Serial Communication App Format Mode (Binary)

Overview

When data formatted in a specific manner is input on the transmitting side, the receiving side outputs data formatted in the same manner.

Data represented in hexadecimal is output as raw binary.

• On TWELITE UART, format mode (ASCII) is enabled by connecting the SET pin to GND at startup.
• On TWELITE / TWELITE DIP, format mode (binary) is enabled by connecting the EX1 pin to GND at startup.

There are two types of supported formats.

• Simple format: uses Logical Device ID only; Extremely Simple! Compatible with UART transmission function of the standard app
• Extended format: uses Logical Device ID plus options such as Serial ID and retry count

For example, 5 bytes of binary data 0x48 0x45 0x4C 0x4C 0x4F can be transmitted using the simple format as follows.

[Transmitting Side]

A5 5A 80 07 00 01 48 45 4C 4C 4F 43 04    <- Input
A5 5A 80 04 DB A1 80 01 FB 04  <- Output

[Receiving Side]

A5 5A 80 07 78 01 48 45 4C 4C 4F 3B 04  <- Output

Basic Format

When sending data expressed in basic or extended format, handle it as raw binary data.

• All binary
• Header is 2 bytes: A5 5A
• Payload length is 2 bytes representing the byte count, OR’ed with 0x8000
• Checksum is XOR of payload
• Footer is EOT 0x04 (can be omitted on input)
• Big-endian

For example, binary data 00 11 22 33 AA BB CC is expressed as follows.

A5 5A 80 07 00 11 22 33 AA BB CC DD 04

Although debugging is troublesome, it offers high efficiency for communication between microcontrollers.

Distinguishing Parent and Child Devices

Format mode distinguishes between parent and child devices.

Parent and child devices must match Application ID and Frequency Channel.

Source Identification

Format mode allows identification of the source from received data.

Simple format uses Logical Device ID, and extended format uses Logical Device ID plus extended address.

Simple Format

When using the simple format of format mode, follow the format below.

Transmitting Side Input

Receiving Side Output

Transmitting Side Output (Response Message)

Example

Example of sending byte sequence 11 22 33 AA BB CC from parent to all children.

[Transmitting Side: Parent]

A5 5A 80 08 78 01 11 22 33 AA BB CC A4 04  <- Input
A5 5A 80 04 DB A1 80 01 FB 04  <- Output

The last byte 0xA4 is the checksum: XOR from 0x78 to 0xCC.

[Receiving Side: All Children]

A5 5A 80 08 00 01 11 22 33 AA BB CC DC 04  <- Output

The last byte 0xDC is the checksum: XOR from 0x00 to 0xCC.

Extended Format

When using the extended format of format mode, follow the format below.

Transmitting Side Input

When using Logical Device ID as destination

When using Extended Address as destination

Details of Option List

In extended format, detailed settings can be specified by providing an option list.

The option list consists of repeated option IDs and arguments. It ends with 0xFF.

0x01: Enable MAC ACK

Enables MAC layer ACK (acknowledgment).

Not suitable for frequent data transmissions but can improve reliability.

0x02: Enable Application Retransmission

When using MAC ACK, specify 0x00-0x0F. Retransmits 0-16 times until successful.

When not using MAC ACK, specify 0x81-0x8F. Always retransmits 1-16 times.

Response messages are output after all retransmissions are complete.

0x03: Minimum Initial Transmission Delay

Specifies the minimum delay before the first transmission in milliseconds.

0x04: Maximum Initial Transmission Delay

Specifies the maximum delay before the first transmission in milliseconds.

0x05: Application Retransmission Interval

Specifies the interval between application retransmissions in milliseconds.

0x06: Allow Parallel Requests

Allows parallel requests.

When allowed, the next request can be accepted without blocking until the previous request completes.

For example, if three requests each with 0.5 seconds delay are input consecutively, normally they are processed sequentially at 0.5s, 1.0s, and 1.5s. With parallel requests allowed, they are processed in any order after 0.5s. Note that this cannot be used when packet segmentation is required.

0x07: Disable Response Messages

Disables response messages output when data is input on the transmitting side.

0x08: Sleep After Transmission

Immediately puts the device to sleep after transmission.

RX detects rising edge to wake from sleep. Input any 1 byte of data.

After waking, UART initialization completes and input is accepted.

Receiving Side Output

Transmitting Side Output (Response Message)

Examples

Example of sending byte sequence 11 22 33 AA BB CC from parent to child.

Example specifying Logical Device ID

Example of sending from parent to child with Logical Device ID 0x01.

• Response ID is 0x01
• No options

[Transmitting Side: Parent]

A5 5A 80 0A 01 A0 01 FF 11 22 33 AA BB CC 82 04  <- Input
A5 5A 80 04 DB A1 01 01 7A 04  <- Output

The last byte 0xC1 is checksum: XOR from 0x42 to 0xCC.

[Receiving Side: Child]

A5 5A 80 14 00 A0 01 82 03 68 41 FF FF FF FF FF 00 06 11 22 33 AA BB CC 2D 04  <- Output

The last byte 0x2D is checksum: XOR from 0x00 to 0xCC.

Example specifying Extended Address

Example of sending from parent to child with Extended Address 0x820163B2 (Serial ID 0x20163B2).

• Response ID is 0x01
• No options

[Transmitting Side: Parent]

A5 5A 80 0E 80 A0 01 82 01 63 B2 FF 11 22 33 AA BB CC 51 04  <- Input
A5 5A 80 04 DB A1 01 01 7A 04  <- Output

The last byte 0x51 is checksum: XOR from 0x80 to 0xCC.

[Receiving Side: Child]

A5 5A 80 14 00 A0 01 82 03 68 41 82 01 63 B2 FF 00 06 11 22 33 AA BB CC 7F 04  <- Output

The last byte 0x7F is checksum: XOR from 0x00 to 0xCC.

Example using MAC ACK

Example of sending from parent to child with Logical Device ID 0x01 using MAC ACK.

• Response ID is 0x01
• Option 0x01: Enable MAC ACK specified

[Transmitting Side: Parent]

A5 5A 80 0B 01 A0 01 01 FF 11 22 33 AA BB CC 83 04  <- Input
A5 5A 80 04 DB A1 01 01 7A 04  <- Output

The last byte 0x83 is checksum: XOR from 0x01 to 0xCC.

[Receiving Side: Child]

A5 5A 80 14 00 A0 01 82 03 68 41 00 00 01 01 FF 00 06 11 22 33 AA BB CC 2D 04  <- Output

The last byte 0x2D is checksum: XOR from 0x00 to 0xCC.

Example with Delay

Example of sending from parent to child with Logical Device ID 0x01 with 768ms delay.

• Response ID is 0x01
• Option 0x03: Minimum Initial Transmission Delay specified

[Transmitting Side: Parent]

A5 5A 80 0D 01 A0 01 03 03 00 FF 11 22 33 AA BB CC 82 04  <- Input
A5 5A 80 04 DB A1 01 01 7A 04  <- Output

The last byte 0x82 is checksum: XOR from 0x01 to 0xCC.

[Receiving Side: Child]

A5 5A 80 14 00 A0 01 82 03 68 41 FF FF FF FF FF 00 06 11 22 33 AA BB CC 2D 04  <- Output

The last byte 0x2D is checksum: XOR from 0x00 to 0xCC.

0xDB Command

Instead of setting interactive mode, you can operate and configure the module by inputting the 0xDB command from UART.