AM335x Wireless Connectivity Product description

The following describes the content of the wireless connectivity package for AM335x platforms, its various features and its solution capabilities.

General Description
The comprehensive wireless connectivity package enables you to add wireless connectivity support to the AM355x EVM features. As part of the EVM kit, it immediately enables you to add wireless connectivity capabilities to the Applications Processor. This solution includes an integrated system solution for both WLAN and Bluetooth® (BT) based on TI's wireless devices. The package encapsulates both the HW component in the form of an add-on board for the AM335x EVM, as well as a complete SW package which includes the WLAN driver and Bluetooth initialization scripts. Both were fully integrated and tested with this specific platform, thus minimizing integration time.

Solution Block Diagram
The wireless connectivity solution is based on a Open Source WiFI chipset solution populated on a wl1271 module. WL1271is TI's 6th generation of wireless connectivity devices, encompassing a combo Bluetooth-WLAN device in 65nm technology. This device is accompanied by a DC2DC converter and a Front-End module (designated FEM). ;

Wireless Connectivity Module by Murata
The Murata COM6M module provides the complete wireless connectivity chipset described above including clocks and powering scheme. For further information regarding the module specification, go to COM6M module by Murata website page. Note that due to a HW bug in the WiFi Antenna matching network design, customers may observe significant degradation in throughput (15-20 Mbps - Typical) as well as reduced WiFi Range when using the AM335x Starter Kit and COM6M module with AM335-EVM, with the onboard WiFi Antenna. For optimal throughput we recomend using an external Antenna as describe in the link: 

Front-End Module
The Front-End Module (FEM) device carries a powerful PA which is used to provide WLAN output power gain. Additionally, a 3-way switch is located in the FEM device to enable antenna sharing among WLAN and Bluetooth, thus providing a single antenna solution supporting both WLAN and Bluetooth.

General

 * Supported OS


 * Linux ver. 3.1


 * Supplies


 * VBAT - 3.0 - 5.5V battery supply
 * VIO - 1.8V I/O supply


 * Clocks
 * Reference clock - 38.4 MHz
 * Sleep clock - 32.768 KHz


 * Host I/Fs
 * SDIO, 4-bit, 25 MHz for WLAN
 * UART, with flow control for Bluetooth

WLAN

 * WLAN station
 * 802.11 b,g,n,d,e,i compliant
 * 802.11n single antenna


 * 20MHz, 1 spatial stream support
 * RX STBC support


 * Security


 * Personal security protocols and services covering: WEP, WPA &amp; WPA2
 * Open-source supplicant


 * QOS


 * EDCA capability including packet bursting and TXOP
 * U-APSD capability


 * Scan


 * Active scan
 * Passive scan


 * Roaming


 * Low RSSI roaming trigger
 * BSS loss roaming trigger


 * WPS (Linux only)


 * WPS enrollee, PIN mode
 * WPS enrollee, PBC mode


 * Access Point


 * Soft AP function
 * Supports up to 8 stations
 * 802.11 b,g,n compliant
 * 802.11n single antenna
 * Security: Personal security protocols and services covering: Open, WEP, WPA ,WPA2
 * Supporting NAT and DHCP server function.

Bluetooth

 * Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR compliant
 * Linux: Integrated to BlueZ protocol stack
 * Validated Linux Profiles: A2DP, OPP, FTP, HID, SPP

Misc

 * Bluetooth-WLAN coexistence:


 * Best-in-class single antenna coexistence scheme enabling a full proof shared antenna solution
 * All data &amp; voice use cases combinations are supported


 * Proprietary low power schemes:


 * Provides extremely low power consumption in critical profiles (such as: WLAN idle connection and Bluetooth scan)

Links

 * AM335x Evaluation Module - page
 * Com6M card - Murata web site
 * Com6 Connector description
 * AM335 PSP Users Guide
 * AM335 U-Boot Users Guide
 * Am335x Flash Programming Guide