RFID reader chipset

Anadigm has announced the RangeMaster2 RFID reader 3.3 V chip set that allows system vendors to design and maintain a single reader that can be customised to read different radio frequency identification tag types, with different modulation types and frequencies.

The device supports HF and UHF protocols - EPC Global Gen 1 and Gen 2 (class 0, 1, 2) and ISO18000-6 standards. It is a two-chip set comprising a programmable analog signal processor. This enables system designers to develop a universal RFID tag reader that can support multiple protocols and frequencies for universal fixed readers, portable/handheld readers, combination barcode and RFID reader/scanners.

The device operates at 3.3 V while providing increased read range and sensitivity optimisation with variable gain. As a 3.3 V chip set, with lower power, it is suitable for portable readers and fixed-based readers. It offers a choice of four different baseband analog signal processing circuits: Universal, EPC Gen 2 (twin or triple) or Class 0, and supports the ability for the user to select from 16 predefined values of the upper and the lower sub-carrier frequencies and choose digital or analog outputs.

The device allows EPC2 frequency pair decoding or selectable single frequency decoding. The chipset also provides anti-saturation control and can extract all data frequencies from DC to 800 kHz and selected frequencies up to 3.3 MHz.