Register Access through SPI
9.3 Frequency Synthesizer Description
The frequency synthesizer consists of a local oscillator (LO) driven by a fractional N phase locked loop
(PLL).
The LO is an integrated LC voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) operating at twice the RF frequency (for
the 868 MHz frequency band) or four times the RF frequency (for the 434 MHz and 315 MHz frequency
bands). This allows the I/Q signals driving the mixer to be generated by division.
The fractional divider offers high flexibility in the frequency generation for:
• Switching between transmit and receive modes.
• Achieving frequency modulation in FSK modulation transmission.
• Performing multi-channel links.
• Trimming the RF carrier.
Frequencies are controlled by means of registers. To allow for user preference, two programming access
methods are offered (see Section 16.3, “Frequency Register”).
• In friendly access, all frequencies are computed internally from the contents of the carrier
frequency and deviation frequency registers.
• In direct access, the user programs direct all three frequency registers.
10 Register Access through SPI
10.1 SPI Interface
the MC33596 and the MCU communicate via a bidirectional serial digital interface. According to the
selected mode, the MC33596 or the MCU manages the data transfer. The MC33596’s digital interface can
be used as a standard SPI (master/slave) or as a simple interface (SPI deselected). In the latter case, the
interface’s pins are used as standard I/O pins. However, the MCU has the highest priority, as it can control
the MC33596 by setting CONFB pin to the low level.
The interface is operated by four I/O pins.
• SEB — Serial interface Enable
When SEB is set high, pins SCLK, MOSI, and MISO are set to high impedance. This allows
individual selection in a multiple device system, where all devices are connected via the same bus.
The rest of the circuit remains in the current state, enabling fast recovery times, but the power
amplifier is disabled to prevent any uncontrolled RF transmission.
• SCLK — Serial Clock
Synchronizes data movement in and out of the device through its MOSI and MISO lines. The
master and slave devices can exchange a byte of information during a sequence of eight clock
cycles. Since SCLK is generated by the master device, this line is an input on a slave device.
• MOSI — Master Output Slave Input
Transmits bytes when master, and receives bytes when slave, with the most significant bit first.
When no data are output, SCLK and MOSI force a low level.
MC33596 Data Sheet, Rev. 3
Freescale Semiconductor
9