STMicroelectronics Simplifies NFC Application Development With Modular Reader/Tag Evaluation Kit
By Sarah Clark
STMicroelectronics has introduced a modular reader/tag development kit that makes it easy for engineers to explore the potential of NFC across a wide array of industrial, consumer and medical use cases, from household appliances to games consoles, personal care devices, power tools, product authentication solutions, and more.
The STEVAL-25R200SA kit incorporates ST’s new ST25R200 reader/writer IC and is designed to help engineers “quickly build proof-of-concept models to demonstrate convenient short-range wireless communications for device pairing, configuration setting, or product authentication to ensure brand protection,” ST says.
The kit contains an ultra-compact ST25R200 board, ready for power-up, and multiple antennas that let users try single, dual, and flexible designs. The evaluation kit is complete with a 50-ohm antenna interface and programmable tags.
“ST’s latest-generation ST25R200 NFC transceiver combines an advanced design for strong and clear wireless connections with low power consumption and controls for signal quality and power management,” ST says.
“Featuring ST’s noise suppression receiver (NSR), the IC ensures high immunity to interference even when close to a noise source such as an LCD panel contained in the same device. The receive circuitry also features an advanced analog front end (AFE), standard NFC-A/B (ISO 14443A/B) and NFC-V (ISO 15693) data framing.
“Enhanced low-power card detection (LPCD), also built-in, eases wake-up to ensure a smooth and seamless user experience. The 1.2W transmitter has dynamic power output (DPO) control to regulate the field strength and overshoot/undershoot protection to ensure consistent signaling throughout data exchanges.
“The IC operates over a wide power supply and peripheral I/O voltage range from 2.7V to 5.5V and from -40°C to 85°C. In addition, there are multiple operating modes to assist power management, cutting the device current to as little as 1μA to extend the runtime of battery-powered applications. In reset mode the IC draws just 0.1μA.
“The ST25R200 is in production now, in a compact 4mm x 4mm 24-pin TQFN package that allows small devices to provide contactless card experiences. Pricing starts from $1.99 for orders of 1,000 pieces.
“The evaluation kit, STEVAL-25R200SA, is available through the eSTore, at the budgetary price of $61.00.”
