STMicroelectronics has launched an innovative application development kit for contactless near field communication (NFC) technology. This development kit includes ST's new ST25R200 read/write chip, which makes it easier and simpler to innovate NFC technology applications. ST's new generation of NFC transceiver chips, the ST25R200, incorporates an advanced design that ensures a strong and pure wireless connection, with low power consumption and power control features to ensure the quality of the signal connection, and auxiliary power management to improve energy efficiency.
The STEVAL-25R200SA Reader Evaluation Kit includes a low-profile ST25R200 motherboard that is ready to power up and use, and multiple antenna sets that allow users to experiment with single-antenna, dual-antenna, and flexible-antenna systems, as well as a 50-ohm antenna interface and programmable tags.
This modular kit helps to quickly build a product proof-of-concept model that demonstrates the performance of convenient near field communication technology for device pairing, setup configuration, or product validation brand protection applications. The kit's motherboard and antenna are NFC-certified for a wide range of industrial, consumer and healthcare products, such as medical devices, power tools, home appliances, gaming consoles, and personal healthcare instruments.
The ST25R200 is designed to simplify the application design process for developers with little experience in NFC technology,” said Patrick Sohn, business unit manager for NFC tags and readers at STMicroelectronics. The chip offers a high price/performance ratio, extended design security margins, and the STEVAL-25R200SA evaluation kit provides a wide range of off-the-shelf antenna configurations.”
The ST25R200 NFC reader is equipped with ST's Noise Suppression Receiver (NSR), which ensures that the receiver is highly immune to interference and that reception performance is not compromised even when the chip is close to a noise source, such as an LCD panel in the same device. The receiver circuitry is also equipped with an advanced analog front end (AFE), a standard NFC-A/B (ISO 14443A/B) data framing module, and an NFC-V (ISO 15693) data framing module.
The reader also includes an upgraded Low Power Card Detection (LPCD) feature that simplifies the system wake-up process and ensures a smooth and seamless user experience. The 1.2W transmitter features Dynamic Power Output (DPO) control, which adjusts the field strength and overshoot/undershoot protection voltages to ensure a stable signal connection throughout the data exchange.
The reader's supply and peripheral I/O voltages range from 2.7V to 5.5V, and its operating temperature range is -40°C to 85°C. Multiple operating modes assist the power management function to further increase the chip's power efficiency, reducing current to as low as 1µA and extending the life of battery-powered devices. In reset mode, the chip draws only 0.1µA.
The ST25R200 is available in volume production now, and the compact 4mm x 4mm 24-pin TQFN package enables small devices to provide users with a contactless card interaction experience.
