ams launches next-generation NFC interface tag IC with advanced data and energy management features
May 20 2015 - 3:14AM
Business Wire
New AS3955 industry-best energy harvesting capability enables
battery-less designs and wireless Li-ion battery charging
ams AG (SIX: AMS), a leading provider of high performance
sensors and analog ICs, today launched the AS3955, an NFC interface
chip (NFiC™) which offers unique energy harvesting and data
transfer capabilities.
Like its predecessor the AS3953, the AS3955 provides a
contactless bridge between an NFC reader (for instance, a
smartphone or tablet) and any microcontroller. But the AS3955 can
also act as a power supply for the host device, harvesting as much
as 5mA at 4.5V – enough to charge a Li-ion cell battery – from the
RF energy radiated by an NFC reader.
The AS3955 also offers the designer a choice of two
bi-directional data transfer modes. The Extended mode allows the
use of standard NFC tag commands to transfer data with minimum
processing overhead on the host microcontroller. A second mode, the
Tunneling mode, provides a transparent and fully flexible channel
between the reader and the host microcontroller, leaving the user
free to implement any standard or proprietary communication
protocol. Neither mode requires data buffering in the AS3955’s
internal EEPROM memory, resulting in faster data transfers.
The AS3955 features a high performance RF front end, which
connects to a simple external NFC antenna without additional
external components required. It also includes an EEPROM memory (of
2kbits or 4kbits) and an SPI or I2C interface for communication
with an external microcontroller.
The device is fully compliant with ISO14443A standard up to
level 4, and with NFC Forum specifications, supporting both Type 2
Tag stand-alone functionality, and Type 4 Tag emulation in
combination with an external MCU.
The AS3955 offers unrivaled performance and flexibility thanks
to energy and data management features that are superior to those
of existing interface tags on the market. The energy that the
AS3955 harvests from an NFC reader enables it to operate with no
external power supply. This harvested energy can also be used to
power external circuitry. This enables the implementation of
stand-alone, eco-friendly, battery-less product designs, such as
wireless sensor interfaces, interactive games and toys, smart price
tags in shops and smart payment cards.
A unique data management feature provided by the AS3955 is its
new Stealth mode: this enables the host MCU to deactivate the
NFiC’s RF channel via the I2C or SPI interface after an operation
such as Bluetooth pairing has been completed successfully. This
provides for guaranteed user control of NFC operation. The AS3955
also offers 32-bit password protection of its EEPROM memory.
Furthermore, the AS3955 adds a new Silent mode for fail-safe
Bluetooth pairing. If the host’s battery has insufficient remaining
charge to power its Bluetooth module, the AS3955 NFiC automatically
disables its RF circuitry to prevent the device from initiating a
pairing procedure.
These superior energy and data management features find a wide
range of uses in industrial, consumer and gaming equipment.
Products can be configured or personalized, for instance at the end
of a factory’s production line, without the need to be powered. The
high transfer speed and energy harvesting capability reduces the
time taken to download configuration data, helping to increase
throughput in high-volume manufacturing lines.
‘Existing interface tags might be adequate if all you need is a
simple, slow NFC link to a microcontroller. The AS3955, however,
gives designers the scope to implement far more sophisticated
systems because of its ability to act as the host device’s power
supply, and because of its advanced data transfer modes. The AS3955
is designed to be deployed in a range of new applications that have
not previously been able to use an interface tag,’ said David
Renno, Product Marketing Manager at ams.
The NFC interface tag IC AS3955 is available now in production
volumes in a 10-pin, 3mm x 3mm MLPD package.
Wafer-level chip scale package (WL-CSP) and sawn wafer are
available on request. In the WL-CSP version, unit pricing is $0.98
in an order quantity of 1,000 pieces.
A demonstration board for the AS3955 is available online from
the ams ICdirect web store.
For sample requests or for more technical information, please
visit www.ams.com/NFC/AS3955.
Download press picture and block diagram at
http://www.ams.com/eng/Press/Press-Releases/
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150520005503/en/
ams AGPatricia Moosburger, Media Relationsphone: +43 (0) 3136
500 31235press@ams.comwww.ams.com
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