Date: 08/04/2010

NXP Semiconductor's new security enhanced RFID chips UCODE G2iL and G2iL+

The RFID chip leader NXP Semiconductor has introduced the new RFID chips UCODE G2iL and G2iL+ with features such as increased read range, tag tamper alarm, several privacy mode options, and password-protected data transfer or digital switch.
The new UCODE G2iL series with high read rates is suggested for item-level tagging and authentication of physical materials, products and any such physical moving things.

UCODE G2iL and G2iL+ chips gets activated at 50% less power compared to previous UCODE devices due to their ability to operate from a single antenna with port sensitivity of -18 dBm (decibel in reference to one milliwatt). The UCODE G2iL+ improves both READ and WRITE performance to -23 dBm when connected to a power supply.

"Long read ranges, without the extra cost of a second antenna, and effective privacy protection - combined with a tag tamper alarm - are essential in RFID tags and labels for high-volume consumer goods. Through ongoing evaluation and testing in NXP's RFID Application and System Center, we've developed a unique product series that has been optimized for real-life conditions in the retail, fashion and electronic device markets," said Chris Feige, general manager, tagging and authentication, NXP Semiconductors. "With industry-leading performance and lean memory, the UCODE G2iL is ideal for cost-sensitive RFID applications, while the UCODE G2iL+ introduces many features that are a first in the industry"

"The new UCODE G2iL+ chips offer versatile features that make it ideal for the fashion and electronics markets, as well as other market segments such as product authentication, electronic vehicle tagging and airline tags," said Maggie Bidlingmaier, global director of sales and marketing at Avery Dennison RFID. "We have been impressed with the performance of the UCODE G2iL and G2iL+ series in our initial tests and look forward to working with NXP to bring new tags and labels to market."

"The high performance of UCODE G2iL and G2iL+ devices means better read rates and smaller inlays - ultimately enabling more and better RFID solutions across multiple end-use industries," said Samuli Strömberg, vice president of marketing, RFID, at UPM Raflatac. "We are committed to building on the exceptional sensitivity of the NXP RFID chips to offer the strongest, most reliable read range performance possible."

The other key features:
These new chips include Product Status Flag (PSF) to indicate whether a product has undergone a quality check or passed a certain process checkpoint in the manufacturing factory to streamline and track the products. PSF can also be used as an electronic article surveillance (EAS) alarm.

The Read Protect feature allows the UCODE G2iL series to deny general access to product information contained in its EPC / TID memory, and allow authorized access only. The Read Protect feature can be set and reset repeatedly, using 32-bit password protection.

Tag tamper alarm feature detects any attempts to tamper in case a label is ripped, torn or moved. This unique tag tamper feature sends a signal to the reader that it has been manipulated. The tag tamper alarm is particularly useful in identifying when a label has been cut off a piece of apparel in a retail store changing room, or indicating when a tag has been removed from its original position for any simple seals for items such as containers or jewelry.
Digital data transfer / digital switch feature enables flexible product configuration and activation at any stage including the point of sale (POS) to reduce theft and manage inventory levels in the electronic device market. Firmware or configuration data can be loaded into the microcontroller of a device via the air interface of the UCODE G2iL+ chip, allowing device manufacturers to enable or disable specific features for different device models, or lock and unlock the device at various control points along the supply chain or at the final point of sale.
Real Read Range Reduction (4R) reduces the read range to only a few inches to avoid unauthorized reads.

Availability: May/June 2010