Microchip Releases ICs for RFID Applications

In collaboration with Checkpoint Systems, Microchip Technology has developed two ICs for RF identification (RFID) applications working across the 13.56 MHz frequency range.

The MCRF355 and MCRF360 ICs are passive tag engines that include 154 b of memory and anticollision circuitry for reading multiple tags in the same reader field. The anticollision circuitry acts as a cloaking feature that minimizes the detuning effect of adjacent tags.

Both devices are contact-programmable and will primarily be used in write once read many (WORM) applications. These applications include libraries and video stores, airline baggage and parcel shipping, and inventory-level management.

The main difference between the device arises at the capacitor level. The MCRF355 allows the user to externally tune a resonance capacitor. The MCRF360, on the other hand, contains an on-chip 100 pF resonance capacitor.

The ICs are sampling today. Volume production is planned for March 1999. The MCRF355 is $0.30 each and the MCRF $0.35 in 10,000 quantities. DIP and SOIC packages are also available.

A reference development kit is available for the ICs. This kit includes a working 13.56 MHz anticollision reference reader, contact programmer, schematics, source code, and functional tags.