CC2541

The Texas Instruments CC2541 is a true system-on-chip (SoC) solution for 2.4 GHz wireless applications, combining an industry-standard 8051 microcontroller with a high-performance RF transceiver. It supports both Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and proprietary radio protocols, offering flexibility for a wide range of wireless designs. The device is equipped with up to 256 KB of in-system-programmable flash memory and 8 KB of RAM, providing ample code and data storage for embedded applications.

The CC2541 is optimized for ultra-low power operation, drawing only 17.9 mA in active-mode RX and 18.2 mA in TX at 0 dBm output power. It features several power modes to extend battery life: Power Mode 2 (sleep timer on) consumes just 1 µA, and Power Mode 3 (external interrupts) drops to 0.5 µA. The integrated 12-bit ADC with eight input channels, two USARTs, and up to 23 general-purpose I/O pins enable flexible sensor interfacing and connectivity.

The SoC is housed in a compact 6 mm x 6 mm QFN-40 package suitable for surface-mount assembly. The 32-pin (actually 40? Wait QFN-40) package supports industrial temperature range from -40°C to 85°C, making it suitable for demanding environments. The CC2541 is commonly used in BLE peripherals, wireless sensor nodes, beacons, and remote controls where low power and small footprint are critical.