International Journal of VLSI design & Communication Systems (VLSICS) Vol.8, No.

5, October 2017

ZIGBEE TRANSMITTER FOR IOT WIRELESS

ABSTRACT
The rapid development in wireless networking has been witnessed in past several years, which aimed on
high speed and long range applications. There are different protocol standards used for the short range
wireless communication namely the Bluetooth, ZigBee, Wimax and Wi-Fi. Among these standards ZigBee is
based on IEEE 802.15.4 protocol can meet a wider variety of real industrial needs due to its long-term
battery operation and reliability of the mesh networking architecture. The increasing demand for low data
rate and low power networking led to the development of ZigBee technology. This technology was
developed for Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPAN), directed at control and military applications,
where low cost, low data rate, and more battery life were main requirements. This paper presents Verilog-
HDL simulation of the Top level module (Cyclic Redundancy Check, Bit-to-Symbol block, Symbol-to-Chip
block, OQPSK block and Pulse shaping) of the ZigBee transmitter for IoT applications.

KEYWORDS
Cyclic Redundancy Check, Bit-to-Symbol, Symbol-to-Chip, Offset Quadrature Phase Shift Keying
Modulator and Pulse Shaping.

1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. MOTIVATION

ZigBee standard was specically developed to address the need for very low cost implementation
of low data rate wireless networks with ultra low power consumption. The ZigBee Standard
reduces the implementation cost by simplifying the communication protocols at reduced data rate.
The minimum requirements to meet ZigBee specications are relatively relaxed as compared to
other standards such as IEEE 802.11 and Bluetooth. This reduces the complexity and cost of
implementing ZigBee compliant transceivers. This feature of ZigBee enhances the application in
wireless sensor network for gathering information from sensors such as temperature, humidity,
pressure and other physical parameters[1]. ZigBee is the only standards-based technology that
addresses the unique needs of most remote monitoring and control sensory network applications.

1.2. INTRODUCTION

There are different types of wireless networks such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Wimax and Zigbee[2].
The IEEE802.15.1 protocol is used for Bluetooth. We are using FHSS (Frequency Hopping
Spread Spectrum) method in Bluetooth. The advantages of Bluetooth is easy to install, low cost,
low power consumption, Data rate is 1Mbps, transmission distance is 30-50mts. The Bluetooth

DOI : 10.5121/vlsic.2017.8501 1
 International Journal of VLSI design & Communication Systems (VLSICS) Vol.8, No.5, October 2017
disadvantages are system resources requires 250KB, low battery life 1-7 days, Transmission
range is 1-10 days and network size is 7.
The IEEE 802.11 protocol is used for Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi stands for Wireless Fidelity. Wi-Fi operating
frequency is 2.4GHz or 5.8GHz bands. The Wi-Fi advantages are System resources requires
1MB, transmission range is 1-100mts, bandwidth is 11,000Kb/s. In these Wi-Fi for installation or
created with AP(Acess Point) and Speed is 1.3GHz. Disadvantages of Wi-Fi is Higher cost, speed
and performance can vary for different devices, Battery life is 5 days and the network size is 32.

The IEEE 802.16 protocol is used for Wimax. Wimax stands for Worldwide interoperability for
Microwave Access.In Wimax OFDM(Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex) method is used.
The advantages of Wimax is high speed data and speed 10Mbps to 10Kilometers with line of
site. The disadvantages of Wimax is power consumption more, other wireless equipment could
cause interference and weather conditions like rain could cause interrupt the signal.

The IEEE 802.15.4 protocol is used for Zigbee. Zigbee uses DSSS(Direct sequence spread
spectrum method). The advantages of Zigbee is low power, low cost, long battery life (1-100mts),
unlimited network size(264) and transmission range is 1-100mts.Zigbee operating frequency
is868 MHz in Europe, 915 MHz in the USA and Australia, and 2.4 GHz in most jurisdictions
worldwide. Zigbee provides a data integrity check and authentication function.AES-128 is
adopted.

ZigBee is a wireless networking for a high-level communication protocols using small, low-
power and low-cost radios[3]. It is used to create Personal Area Network .Zigbee is an IEEE
802.15.4 based specification. This IEEE standard describes physical and MAC layer only[4].
Data rate of Zigbee is 250 Kbps. Zigbee devices can use System-on-chip solutions with integrated
radio and 60-250 flash memory[5]. Zigbee basically operates three frequency bands. In the
industrial, scientific and medical(ISM) radio bands; 868 MHz in Europe, 915 MHz in the USA
and Australia, and 2.4 GHz in most jurisdictions worldwide. In this operating frequency is 2.4
GHz and data transmission range is from 10 to 100 meters [6]. It operates on 2.4 GHz with data
rate of 250 Kbps .

ZigBee supports three types of network topologies; star topology, mesh topology, and combined
topology. The ZigBee concentrate on the low data rate and low power consumption, directed
towards remote control and military applications. ZigBee uses very low data rate and has a long
battery life, which makes it widely useful in monitoring and control applications[7]. Therefore,
markets as building automation, industrial control, lighting in smart homes, personal health care,
and commercial control are perfect fits. The human interface devices such as keyboards, mice,
joysticks etc. and high end remote control for consumer electronics are also good fits.

Figure 1. ZigBee transmitter and receiver

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 International Journal of VLSI design & Communication Systems (VLSICS) Vol.8, No.5, October 2017
ZigBee devices are now getting more attention towards Internet of Things (IOT). The ZigBee
standard is maintained by ZigBee alliance. Fig.1 displays a commercial ZigBee transmitter and
receiver pair[3].

IOT: In todays world everything is going smart, smart power grids, smart sensor networks,
smart homes, and smart water distribution systems. The common perspective for these systems is
usually associated with one single concept, known as Internet of Things (IOT). The IOT make use
of intelligently connected devices, and systems to transfer data over a network without requiring
human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction. For example, in a smart home, air
conditioner can communicate with your car so that when car is nearby, it could automatically
switch on or when you enter home the light automatically glows up. For these interconnected
networks, Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) could become the important technology.

2. ZIGBEE TRANSMITTER
2.1 SPECIFICATION
Zigbee digital transmitter in 2.4GHZ band is designed using Verilog for acknowledgement frame
(or) architecture. There are two types of layers. (i) Physical layer and (ii) Medium Access Control
(MAC) layer.

Physical layer supports 3 frequency bands are 2.45 GHZ band with 16 channels, 915 MHZ band
with 10 channels, 868 MHZ band with 1 channel. In these Zigbee transmitter we are using 2.4
GHZ band because it is a world wide band. In these scheme, we focus on 2.4 GHZ band
application which has 16 channels with spacing of 5 MHZ and data rate is 250 Kbps.

MAC layer defines two types of nodes they are Reduced Function Devices (RFDs) and Full
Function Devices (FFDs).RFDs can only act as end device and are equipped with sensors or
actuators like transducers, light, switches and lamps. They may only interact with a single FFDs.
FFDs are equipped with a full set of MAC layer functions, which enables them to act as a
network coordinator or a network end-device.

Table 1. Specification

The IEEE 802.15.4 defines four MAC frame structures: beacon, data, acknowledgement and
MAC command frames. The beacon frame is used by a coordinator to transmit beacons. The
function of beacons is to synchronize the clock of all the devices within the same network. The
data frame is used to transmit data. Meanwhile, the acknowledgment frame is used to confirm
successful frame reception. The MAC commands are transmitted using a MAC command frame.

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The represents the acknowledgment frame format:

Figure 2. Architecture

The ZigBee standard employs Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) technique to avoid
interference. The modulation is done using Offset Quadrature Phase Shift Key (O-QPSK)
modulator, which sum the in-phase signal with a half cycle delayed quadrature phase signal. The
ZigBee transmitter has been designed for the use of acknowledgment frame format, which is the
simplest MAC sub layer frame format without Medium Access Control (MAC) payload. It
provides the active feedback from the receiver to sender that the packet has been received without
error.
2.2. MEDIUM ACCESS CONTROL (MAC) LAYER

The MAC layer comprises of MAC Header (MHR) and MAC Footer (MFR). The MHR consists
of MAC frame control and data sequence number, while MAC Footer (MFR) constitutes Frame
Control Sequence (FCS).

2.2.1. FRAME CONTROL (FC)

2.2.2. DATA SEQUENCE NUMBER (DSN)

DSN is an 8-bit value, which is used when stream of data is sent. It acts as a counter that
increments itself after each frame.

2.2.3. FRAME CONTROL SEQUENCE (FCS)

It is a 16-bit eld which contains 16-bit CRC for detecting errors during transmission. This frame
is passed to the Physical (PHY) layer as the Physical Service Data Unit (PSDU), which becomes
PHY payload.

2.3. PHYSICAL (PHY) LAYER

The PHY Payload which actually comes from acknowledgment frame (PSDU) is prexed with
Synchronous Header (SHR) and PHY Header (PHR).

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 International Journal of VLSI design & Communication Systems (VLSICS) Vol.8, No.5, October 2017
2.3.1. SYNCHRONOUS HEADER (SHR)

The SHR has preamble sequence and start of frame delimiter.

The preamble sequence is a 32-bit eld used for synchronization between transmitter and
receiver. It consists of string of 0s and 1s. After detecting sync eld, the receiver starts
synchronization with the incoming signal. (Synchronization-two or more things at the same time).
The Start of Frame Delimiter is an 8-bit long eld which indicates beginning of the frame.
(Delimiter-separation).

2.3.2. PHR
It consists only frame length. It is an 8-bit long eld, where 7-bits indicate length of PSDU and
reserved 1-bit indicates if packet is received or not.

2.3.3. PSDU

It becomes PHY payload which actually comes from acknowledgement frame (PSDU) i.e.., MHR
and MFR. It is prefixed with SHR and PHR.

2.4. PPDU

Its a data holding one. From the frame which is coming from the PSDU with an additional PLCP
preamble and header as a PLCP Protocol Data Unit (PPDU). The PPDU is also called as the
PLCP Service Data Unit (PSDU) and is typically referred to as physical layer operation. At last it
totally comes under PPDU is 88-bits.

Table: Summarizes the bit length and value of each eld employed in this project, which sums up
into the total length of PPDU i.e. 88 bits.

Table 2. Bit Length of Each Field in the PPDU

3. BLOCK DIAGRAM OF ZIGBEE TRANSMITTER

From the PPDU 11 octets are given to CRC. Cyclic Redundancy check is a data transmission
error detecting technique. This block calculates 16 bit CRC, which is appended at the end of data
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 International Journal of VLSI design & Communication Systems (VLSICS) Vol.8, No.5, October 2017
bits. The CRC is calculated over the data of MHR and MFR payloads of MAC layer. The output
from CRC block is fed to the input of Bit-to-Symbol block.

Bit-to-Symbol block takes 88 bits as input and maps that binary information into symbols. The 4
LSBs (b0, b1, b2, b3) of each octet are mapped into one data symbol (S1) and 4 MSBs (b4, b5,
b6, b7) of each octet are mapped into other data symbol (S2). Thus, a total of 22 symbols are
taken out from the Bit-to Symbol block and given output to the Symbol-to-Chip block.

Figure 3. Block diagram of Zigbee transmitter.

In Symbol-to-Chip block, DSSS technique is performed where 32-bit PN sequence is generated

The ZigBee standard uses OQPSK modulating technique. This modulator is used to avoid inter-
symbol interference and other transmission noises. It will never jump more than 90 degree. But
QPSK will jump 180 degree. So, we cause band noise.

Pulse shaping of I-phase and Q-phase data stream is achieved by processing the signal. This helps
to reduce side lobes keeping inter symbol interference (ISI) low.

4. CRC, BIT-TO-SYMBOL, SYMBOL-TO-CHIP, OQPSK

CRC stands for Cyclic Redundancy Check Codes. Error detecting is a technique of detecting bit
errors occurring due to noise or attenuation during data transmission. The error detecting
techniques are parity checking, checksum, redundancy checking, and cyclic redundancy
checking. The CRC calculation is based on the polynomial arithmetic. The bits of the binary data
represent the coefficients of the polynomial. For example, the message 11001001 represents a
polynomial of x7+x6+x3+1. The sender and receiver, both have the generator polynomial. The
arithmetic involved in CRC calculation is modulo-2 division.

4.1.1. DESIGN METHODOLOGY

The CRC can be implemented using linear feedback shift registers (LFSR) as shown in the g. 4.
In this project, CRCCCITT has been used, which have generator polynomial x16+ x12 + x5+1.
The implemented CRC is serial in nature; therefore output will come only after all the input bits
are fed to the CRC block. The CRC is calculated over the data of MHR and MFR payloads of
MAC layer.

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 International Journal of VLSI design & Communication Systems (VLSICS) Vol.8, No.5, October 2017

Figure 4. Cyclic Redudancy Check

The algorithm used for this CRC calculation is given below: (1) Initialize all linear feedback shift
registers to zero. (2) Enter the data (LSB rst) into registers of the divider. (3) After the last bit
entered in the divider, the remainder consists of FCS of 16-bit. (4) The FCS is then appended at
the end of data bits to obtain the transmitted frame.

4.2. BIT-TO-SYMBOL

Bit to Symbol block maps bits into symbols. This 88 bits data is passed through Bit-to-Symbol
block sequentially, starting with the preamble eld and ending with last octet of the PPDU i.e.
FCS which is generated by CRC. Fig. shows how one octet is divided into corresponding
symbols. Therefore, it takes 11 octets as input, where the 4 LSBs (b0, b1, b2, b3) are mapped into
one data symbol (S1) and the 4 MSBs (b4, b5, b6, b7) are mapped into next data symbol (S2).
Thus, 11 octets maps into 22 symbols.

Figure 5. Bit-to-Symbol

Digital signal of data bit 1 and 0 inside the PHY Protocol Data Unit(PPDU) is encoded as per
the spreading function. Here binary inputs are mapped to data symbols. For four bit symbol there
are sixteen possible symbol starting from 0000 to 1111 are mapped to data symbol. Thus there are
sixteen symbol to chip mapping as presented in following section.

4.3. SYMBOL-TO-CHIP:

The process of Symbol-to-chip mapping is present in the below fig.

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Table 3. Symbol-to-Chip

In this block each data symbol of 4 bits are mapped to 32 bit chip PN sequence as prescribed in
the ZigBee standard. The output which has come from bit-to-symbol as taken input of symbol-to
chip. They are mapping and converting the output of chip as 704.The process of mapping is
presented in the DSSS sequence for mapping is presented at Table.

4.4. O-QPSK

OQPSK modulator is the improved version of QPSK. The Chip sequences representing each data
symbol are modulated on to the carrier using OQPSK with half sine pulse shaping. The
fundamental OQPSK method is to sum the in-phase signal delayed by half a cycle is order to
avoid the sudden phase shift change. It will never jump more than 90 degree. But QPSK will
jump 180 degree. So, we cause band noise.

Figure 6. OQPSK block

Each data symbol is represented by 32 bit chip sequence which increases the chip rate by 32 times
of symbol rate, and produces a 2 Mbps (1024) DSSS signal.To perform oset between I-phase
and Q-phase data stream, the Q-phase chip is delayed by chip period(Tc).

5. DESIGN METHODOLOGY
The behaviour of the Zigbee digital transmitter can be modelled using Verilog through Xilinx
ISE. The VHDL module for each transmitter can be combined, then synthesized, simulated, and
implemented on Spartan3E FPGA.
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The input data comprise 22 symbols. Each data symbol from the bit-to-symbol block is append
onto a 32-chip PN sequence using the DSSS method. The output data are 704 chips in total with
the frequency of 2 MHz . The numbers of chips produced are based on[88 bits/4] symbols x 32
= 704 chips Based on this equation, each even chip of output data is registered as C0, C2 ..
C704, and each odd chip is registered as C1, C3 C703, which is totally 352 chips each for
Iphase and Q-phase.

6. SIMULATION RESULT

6.1. TOP LEVEL MODULE SIMULATION RESULT

The above input signal is applied to the ZigBee Transmitter for IOT Wireless Device.
input enable,clk,rst,data_in;
wire [7:0]crc_out;
wire[3:0]sym1,sym2,sym3,sym4,sym5,sym6,sym7,sym8,sym9,sym10,sym11,sym12,sym13,sym1
4,sym15,sym16,sym17,sym18,sym19,sym20,sym21,sym22; it takes bits as the input and
produces symbols as the output.
wire[31:0]c1,c2,c3,c4,c5,c6,c7,c8,c9,c10,c11,c12,c13,c14,c15,c16,c17,c18,c19,c20,c21,c22; it
gives the chip as the output.

Figure 7. Top_level Zigbee Transmitter

From the simulation result the output signal of ZigBee Transmitter for IOT Wireless Device.
Output: final out;
it gives the pulse shaping.

6.2. INDIVIDUAL BLOCKS SIMULATION RESULTS

The individual blocks simulation results are given below:

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Figure 8. Cyclic Redudancy Check

Figure 9. Bit-to-Symbol

Figure 10. Symbol-to-Chip

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Figure 11. Offset Quadrature Phase Shift Keying Modulator

6.3. DESIGN SUMMARY

7. CONCLUSION
This paper describes the design a wireless transmitter based on zigbee transmitter. In this five
blocks such as CRC block, Bit-to-Symbol block, Symbol-to-Chip, OQPSK and Pulse shaping as a
part of the ZigBee transmitter for 2.4 GHz frequency band. CRC was employed to detect the
errors during transmission of data. The binary data was sent to CRC and CRC codes were
generated. The output of CRC block was fed to Bit-to-Symbol block, where 88 bits were mapped
into 22 symbols. The output of Bit-to-symbol block is fed to the symbol-to-chip block and output
704 Chips. The symbol-to-chip output is fed to OQPSK. The fundamental O- QPSK method is to
sum the in-phase signal with a quadrature phase signal delayed by half a cycle in order to avoid
the sudden phase shift change. The pulse shaping block will detect the ISI(Inter-Symbol-
Interference).
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 International Journal of VLSI design & Communication Systems (VLSICS) Vol.8, No.5, October 2017
ZigBee is the ideal choice of protocol for home automation and smart energy, because different
ZigBee devices can be connected. As more ZigBee devices are linked, communication paths
between devices multiply, eliminating the risk of single-point signal failure. ZigBee is an open,
global standard for wireless communication between IoT devices. With ZigBee, IoT devices can
easily be connected to other IoT devices. The ZigBee protocol is secure and stable, which is one
of the reasons why it has become one of the worlds most widely adopted protocols.

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WEBSITES

[1] ZigBee Alliance (2015) [Online]. Available: http://www.zigbee.org

[2] Digi International (2015) [online]. Available: http:// www.digi.com

[3] IEEE 802.15.4-2003 Standard. Available: http://standards.ieee.org/getieee802/download/802.15.4-

[4] Boca Raton, ZigBee Network Protocols and Applications ,FL,CRCPress.

AUTHORS

A.Mounica,
M Tech VLSI, ECE,
GRIET,
Hyderabad.

G.Venkata Subba Reddy,

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