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© 03/2011 by austriamicrosystems AG

Subject to change without notice

Headquarters

austriamicrosystems AG

Tobelbader Strasse 30, 8141 Unterpremstaetten, Austria

Phone +43 3136 500-0 · Fax +43 3136 525-01

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General Description

The AS3993 UHF reader chip is the next generation

integrated analog front end and protocol handling

system for a 900MHz RFID reader system from aus-

triamicrosystems. It is a completely new architecture

from the AS3992 and is optimized for low voltage, low

power applications down to 2.7V.

The AS3993 now delivers UHF EPC Gen 2 in a small

QFN48 7x7 or flip chip, while retaining the flexibility,

integration and simplicity of the previous generations.

Combined with the low power operation makes it ideal

for embedded or mobile applications.

The AS3993 retains the -86dBm sensitivity of the

AS3992, including self jamming robustness against

antenna reflections. This is critical for mobile or em-

bedded applications, where the antenna design is

challenged and the additional sensitivity / robustness

is needed.

The internal PA has been optimized further, which

will now deliver up to 20dBm even under challeng-

ing conditions. It continues to support operation on the

DRM link frequencies used in ETSI and FCC regions. It

complies with EPC Class 1 Generation 2 protocol (ISO

18000-6C) and ISO 18000-6A/B (in direct mode). The

reader configuration is achieved by selecting the de-

sired protocol settings in the control registers. Direct

access to all control registers also allows fine-tuning

of different reader parameters.

Key Features

- ISO18000-6C (EPC Gen2) full protocol support

- ISO18000-6A,B compatibility in Transparent mode

- 3.3V supply voltage (2.7V to 3.6V)

- Filters dedicated to 250kHz and 320kHz M4

and M8 DRM operation

- Support of ISO29143 (Air Interface for Mobile

RFID Interrogators)

- Antenna driver using ASK or PR-ASK modulation

- AM & PM demodulation eliminating communication

holes through automatic I/Q selection

- On-board VCO and PLL covering complete RFID

frequency range from 840MHz to 960MHz

- Significant increase of PSRR through on-chip RF

output supply regulators

- Power-down, standby and active mode

- Frequency hopping support

- Integrated low level transmission coding

- Integrated low level decoders

- Integrated data framing

- Integrated CRC checking

- 4 pin SPI interface to MCU using 24 bytes FIFO

- Selectable clock output for MCU

- Large peripheral communication supply range

from 1.65V to 5.5V

- Integrated regulators with automatic setting to boost

system PSRR

- Internal power amplifier (<tbd> dBm) for short

range applications

- Adjustable ASK modulation index

- Selectable reception gain

- Reception automatic gain control

- Oscillator using 20MHz crystal

- Wide temperature range: -40ºC to 85ºC

- 48-pin QFN (7x7mm) package

Applications

The device is ideal for embedded consumer/Industrial

applications with cost constraints like beverage dis-

pensing. Additionally, AS3990 is well positioned for the

growing UHF mobile market.

www.austriamicrosystems.com/AS3993

EPC Gen2P rotocol Handling

Supply

Regulators

&

References

AS3993 UHF RFID Reader IC Block Diagram

Directional

unit

Micro

controller

RSSI

Digitizer

Digitizer

Gain

RF Out

24

Byte

FIFO

Digital processor and EPC Gen2

Protocol Handling

CRC

GEN-2

Frame Gen

DRM Filter

I/Q Mixer

Blocking

Capacitor

Analog front end

Oscillator

&

Timing

System