Date: 03/07/2012

Atmel’s low frequency RFID transponder for consumer and industrial applications

Atmel Corporation has announced production availability of a low-frequency (LF) RFID transponder device, the Atmel ATA5577M1330C-PP. The device is suitable for applications in building access control systems, industrial automation, consumer and industrial segments, and as tokens, key fobs or transponders.

The RFID device enables with a stand-alone, fully functional tag that includes an antenna coil trimmed to an operating frequency of 125kHz.

Features:
1. Data rates: RF/2 to RF/128 (64kBit/s to 1kBit/s at 125kHz)
2. Modulation and coding schemes: ASK, FSK, PSK, Manchester, Bi-phase and NRZ
3. Digital Analog Frontend Register (AFE) enables the chip's analog front end circuitry to adapt to the transponder and reader system for maximum performance
4. Provides high flexibility for universal use
5. Available in lead-free zero-pin brick package

Atmel claims that this is the only device on the market where the analog behavior can be tuned in a closed and sealed transponder for increased performance. By eliminating the need to open the transponder for tuning, the on-chip AFE register helps simplify the design and production process significantly.

The brick package molding makes the transponder robust so that it can be used in rugged environments that are challenging for competing RFID devices, including underwater, on metal or in dirt.

The on-chip memory contains an Atmel-pre-programmed unique ID (UID) in two additional memory blocks. These locked blocks assure a unique, worldwide traceable Atmel number consisting of the Atmel lot number, wafer lot and sequential die number. This makes the device suitable for use in applications that only require a low, basic level of security, while at the same time ensuring compatibility with all kinds of existing RFID systems. The ISO11784/ ISO11785 code structure, along with the de-facto-standard-unique format, can be configured according to the requirements of specific 125kHz applications.

Samples in 12 x 5.9 x 3 mm brick packages are available now. The price begins at US$1.93 for bulk shipments of 4,000-piece quantities.

Atmel offers evaluation kits (ATA2270-EK1, ATA5505-EK1) with the sample transponders, Windows PC software, C source code for programming the AVR device, and PCB Gerber data for the reader board.

For more information: www.atmel.com/devices/ATA5577M1330C-PP.aspx