HF RFID readers interrogate Gen 2 tags

austriamicrosystems and IDS Microchip have collaborated to achieve the low current consumption and low cost bill of materials (BOM) required for the portable reader market.

austriamicrosystems and IDS Microchip have developed a UHF RFID reader IC targeted at the portable reader market.

These UHF RFID readers would be used to interrogate Gen 2 RFID tags, allowing contactless identification of goods or materials in a broad range of applications.

The companies have collaborated to achieve the low current consumption and low cost bill of materials (BOM) required for the portable reader market.

By incorporating time-critical portions of the design, the partners have significantly simplified the end product design, such that this IC, with a simple 8bit microcontroller, can implement a complete Gen 2 RFID reader.

The new solution also enables a low-cost BOM for a complete reader solution.

The integrated IC is based on a current-optimised design and includes an internal power amplifier.

The solution offers customers a simplified implementation, reducing the specialised RFID knowledge required to design a UHF RFID reader.

"The UHF RFID market has been limited in growth potential due to the complex and expensive reader solutions available on the market until now".

"With this new UHF RFID reader solution from austriamicrosystems and IDS, reader vendors have been excited about the time to market and attractive price targets they can now achieve", said Franz Faschinger, Senior VP and General Manager Business Unit Industry and Medical at austriamicrosystems.

"We are thrilled to be able to support both portable and embedded reader markets with this solution", said Oluf Alminde, Director of Sales, IDS Microchip.

"Leveraging this joint development, the end user should soon enjoy a significant price drop for their UHF reader solutions which in effect would reduce some of the challenges in deployment".

The new IC will be offered by both companies.

austriamicrosystems will offer the part as AS3990 and IDS Microchip will offer the part as IDS-R900G.

Back to top