If you are building an IoT device that connects to the internet through WiFi, your two biggest concerns are power consumption and security – both major strengths of the module onboard CC3100 Click.

This WiFi Click board™ carries the successor of the highly popular CC3000 module from Texas Instruments. Its claim to fame was that it simplified WiFi for embedded developers by integrating multiple Internet Protocols and a Wifi driver with a simple API.

CC3100 inherits all these benefits, and on top of that, adds an updated protocol stack (support for 802.11n) and cutting edge security features (TSL encryption, hardware crypto-engine and more).

HARDWARE FUNCTIONALITY

The CC3100 module itself comprises a Wi-Fi Network Processor and Power-Management Subsystems. This Fully Integrated Module Includes all Required Clocks, SPI Flash, and Passives.

For wireless reception, CC3100 Click has a 2.4 GHz PCB antenna.

CC3100 can function either as an access point, a station (connects to a router), or a node in a P2P connection. CC3100 Click has an onboard jumper FORCE AP for configuring the board to work in Access Point mode by default.

For communicating with the target board MCU, either the UART or SPI interface can be used (also configured through onboard jumpers).

FOR WIFI DEVICES THAT CAN RUN FOR SEVERAL YEARS ON TWO AA BATTERIES

CC3100 has sophisticated power optimization features to make it suitable for IoT applications.

In hibernation mode, it can consume as little as 4 microamps. And it takes just 95 milliseconds for it to connect to WiFi out of hibernation. Even in applications when the module is always connected to WiFi, it can still cycle between sleep mode (120 microamps) to active mode (37 miliamps).

On CC3100 Click, entering and exiting from hibernation mode is controlled nHIB pin (in place of mikroBUS™ PWM pin).

FOR DEVICES THAT ARE BOTH SMART AND SECURE

Developers have access to encryption technologies used to secure online banking and government services. Yet many IoT devices on the market are not secure, posing a terrible danger for users and manufacturers alike. With CC3100, you can make make devices that are both smart and secure.

CC3100 has a powerful on-chip crypto engine for fast, secure Wi-Fi and Internet Connections, with support for 256-Bit AES Encryption and TLS/SSL protocols. All with highly abstracted APIs that make them accessible. All of these are running on the module itself – offloading the target board MCU.

Read more in the vendor’s data sheet.

CC3100 VS CC3000 – LESS POWER, MORE SPEED, AND MORE

The most noticeable improvement that CC3100 has compared to its predecessor is the the updated protocol stack that now supports 802.11n - which allows for larger throughput. This is what enables all the newly added advanced security features listed above.

For a more detailed comparison of differences between CC3000 and CC3100, read the tutorial article here.

• Interface: GPIO, SPI, UART
• Compatibility: mikroBUS™
• Dimensions: 57.15 x 25.4mm
• Input Voltage: 3.3V

• Schematic
• CC3100 Datasheet
• CC3100 Learn Article
• WiFi Click boards™ Guide
• mikroSDK
• LibStock