7.3 Nonvolatile Memory (eFuse)

The ATWINC3400-MR210xA modules have 768 bits of nonvolatile eFuse memory that can be read by the CPU after a device reset. The eFuse is partitioned into six 128-bit banks (Bank 0 – Bank 5). Each bank has the same bit map (see the following figure). The purpose of the first 108 bits in each bank is fixed, and the remaining 20 bits are general-purpose software dependent bits, or reserved for future use. Currently, the Bluetooth address is derived from the Wi-Fi MAC address such that the Bluetooth address = Wi-Fi MAC address + 1.
Note: If IQ Amp Used, IQ Amp Correction, IQ Pha Used, and IQ Pha Correction bit fields are programmed, Bank 0 and Bank 1 must not be programmed with any values, and only the Bank Invalid bit must be programmed.
This nonvolatile one-time-programmable (OTP) memory can be used for storing the following customer-specific parameters:
  • MAC address
  • Calibration information (crystal frequency offset (XO offset) and so on)
  • Other software-specific configuration parameters
Each bank can be programmed independently, which allows for several updates of the device parameters following the initial programming. For example, if the MAC address is currently programmed in Bank 3, and to update the new MAC address, perform the following steps:
  1. Invalidate the contents of Bank 3 by programming the Bank Invalid bit field of Bank 3.
  2. Program Bank 4 with the new MAC address along with the values of ADC Calib (if used in Bank 3), Frequency Offset (from Bank 3), IQ Amp Correction (from Bank 3) and IQ Pha Correction (from Bank 3). The Used bit field for each corresponding value bit field must also be programmed.
  3. Validate the contents of Bank 4 by programming the Bank Used bit field of Bank 4.

Each bit field (i.e., MAC Address, ADC Calibration, Frequency Offset, IQ Amp Correction, and IQ Pha Correction) has its corresponding Used bit field. Each Used bit field indicates to the firmware that the value in the related bit field is valid. A value of '0' in the Used bit field indicates that the following bit field is invalid and a value of '1' programmed to the Used bit field indicates that the corresponding bit field is valid and can be used by firmware.

By default, all the ATWINC3400-MR210xA modules are programmed with the MAC address, Frequency Offset bits, IQ Amp and IQ Phase fields of Bank 3.

Figure 7-1. Bitmap for ATWINC3400-MR210xA eFuse Bank
Note: The bit map has been updated with the IQ Amp Correction and IQ Pha Correction fields from firmware version 1.4 onwards. Earlier, these bit fields were reserved for future use. For customers using firmware older than 1.4, the IQ Amp Correction and IQ Pha Correction bit fields will not be used by the firmware.

The matrix table below provides details on how different versions of the firmware would handle the IQ Amp Used, IQ Amp Correction, IQ Pha Used and IQ Pha Correction bit fields during Initialization.

Firmware Version Used by CustomerIQ Amp Used and IQ Pha Used Bit Status
Device with IQ Amp Used and IQ Pha Used Bits with Value ‘1’Device with IQ Amp Used and IQ Pha Used Bits with Value ‘0’

1.4 or later

The firmware loads the IQ calibration values from the IQ Amp Correction and IQ Pha Correction bit fields of the corresponding eFuse bank and proceeds with Initialization.

The firmware ignores the values in the IQ Amp Correction and IQ Pha Correction bit fields and proceeds with Initialization.

Prior to 1.4

The firmware does not check for the IQ Amp Used and IQ Pha Used bit fields and proceeds with Initialization.