Understanding RFID Reader Chip, IC and RFID Circuits

RFID reader integrated circuits (IC) combine many of the electronic components used in RFID interrogators (readers) on a single silicon microchip. They are designed to help engineers incorporate RFID technology into a wide variety of applications by simplifying design and reducing the need for a lot of complex discrete electronic components.

In this video interview for our more technical audience, Mark Dickson talks about austriamicrosystems innovative single chip reader solutions for UHF RFID and compare the austriamicrosystems RFID Reader IC Family.

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The AS3992 UHF Gen 2 Reader chip

The AS3992 UHF Gen 2 Reader chip is an integrated analog front-end and provides protocol handling for ISO18000-6b/c 900MHz RFID reader systems. Equipped with multiple built-in programming options, the device is suitable for a wide range of UHF RFID applications.

The AS3992 is pin to pin compatible with the previous AS3990/91 IC's. It offers improved receive sensitivity to -86dB, fully programmable Rx DRM filters on chip and pre-distortion. Fully scalable, the AS3992 is ideal for longer range and higher power applications.

Offering DRM compliance on chip, combined with improved sensitivity and pre-distortion allows the AS3992 to be the only true world wide shippable IC. The reader configuration is achieved through setting control registers allowing fine tuning of different reader parameters.

The AS3990/91 UHF reader chip

The AS3990/91 UHF reader chip is an integrated analog front-end and data framing system for a 900MHz RFID reader system. Built-in programming options make it suitable for a wide range of applications in UHF RFID systems. Designed to simplify the design and implementation of an EPC Class1 Gen2 reader, this IC requires only a standard 8-Bit microcontroller with minimal other components.

The AS3990/91 comprises the EPC Class1 Gen 2 protocol (ISO 18000-6c) with digital high speed logic up to the framing level and supports the ISO 18000-6a and ISO 18000-6b Protocol with direct data mode. The Interface to the microcontroller can be either a 4-pin serial data Interface (SDI) or alternatively in case of high data rates are necessary an 8-Bit parallel. The frame management will be done using a 12 Byte FIFO in order to decrease processor workload and ensure a smooth data stream and correct protocol handling. All low level transmission codecs and CRC generation is done internally.

Comparison of austriamicrosystems RFID Reader IC Family

	AMS AS3992	AMS AS3990/1
Rx Sensitivity	-86dBm	-66 dBm
Rx sensitivity with +5dBm from antenna reflection	-73 dBm	-65 dBm
Current consumption	85 mA	85 mA
Register count @16 Bit
Register count @ 8 Bit	32	32
SPI speed	2 Mbps	2 Mbps
Fully compliant with USB Power Supply	Yes	Yes
Internal LDO for supply noise rejection	YES	YES
Link frequency support	40,80,160,250,320, 640 on chip	40,80,160,250,320, 640 on chip
Self Jammer measurement and gain optimization	YES	YES
Input linearity high gain/ low gain setting	+11,5/ +18dBm	+11,5/ +18dBm
Filter setup	Internal analog Filter - 50 dBc @ co channel	Internal analog Filter; -6 dBc @ co-channel
Dynamic filtering	Yes	Yes
LBT Rx Sensitivity	-86dBm	-66 dBm
Carrier Cancellation Technology	NO	NO
Tx Phase Noise at 200Khz offset	-122dBc/Hz	-122dBc/Hz
Transmit pre-distortion	Yes	NO
Advanced receiver architecture:	Low power radio architecture	Low power radio architecture
Coherent IQ demodulation	Yes	Yes
Advance DSP	No	No
Software / Firmware	C-code based on 8051	C-code based on 8051
Radio control, Reader configuration and host libraries on Win CE, XP or Linux	Yes - Sample code based on open platform QT for GUI	Yes - Sample code based on open platform QT for GUI
Price (1K)	$ 41.41	AS3990: $ 33.64 AS3991: $ 36.89
Download the Data Sheet		AS3990: AS3991:

For more information, visit austriamicrosystems.com.

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