STMicroelectronics’ newest NFC readers accelerate payment and consumer application designs

New devices introduce improved active wave shaping (AWS) with increased flexibility that simplifies adjustment of the RF output

STMicroelectronics’ ST25R3916B-AQWT and ST25R3917B-AQWT NFC Forum Reader devices combine high output power and energy efficiency at what the company says is a competitive price. Supporting NFC initiator, target, reader, and card-emulation modes, they can be used in contactless-payment, device-pairing, wireless-charging, brand protection, and other industrial and consumer applications.

The new devices introduce improved active wave shaping (AWS) with increased flexibility that simplifies adjustment of the RF output to optimize overshoot and undershoot. The setup can be done easily by register settings supported by a graphical tool and quickly validated with an oscilloscope. This eases certification according to EMVCo 3.1a and NFC Forum CR13 specifications without the need to touch the matching of the antenna.

The ST25R3916B and the ST25R3917B deliver up to 1.6W RF output power and can drive antennas directly at high efficiency. Dynamic power-output (DPO) adjustment enables designers to keep the radiated power between the upper and lower limits defined by EMVCo and the NFC Forum specifications.

Combining a highly noise-resistant input structure and ST’s proprietary noise-suppression receivers (NSR), the ST25R3916B/17B have high immunity to interference from other nearby equipment such as power supplies and POS terminals. Both devices offer a high level of resistance to both radiated noise and conducted noise.

The ST25R3916B/17B ICs offer a wide power-supply voltage range, from as low as 2.4V to 5.5V and operating temperatures from -40°C to 105°C. The peripheral I/O circuitry can operate from as little as 1.65V.

Free samples of the ST25R3916B-AQWT and ST25R3917B-AQWT are available now on ST eStore in 32-lead VFQFPN 5mm x 5mm x 1mm package and 36-bump wafer-level chip-scale package (WLCSP) options.