Integrating CC1120 with the TI SimpleLink™ Platform: Building Comprehensive Wireless Solutions

A wireless transceiver like the CC1120 is a powerful engine, but to build a complete product, it requires a microcontroller (MCU), software, sensors, and power management. Recognizing this, Texas Instruments positions the CC1120 as a key component within its expansive SimpleLink™ microcontroller platform. This strategic integration provides developers with a seamless, supported path to create fully optimized, differentiated wireless systems by leveraging compatible hardware and a unified software framework.

At the hardware level, the CC1120 is designed to work flawlessly with TI’s industry-leading ultra-low-power MCU families. The most natural pairings are with the MSP430™ family or the CC13xx/CC26xx wireless MCU family. For example, an MSP430FR5994 can serve as the ultra-low-power application processor, managing sensors and running the high-level protocol, while communicating with the CC1120 via a simple SPI interface. This combination is ideal for applications demanding the absolute lowest system-level power consumption and long battery life, such as remote environmental monitors or battery-powered utility endpoints.

For more advanced systems requiring multi-band or multi-protocol connectivity, the CC1352 wireless MCU presents a compelling solution. The CC1352 itself integrates a powerful Arm® Cortex®-M4F core and a dedicated Sub-GHz radio core. In scenarios where the application requires both Sub-GHz for long-range backbone communication and Bluetooth® Low Energy for a local smartphone interface, the CC1352 can handle both. However, for projects that demand the absolute pinnacle of Sub-GHz performance—the extreme sensitivity, high output power, or specialized modulation schemes of the CC1120—the CC1352 can be paired with a CC1120. The CC1352 would manage the BLE link and application, using its SPI master to control the CC1120 as a dedicated, performance-optimized Sub-GHz co-processor.

The true power of the SimpleLink ecosystem lies in its software. TI provides a common, intuitive software development environment across its entire wireless portfolio. The SimpleLink SDK offers a modular set of drivers, protocol stacks (including proprietary TI 15.4-Stack for Sub-GHz star or mesh networks), and rich examples. This commonality reduces the learning curve. A developer familiar with programming an MSP430 or CC13xx to work with an integrated radio finds the process of controlling an external CC1120 via SPI very similar, thanks to consistent driver APIs and documentation structure.

This ecosystem approach de-risks development. Engineers can select the optimal MCU+radio combination for their performance, power, and connectivity needs from a broad, compatible portfolio. They can reuse code and design expertise across projects. They benefit from a single vendor for both the high-performance analog RF (CC1120) and the digital processing and control (MCU), streamlining support and supply chain management. By choosing the CC1120 within the SimpleLink platform, designers aren’t just buying a chip; they are gaining access to a complete, scalable, and supported toolbox for building the next generation of robust wireless devices.