Analog semiconductor supplier austriamicrosystems and mixed-signal semiconductor manufacturer NXP Semiconductors (News - Alert) N.V., have jointly developed the first in a range of reference solutions for product authentication in embedded consumer applications. The reference design leverages austriamicrosystems’ AS399x UHF RFID reader IC and NXP’s UCODE G2iL microcontroller to deliver state-of-the-art total RFID system solutions suitable for authentication applications in consumer products.

Applications that can best benefit from this new reference solution are those where authentication of consumables plays an important role, such as vacuum cleaner bags, water filters, and beverage concentrates, said the partners. Hence, with such RFID functionality, equipment manufacturers would be able to warn users about health risks, as well as about threats of product malfunction in cases when non-authentic consumable is used, the developers stated. And in cases when end user ignores such warnings and willingly feeds the equipment with consumable of unknown or non-approved quality, the equipment manufacturer would have the option to void equipment’s warranty, noted the makers. .

Besides low power and low complexity, these authentication systems require very low external code load, meaning it is easy to use a host controller or a low-end microcontroller, said NXP. NXP’s G2iL and G2iL+ products – in addition to offering password protected features, privacy commands and anti-tampering functions – also offer high chip sensitivity which leads to high read reliability even with extremely small tags.

Furthermore, with austriamicrosystems’ reference designs for ultra low-cost EPC Gen 2 compliant UHF RFID reader systems with lowest reader BOM, applications that have previously been out of reach due to cost restraints now become addressable, asserted austriamicrosystems.

In a company statement, Kambiz Dawoodi, general manager of consumer and communications at austriamicrosystems, said, “The cost versus performance considerations for embedded applications in consumer products mean that we are the only real choice on the market at the moment. This collaboration with NXP means we now can also provide a solution with the most competitive tag (News - Alert) silicon on the market.”

Likewise, in the same statement, NXP’s general manager for tagging and authentication Chris Feige added, “With NXP’s expertise at RFID applications and system center, and in conjunction with austriamicrosystems’ UHF reader competences, brand owners will now have one-stop-shop partner for embedding RFID systems into consumer products even in cases of very demanding requirements on cost, performance and physical space. Such RFID-enabled authentication of consumable products leads to revenue, brand and end-user protection.”