/> Applications which can best benefit from this new reference solution are those where authentication of consumables plays an important role, for example to ensure product quality and consumer safety with items such as vacuum cleaner bags, water filters, and beverage concentrates. 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. 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.

NXP and austriamicrosystems join forces for a one-stop-shop turnkey solution in these applications because the two companies’ products and expertise are very complementary and include over 20 years of RFID industry experience on both sides. By leveraging these capabilities, this collaboration enables both partners to develop state-of-the-art total RFID system solutions suitable for authentication applications in consumer products.

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. 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.

“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,” said Kambiz Dawoodi General Manager Consumer & Communications, austriamicrosystems. “This collaboration with NXP means we now can also provide a solution with the most competitive tag silicon on the market.”

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.”