Philips Semiconductors

Short Form Specification, Revision 3.0 October 2003

UCODE HSL

SL3ICS30 01

3

1 DESCRIPTION

The UCODE HSL IC (UCODE High frequency Smart Label) is a dedicated chip for passive, intelligent tags and

labels, especially for supply chain management and logistics applications in the US, where operating distances

of several meters can be realized. Further, the UCODE HSL technology platform is also designed for operation

under European regulations.

This integrated circuit is the first member of a product family of smart label ICs targeted to be compliant with

the future ISO standards 18000-4 and 18000-6 for item management.

The UCODE system offers the possibility of operating labels simultaneously in the field of the reader antenna

(Anticollision, Collision Arbitration).

The UCODE HSL family of ICs is especially designed for long range applications.

The tag requires no internal power supply. Its contactless interface generates the power supply via the antenna

circuit by propagative energy transmission from the interrogator (read/write device), while the system clock is

generated by an on-board oscillator. The contactless interface demodulates data transmitted from the

interrogator to the UCODE HSL based tag, and further modulates the electromagnetic field provided by the

interrogator for data transmission from the UCODE HSL based tag to the interrogator.

1.1 Contactless Energy and Data Transfer

Whenever connected to a dedicated antenna for the targeted frequency range, the UCODE HSL can be

operated without the line of sight and without the need of a battery on the tag. When the smart label or tag is

within the operating range of the interrogator (read/write device), the high speed radio frequency communication

interface allows to transmit data in both directions.

The maximum typical operating distances depend on local regulations and the used frequency band.

Table 1: Operating distances for UCODE HSL based tags and labels in released frequency bands.

FREQUENCY RANGE

REGION

AVAILABLE POWER

CALCULATED READ DISTANCE

SINGLE ANTENNA

8,9)

869.4 – 869.65 MHz (UHF)

Europe

1)

0.5 W ERP

4.0 m

865.5 – 867.6 MHz (UHF)

Europe

2)

2 W ERP

8.0 m

902 – 928 MHz (UHF)

America

3)

4 W EIRP

8.4 m

860 – 960 MHz (UHF)

Others

4)

2.400 GHz – 2.4835 GHz

Europe

5)

0.5 W EIRP outdoor

0.6 m

2.400 GHz – 2.4835 GHz

Europe

5)

4 W EIRP indoor

1.8 m

2.400 GHz – 2.4835 GHz

America

6)

4 W EIRP

1.8 m

2.400 GHz – 2.4835 GHz

Others

7)

Notes:

1)

Current CEPT/ETSI regulations: CEPT REC 70-03 Annex 1, ETSI EN 330 220-1

2)

Proposal for future CEPT/ETSI regulations

3)

FCC regulations, Part 15 Section 247

4)

In many other countries regulations either similar to FCC or CEPT/ETSI may apply.

5)

Current CEPT/ETSI regulations: CEPT REC 70-03 Annex 11, ETSI EN 330 440-1

6)

FCC regulations Part 15 Section 247

7)

In many other countries regulations either similar to FCC or CEPT/ETSI apply.

8)

These distances are typical values for general tags and labels. A special tag antenna design could achieve

higher values.