ams' sensor-enabled RFID tags extend wireless data-logging beyond identification
August 27 2013 - 3:09AM
Business Wire
ams AG (SIX: AMS), a leading provider of high performance analog
ICs and sensors, today announced next-generation sensor-enabled
RFID tags offering breakthroughs for medical, automotive safety and
other applications where temperature, physiological or
environmental data is required. The new devices, the SL13A and
SL900A enable a simple, low-cost implementation of a new class of
wireless data-logging applications.
The SL13A is an ISO15693-compliant tag for use with near field
communications (NFC-V) and high-frequency radio-frequency
identification (HF RFID) readers. The SL900A is an EPC Gen 2 Class
3 tag for use with RFID readers.
The devices include an on-board temperature sensor, an interface
to an external sensor, and can operate in passive (batteryless)
mode. In this mode, the tag harvests energy from a reader’s
broadcast, using the power to read the temperature or data from an
external sensor, and transmits the information back to the reader
together with a unique ID. The data is time-stamped by the
reader.
The SL13A and SL900A can be powered by a single-cell or 3V
battery. In battery-assisted passive (BAP) mode, the tag’s on-board
real-time clock is enabled, and can be used to trigger periodic
sensor readings. Up to 762 (SL13A) or 841 (SL900A) time-stamped
events may be saved in the on-chip EEPROM, from where they may be
read when the device is in range of a reader.
The combination of a sensor interface, NFC compatibility and
support for passive mode offers designers the opportunity to invent
new kinds of wireless data-logging applications, or to find better
ways to implement existing data-logging systems. Applications as
diverse as patient monitoring, building control and automotive
safety can benefit from the ability to read bio-medical, humidity
or pressure measurements via the SL13A using harvested energy from
an NFC reader such as an Android smartphone or tablet.
Both the SL13A and SL900A feature a serial peripheral interface
for connection to a microcontroller. They can operate from a power
supply ranging from 1.2V to 3.6V. The tags provide for very long
battery life, drawing a typical 1.6µA in stand-by mode with the
real-time clock running. The on-board temperature sensor is
accurate to up to 0.5%.
Oluf Alminde, Senior Marketing Manager for the Power &
Wireless Business Unit of ams, said: “RFID tags are ideally suited
for many applications in the transportation, logistics and retail
sectors for simple passive, battery-less identification of objects.
The SL13A and SL900A represent the next generation of RFID tag,
allowing the reading of identification data, as well as temperature
and many other environmental conditions.”
For medical equipment OEMs, the SL13A and SL900A offer
opportunities for exciting new applications, such as an NFC sensor
tag that can be safely and easily implanted or swallowed, enabling
patients to monitor specific physiological conditions around the
clock, reading data simply by holding an NFC-enabled phone or
tablet close to the body.
Price & Availability
The SL13A and SL900A sensor-enabled RFID tags are in volume
production now. The SL13A is priced at $2.59 and the SL900A at
$3.63 for 1,000 pieces.
Technical Support
A demonstration kit, the SL13A-DK-STQFN16, is available for the
SL13A. The SL900A DK demo kit is for the SL900A. Both are available
online from ams, priced at $55. For further information on the
SL13A or SL900A or to request samples, please visit
www.ams.com/RF-Products/Sensor-Tags.
Download Press Picture or Block Diagram of this IC at
http://www.ams.com/eng/Press/Press-Releases/RFID-Sensor-Tags
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