normal manner with a well-constructed network, the Sierra Wireless modem should not be used in situations where failure to transmit or receive data could result in damage of any kind to the user or any other party, including but not limited to personal injury, death, or loss of property. Sierra Wireless and its affiliates accept no responsibility for damages of any kind resulting from delays or errors in data transmitted or received using the Sierra Wireless modem, or for failure of the Sierra Wireless modem to transmit or receive such data. 5.2. Safety and Hazards Do not operate your MC7350-L modem:  In areas where blasting is in progress  Where explosive atmospheres may be present including refuelling points, fuel depots, and chemical plants  Near medical equipment, life support equipment, or any equipment which may be susceptible to any form of radio interference. In such areas, the MC7350-L modem MUST BE POWERED OFF. Otherwise, the MC7350-L modem can transmit signals that could interfere with this equipment. In an aircraft, the MC7350-L modem MUST BE POWERED OFF. Otherwise, the MC7350-L modem can transmit signals that could interfere with various onboard systems and may be dangerous to the operation of the aircraft or disrupt the cellular network. Use of a cellular phone in an aircraft is illegal in some jurisdictions. Failure to observe this instruction may lead to suspension or denial of cellular telephone services to the offender, or legal action or both. Some airlines may permit the use of cellular phones while the aircraft is on the ground and the door is open. The MC7350-L modem may be used normally at this time.
4115034 Rev 1.1 December 10, 2013 15 Hardware Integration Guide Regulatory Information 5.3. Important Compliance Information for North American Users Note: Details are preliminary and subject to change. The MC7350-L modem has been granted modular approval for mobile applications. Integrators may use the MC7350-L modem in their final products without additional FCC / IC (Industry Canada) certification if they meet the following conditions. Otherwise, additional FCC / IC approvals must be obtained. 1. At least 20 cm separation distance between the antenna and the user’s body must be maintained at all times. 2. To comply with FCC / IC regulations limiting both maximum RF output power and human exposure to RF radiation, the maximum antenna gain including cable loss in a mobile-only exposure condition must not exceed:  6.0 dBi in LTE Band 4  9.0 dBi in LTE Band 13 3. The MC7350-L modem may transmit simultaneously with other collocated radio transmitters within a host device, provided the following conditions are met:  Each collocated radio transmitter has been certified by FCC / IC for mobile application.  At least 20 cm separation distance between the antennas of the collocated transmitters and the user’s body must be maintained at all times.  The output power and antenna gain must not exceed the limits and configurations stipulated in the following table. Device Technology Band Frequency (MHz) Maximum Conducted Power (dBm) Maximum Antenna Gain (dBi) MC7350-L LTE 4 1710–1755 24 6 13 777–787 24 6 Collocated transmitters* WLAN 2400–2500 29 5.0 5150–5850 29 5.0 WiMAX 2300–2400 29 5.0 2500–2700 29 5.0 3300–3800 29 5.0 BT 2400–2500 15 5.0 * Valid collocated transmitter combinations: WLAN+BT; WiMAX+BT. (WLAN+WiMAX+BT is not permitted.) 4. A label must be affixed to the outside of the end product into which the MC7350-L modem is incorporated, with a statement similar to the following: This device contains FCC ID: N7NMC7350L Contains transmitter module IC: 2417C-MC7350L where 2417C-MC7350L is the module’s certification number. 5. A user manual with the end product must clearly indicate the operating requirements and conditions that must be observed to ensure compliance with current FCC / IC RF exposure guidelines.
4115034 Rev 1.1 December 10, 2013 16 Hardware Integration Guide Regulatory Information The end product with an embedded MC7350-L modem may also need to pass the FCC Part 15 unintentional emission testing requirements and be properly authorized per FCC Part 15. Note: If this module is intended for use in a portable device, you are responsible for separate approval to satisfy the SAR requirements of FCC Part 2.1093 and IC RSS-102.
4115034 Rev 1.1 December 10, 2013 17 6. References 6.1. Reference Documents [1] AirPrime MC7350 and MC7350-L Product Technical Specification and Customer Design Guidelines Reference: 4114103 [2] AirPrime MC Series Development Kit Quick Start Guide Reference: 2130705 6.2. List of Abbreviations Abbreviation Definition AC Alternative Current ADC Analog to Digital Converter A/D Analog to Digital conversion AF Audio-Frequency AT Attention (prefix for modem commands) AUX Auxiliary CAN Controller Area Network CB Cell Broadcast CEP Circular Error Probable CLK Clock CMOS Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor CS Coding Scheme CTS Clear To Send DAC Digital to Analogue Converter dB Decibel DC Direct Current DCD Data Carrier Detect DCE Data Communication Equipment DCS Digital Cellular System DR Dynamic Range DSR Data Set Ready DTE Data Terminal Equipment DTR Data Terminal Ready EDGE Enhance Data rates for GSM Evolution EFR Enhanced Full Rate E-GSM Extended GSM EGPRS Enhance GPRS EMC Electromagnetic Compatibility
4115034 Rev 1.1 December 10, 2013 18 Hardware Integration Guide References Abbreviation Definition EMI Electromagnetic Interference EMS Enhanced Message Service EN Enable ESD Electrostatic Discharges FIFO First In First Out FR Full Rate FTA Full Type Approval GND Ground GPI General Purpose Input GPC General Purpose Connector GPIO General Purpose Input Output GPO General Purpose Output GPRS General Packet Radio Service GPS Global Positioning System GSM Global System for Mobile communications HR Half Rate I/O Input / Output LED Light Emitting Diode LGA Land Grid Array LNA Low Noise Amplifier MAX Maximum MIC Microphone MIN Minimum MMS MultiMedia Message Service MO Mobile Originated MT Mobile Terminated na Not Applicable NC Not Connected NF Noise Factor NMEA National Marine Electronics Association NOM Nominal NTC Negative Temperature Coefficient PA Power Amplifier Pa Pascal (for speaker sound pressure measurements) PBCCH Packet Broadcast Control Channel PC Personal Computer PCB Printed Circuit Board PDA Personal Digital Assistant PFM Power Frequency Modulation PSM Phase Shift Modulation PWM Pulse Width Modulation RAM Random Access Memory RF Radio Frequency
4115034 Rev 1.1 December 10, 2013 19 Hardware Integration Guide References Abbreviation Definition RFI Radio Frequency Interference RHCP Right Hand Circular Polarization RI Ring Indicator RST Reset RTC Real Time Clock RTCM Radio Technical Commission for Maritime services RTS Request To Send RX Receive SCL Serial Clock SDA Serial Data SIM Subscriber Identification Module SMS Short Message Service SPI Serial Peripheral Interface SPL Sound Pressure Level SPK Speaker SRAM Static RAM TBC To Be Confirmed TDMA Time Division Multiple Access TP Test Point TVS Transient Voltage Suppressor TX Transmit TYP Typical UART Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter USB Universal Serial Bus USSD Unstructured Supplementary Services Data VSWR Voltage Standing Wave Ratio

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