AS3953
High Speed Passive Tag Interface
Description
The AS3953 NFC interface IC (NFiC) delivers low cost, ultra low power NFC forum functionality to multiple different applications. The AS3953 is a analog front-end with integrated 14443A data framing and SPI interface. It is designed to create a fast data link between an ISO 14443A reader device (PCD) and a microcontroller. The AS3953 is Passively powered meaning that it can be supplied from the PCD magnetic field, eliminating the need of a continual external supply. This makes the AS3953 perfect for wireless communication to a lowpower battery powered device.
The AS3953 is used with an appropriate antenna coil connected to the terminals LC1 and LC2, and behaves as a normal passive ISO144443A tag (PICC). After the anti-collision protocol is passed, the PCD sends a Wake-up command, which wakes up the microcontroller by sending an interrupt. From this point onwards, the AS3953 serves as a data link between the microcontroller and the PCD. AS3953 can also operate as NFCIP-1 target at 106 kb/s.
The AS3953 includes an onboard EEPROM that can be accessed either from the PCD or from the microcontroller via the SPI interface. This built-in flexibility makes it ideal for two types of applications:
- Where personalization data is programmed by the PCD (even in case the SPI side is not powered) and it is later read by microcontroller through SPI interface.
- Where log data is stored periodically by the microcontroller and can then be read by the PCD even when the microcontroller is not powered.
A regulated power supply voltage extracted from the PCD field is also available on a pin and can be used as power supply for external circuitry. For example, an external microcontroller and a sensor could be powered from the PCD field combined with pass through data rates up to 848Kbps, which means the AS3953 is ideal for contactless passive programming of MCU systems. The AS3953 can also operate as a stand-alone ISO 14443A tag.
The AS3953 supports ISO 14443A up to Level-4, meaning a contactless smart card or an NFC forum compatible tag (Tag Type 4) can be built. Having a NFC Forum compatible tag interface allows the AS3953 to be used in an application where a standard NFC enabled phone is used as a PCD.
Key Features
- ISO 14443A compliant to Level-4
- NFCIP-1 target at 106 kb/s
- 1k bit EEPROM (928 bits of user memory)
- Configurable wake-up interrupt (after tag is selected or using proprietary command)
- Powered from external magnetic field with the possibility to draw up to 5mA
- 7 byte UID
- User configurable regulated voltage extracted from external magnetic field
- Bit rates from 106 Kbps till 848 Kbps
- Integrated resonant capacitor
- Integrated buffer capacitor
- 4-wire Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) with 32 byte FIFO
- Wide SPI power supply range (1.65V to 3.6V)
- Wide temperature range: -40ºC to 85ºC
- Available as die, WL-CSP or in MLPD-10 (3x3mm) package
Applications
The device is ideal for applications like Passive wake-up, Multipurpose HF interface to a controller, Low power or passive programming, Ultra Low Power Data Logger, RFID Programmable configuration EEPROM, ISO 14443A smart card, NFC Forum Tag Type 4, and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi pairing.
