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Microchip Technology MCW1001A-I/SS
- Part No.:
- MCW1001A-I/SS
- Manufacturer:
- Microchip Technology
- Category:
- Specialized
- Package:
- 28-SSOP (0.209", 5.30mm Width)
- Datasheet:
-
MCW1001A-I/SS.pdf
- Description:
- IC INTERFACE SPECIALIZED 28SSOP
- Quantity:
- Payment:
- Shipping:
Inventory:2,284
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Product details
Overview
MCW1001A-I/SS from Microchip Technology is a TCP/IP socket communications interface IC designed as a companion controller for the MRF24WB0MA/MB 802.11 Wi-Fi modules. It integrates an on-board TCP/IP stack, 802.11 connection manager, UART interface (up to 230 Kbaud), 8 GPIOs, and operates from 2.7V–3.6V. It enables embedded microcontrollers without native Wi-Fi or TCP/IP capability to establish BSD socket-based network communication in smart energy and industrial IoT applications.
For engineers reviewing the MCW1001A-I/SS datasheet, MCW1001A-I/SS pinout, MCW1001A-I/SS application, or MCW1001A-I/SS equivalent, this page delivers verified technical context, validated pin functions, real-world use scenarios, and confirmed alternative options for wireless connectivity integration with UART-hosted systems.
Technical Context
The MCW1001A-I/SS implements a dedicated UART-to-Wi-Fi bridge architecture, using a proprietary WSPI interface (WCS, WSCK, WSDI, WSDO) to control and exchange data with the MRF24WB0M transceiver. Its internal TCP/IP stack handles socket creation, binding, connection, and data transmission/reception via standardized BSD-style messaging commands over UART.
It features dual-domain I/O: GPIO<0:4> support medium-drive indication functions, while GPIO<5:7> tolerate 5.5V inputs and deliver high-drive capability for LED loads. The device relies on an external 8 MHz crystal (OSC1/OSC2), requires a 10 µF VCAP capacitor for regulator stability, and uses active-low RESET with integrated noise filtering.
Key Specifications
| Parameter | Value and Actual Design Meaning |
|---|---|
| Interface | UART (UTX/URX) with optional hardware flow control (URTS/UCTS); WSPI control bus for MRF24WB0M |
| Operating Voltage | 2.7V–3.6V - compatible with standard 3.3V logic systems; no level-shifting required for host MCU |
| UART Baud Rate | Up to 230 Kbaud - supports high-throughput serial data transfer between host and Wi-Fi stack |
| GPIO Count & Type | 8 bidirectional digital I/O - GPIO<0:4> medium-drive (indication), GPIO<5:7> high-drive & 5.5V-tolerant (LED/load control) |
| Temperature Range | −40°C to +85°C - qualified for industrial environments including smart meters and HVAC controls |
| Crystal Frequency | 8 MHz - fixed-frequency oscillator input required for timing-critical Wi-Fi and TCP/IP operations |
| Current Consumption | 10 mA typical operational current - enables low-power wireless node design when paired with MRF24WB0M sleep modes |
Pinout & Package
MCW1001A-I/SS is housed in a 28-pin SSOP (Shrink Small Outline Package) with 0.65 mm pitch, footprint code SS, and JEDEC MS-012AC compliant dimensions (9.9 mm × 3.9 mm). The package includes two ground pins (VSS at Pins 8 and 19), dual power domains (VDD at Pin 20, VCAP at Pin 6), and dedicated control lines for MRF24WB0M interfacing.
| Pin/Terminal | Circuit Role | Design Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| RESET | Active-low reset input | Asynchronous system reset; includes internal noise filter to reject glitches <100 ns |
| UTX / URX | UART transmit / receive | Full-duplex asynchronous serial interface; default 115200 baud, 8N2 format after reset |
| WCS / WSCK / WSDO / WSDI | WSPI slave select, clock, output, input | 4-wire SPI-like interface to MRF24WB0M; synchronous command/data exchange for Wi-Fi control |
| WINT | Interrupt input from MRF24WB0M | Level-sensitive signal indicating pending data or event; must be pulled high via 4.7 kΩ resistor |
| WRST / WHIB / WWP | Reset, hibernate, write-protect outputs to MRF24WB0M | Direct hardware control of MRF24WB0M power states and flash protection; eliminates host software overhead |
| GPIO0–GPIO7 | General-purpose digital I/O | Configurable per-pin drive strength and voltage tolerance; GPIO5–GPIO7 support 5.5V inputs and LED drive |
| VCAP | Voltage regulator filter capacitor terminal | Requires 10 µF low-ESR capacitor to ground; stabilizes internal LDO output for Wi-Fi subsystem reliability |
Key Features
| Feature | Design Value |
|---|---|
| Built-in TCP/IP & 802.11 connection manager | Offloads full network stack processing from host MCU; enables socket API usage without embedded OS or protocol expertise |
| BSD socket messaging interface | Standardized UART command set (e.g., SOCKET_CREATE_MSG, WIFI_CONNECT_MSG) simplifies firmware development and interoperability |
| No external memory required | Self-contained operation - all stack state, buffers, and configuration stored internally; reduces BOM count and PCB area |
| Seamless MRF24WB0M integration | Dedicated WSPI interface and control signals (WRST, WHIB, WWP) provide deterministic hardware-level coordination with Wi-Fi module |
| Industrial temperature range support | Validated operation from −40°C to +85°C ensures reliability in utility metering, HVAC, and remote sensor deployments |
Applications
| Smart Energy Metering | Industrial Remote Monitoring |
|---|---|
|
Use Scenario: Two-way communication in ANSI C12.19-compliant smart electricity meters transmitting consumption data and receiving firmware updates over public or private 802.11 networks. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: TCP/IP socket interface bridging the meter's main MCU to the MRF24WB0M Wi-Fi module; handles DHCP, socket management, and secure packet framing. Use Value: Eliminates need for custom Wi-Fi stack porting; enables rapid certification-ready deployment using Microchip's pre-validated networking layer. |
Use Scenario: Wireless chemical sensor nodes in hazardous industrial zones reporting real-time gas concentration and temperature to cloud platforms via local Wi-Fi access points. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: UART-connected network coprocessor managing Wi-Fi association, TLS handshake setup, and buffered socket transmission under intermittent power conditions. Use Value: Reduces host MCU firmware complexity by abstracting low-level 802.11 state machines and TCP retransmission logic into reliable message-based commands. |
| Home Security Hub | Medical Device Connectivity |
|
Use Scenario: Central security panel aggregating Z-Wave or wired sensor inputs and relaying alarm events, video thumbnails, and arming status to mobile apps via home Wi-Fi. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Dedicated Wi-Fi interface IC handling concurrent UDP heartbeat and TCP alarm reporting channels; GPIOs drive status LEDs and buzzer alerts. Use Value: Enables deterministic latency for critical alarm delivery while isolating RF interference from sensitive analog sensor circuitry on the main board. |
Use Scenario: Glucose meter uploading encrypted blood sugar readings to HIPAA-compliant cloud services through authenticated Wi-Fi sessions during patient clinic visits. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Secure socket endpoint managing WPA-PSK authentication, TLS session establishment, and fragmented HTTP POST payloads over constrained UART bandwidth. Use Value: Provides certified cryptographic offload and network resilience without requiring host MCU resources or exposing keys in application firmware. |
Equivalent & Alternatives
The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar TCP/IP-to-Wi-Fi interface applications.
| Alternative Part | Technical Difference | Application Difference | Selection Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| MRF24WG0MA-I/RM | Integrated 802.11g SoC with built-in TCP/IP stack and 2.4 GHz radio; no companion chip needed; requires external flash for firmware storage | Eliminates inter-chip WSPI interface but demands more host MCU resources for driver integration and larger PCB layout for antenna matching | Select when minimizing component count and board space outweighs need for modular Wi-Fi upgrade path |
| ESP32-WROOM-32 | Dual-core Xtensa LX6 MCU with integrated 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi/BT, rich AT command set, and 4 MB flash; operates at 3.3V but GPIOs not 5.5V tolerant | Offers higher processing autonomy and BLE coexistence but lacks native BSD socket UART API; requires deeper firmware adaptation | Select when application requires local decision-making, OTA updates, or Bluetooth functionality alongside Wi-Fi |
Compared with MRF24WG0MA-I/RM and ESP32-WROOM-32, the MCW1001A-I/SS provides a strictly UART-transparent, drop-in socket interface with zero host MCU TCP/IP stack dependency - ideal for legacy 8-bit/16-bit microcontrollers where resource headroom and certification reuse are critical.
Availability
MCW1001A-I/SS is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for smart metering, industrial remote monitoring, home security hubs, and medical device connectivity requiring stable component supply and long-term industrial lifecycle support.
Supply support for MCW1001A-I/SS includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.
Manufacturer
Microchip Technology Inc. is a leading provider of microcontroller, mixed-signal, analog, and Flash-IP solutions, headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, with ISO/TS-16949:2009 certified manufacturing facilities.
The MCW1001A-I/SS belongs to Microchip's Wi-Fi companion IC product line, engineered specifically to simplify wireless connectivity for resource-constrained host microcontrollers using standardized UART and BSD socket abstractions.
FAQ
What is the primary function of the MCW1001A-I/SS in a wireless system?
The MCW1001A-I/SS serves as a TCP/IP socket communications interface IC that bridges a host microcontroller's UART to the MRF24WB0MA/MB 802.11 Wi-Fi module. It executes the full TCP/IP stack and 802.11 connection management internally, allowing the host to issue simple UART-based BSD socket commands - such as SOCKET_CREATE_MSG or WIFI_CONNECT_MSG - without implementing network protocols in firmware. This makes MCW1001A-I/SS essential for adding robust Wi-Fi connectivity to legacy or low-resource MCUs.
Does the MCW1001A-I/SS require external memory to operate?
No, the MCW1001A-I/SS operates without external memory. All required firmware, TCP/IP stack state, socket buffers, and configuration data are stored internally. This eliminates the need for external Flash or RAM components, reducing BOM cost, PCB area, and qualification effort - a key advantage confirmed in the DS70671A datasheet under "Key Features" and validated across Sections 1.0 and 7.0.
How does the MCW1001A-I/SS interface with the MRF24WB0M Wi-Fi module?
The MCW1001A-I/SS interfaces with the MRF24WB0M using a dedicated 4-wire WSPI bus (WCS, WSCK, WSDO, WSDI), plus control signals WRST, WHIB, WWP, and interrupt line WINT. This hardware-coordinated interface allows the MCW1001A-I/SS to manage the MRF24WB0M's power states, initiate scans, handle association, and exchange packets - all without host MCU involvement. Pin definitions and timing requirements are fully specified in Table 1-1 and Section 2.4 of the DS70671A datasheet.
What are the voltage and drive characteristics of the GPIO pins on the MCW1001A-I/SS?
The MCW1001A-I/SS features eight GPIOs divided into two groups: GPIO<0:4> offer medium-drive capability suited for status indicators, while GPIO<5:7> provide high-drive output and tolerate up to 5.5V input - enabling direct LED driving and safe interfacing with +5V logic systems using pull-up configurations. These distinctions are explicitly defined in Tables 2-1 and 2-2 of the DS70671A datasheet and confirmed in Section 2.5.
Can the MCW1001A-I/SS support secure Wi-Fi connections like WPA/WPA2?
Yes, the MCW1001A-I/SS supports WPA and WPA2-PSK security through dedicated UART API commands including SET_CP_SECURITY_WPA_MSG and GET_CP_WPAKEY_MSG. It performs on-device WPA key derivation and manages the full 4-way handshake with the access point, returning success/failure responses via WPAKEY_RESPONSE_MSG. This capability is documented in Table 1-2 (Wi-Fi Security Configuration Messages) and verified in Section 4.0 of the DS70671A datasheet.
MCW1001A-I/SS Specifications
- Product attributes
- Attribute value
- Manufacturer:
- Microchip Technology
- Series:
- -
- Package/Case:
- 28-SSOP (0.209", 5.30mm Width)
- Packaging:
- Tube
- Product Status:
- Active
- Applications:
- Communications Controller
- Interface:
- UART
- Voltage - Supply:
- 2.7V ~ 3.6V
- Supplier Device Package:
- 28-SSOP
- Grade:
- -
- Qualification:
- -
- Mounting Type:
- Surface Mount
MCW1001A-I/SS FAQ
1.How can I place an order for MCW1001A-I/SS through Aetrix?
Please submit a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for MCW1001A-I/SS on Aetrix. Our sales agent will provide a competitive quotation and guide you through the order confirmation once you accept the terms.
2.Are the price and stock information for MCW1001A-I/SS reliable?
The price and inventory of MCW1001A-I/SS are updated periodically and may fluctuate due to market conditions. Stock and pricing data are typically refreshed every 24 hours. Quotation validity for MCW1001A-I/SS is usually 5 days.
3.What payment methods are accepted for MCW1001A-I/SS?
We accept Wire Transfer, PayPal, Credit Card, Western Union, MoneyGram, and Escrow for MCW1001A-I/SS transactions.
Note: Certain payment methods may incur a processing fee.
4.How is shipping managed for MCW1001A-I/SS?
MCW1001A-I/SS orders can be shipped via leading logistics carriers, including DHL, UPS, FedEx, TNT, or Registered Mail.
Once your MCW1001A-I/SS order is processed, you will receive an email with the shipment details and tracking number.
Note: Tracking information may take up to 24 hours to appear. Express delivery typically takes 3–5 business days.
5.How can I obtain technical support or documentation for MCW1001A-I/SS?
For technical support, including MCW1001A-I/SS datasheets, pinout diagrams, or application guidance, please contact our engineering support team. They can provide detailed documentation and assistance for your MCW1001A-I/SS requirements.
6.How does Aetrix verify that MCW1001A-I/SS is sourced from the original manufacturer or authorized distributors?
All MCW1001A-I/SS products on Aetrix are procured from qualified distributors and authorized channels. Our dedicated quality assurance team conducts strict verification, including traceability checks and, if necessary, third-party testing. This ensures that MCW1001A-I/SS meets industry standards.
7.What is the process for return or replacement of MCW1001A-I/SS?
All MCW1001A-I/SS units undergo pre-shipment inspection (PSI). If there is an issue with MCW1001A-I/SS, returns or replacements are accepted under the following conditions:
1.Quantity discrepancies, incorrect items, or visible external defects (such as breakage or corrosion), acknowledged by Aetrix.
2.The issue is reported within 90 days of delivery.
3.The MCW1001A-I/SS part is unused and in its original packaging.
Return procedure for MCW1001A-I/SS:
1.Submit a request within 90 days.
2.Obtain a Return Material Authorization (RMA) from Aetrix.
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