Encoder/decoder chip is made for low power radio

The Control44 is a novel 4bit-address/4bit-data encoder/decoder device from low power radio expert Radiometrix.

The Control44 is a novel 4bit-address/4bit-data encoder/decoder device from low power radio expert Radiometrix.

Contained on a single IC, the Control44 has specifically been designed for use in RF remote control applications - a fast growing and widening market sector.

This new device will operate in either encode or decode mode and it uses the 1Kbit/s differential Manchester encoding technique, with preamble.

It is available from Radiometrix in 20-pin SSOP, 18-pin SOIC and PDIP packages and as a low voltage variant.

The Control44, which is suitable for use with narrowband FM radio modules, operates using 4bit address and 4bit data with single packetised transmission for fast activation with plenty of preamble to cover the slower power-up time of crystal-controlled narrowband radios but without the overhead of repetitive transmission.

The datarate is up to 5.6Kbit/s.

Custom address, data bit variations are available subject to minimum order quantity.

The device also features differential Manchester encoding of address, data and checksum, synchronisation codes and checksum to reduce false triggering on noise, and an extra wake up preamble for transmitter (including narrowband radio) power up time requirements.

The preamble allows for settling the receiver adaptive data slicer.

Control44 will operate under four-wire, pushbutton and latched pushbutton modes and provides maximum usage of the range capability of an RF module.

Two alternative clock sources can be used - ceramic resonators or crystal oscillators up to 20MHz - depending on application.

Ceramic resonators with internal capacitors provide excellent low-cost oscillator.

The Control44 encoder/decoder has an operating voltage of 3.0-5.5V for the standard version running over the temperature range -40 to +125C, or 2.0-5.5V for the low voltage version (running over the temperature range -40 to +85C.

The device draws less than 2mA without external load.

The applications for Control44 are many and varied.

They include: emergency assistance call; status reporting and monitoring; and remote control systems.

Other applications are industrial and HVAC controls, and simple on/off switching, as well as long-range telecontrol with narrowband FM radios.

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