Continuing our leadership in UHF transponder ICs, we've introduced the latest version of UCODE, the G2iL series. With its leading-edge read range it enables simple single port antenna designs that increase the cost-effectiveness of RFID applications. In addition, the UCODE G2iL+ offers additional, industry-first features, including tag tamper alarm, digital switch, data transfer, read protect, real read range reduction (4R), and battery-assist mode.

Both ICs offer a chip sensitivity of -18 dBm. When connected to a power supply, the READ as well as the WRITE range can be boosted to a sensitivity of -23 dBm.

For item-level tagging in fashion, retail, and consumer packaged goods (CPG), these ICs improve read rates and provide for theft deterrence. In the electronic device market, they're ideally suited for device configuration, activation, production control and PCB tagging. In authentication applications, they protect brands and guard against counterfeiting. They can also be used to tag containers, electronic vehicles, airline baggage, and more.

UCODE G2iL features The G2iL supports two special features:

• Product status flag (PSF) -- indicates whether a product has undergone quality checks or passed certain process check points. It can also be used as an electronic article surveillance (EAS) alarm, ensuring fast and reliable detection and identification of stolen items. It reduces cost, because the same tag used with the EAS system can also be used for supply chain management (SCM) and inventory control. As a database solution, it can call for replenishment.
• Read Protect -- limits access to product information (such as EPC or TID), to authorized personnel only. This frees shop owners from privacy claims and protects confidential memory content. Both features are backward compatible to the UCODE G2X custom commands.

UCODE G2iL+ features In addition to the PSF and Read Protect, G2iL+ offers several special features:

• The Tag Tamper Alarm indicates if the tag has been ripped, torn, removed from its original position, or otherwise manipulated. It can identify if a label has been cut off a garment, serving as a simple seals on hang tags or for items such as containers or jewelry.
• The Digital Switch command, also used to prevent theft, lets the electronic device be activated at the point of sale, once it's been purchased, and can be used to lock or disable the device throughout the supply chain.
• The Data Transfer command, which loads firmware into a microcontroller via the RFID air interface, enables contactless product configuration at any point in the supply chain or during the product lifetime as it eliminates the need for galvanic connectors on the PCB. These two commands also let device manufacturers enable or disable specific features for different device models.
• The real read range reduction feature (4R) reduces the read range to a few inches or centimeters, hence neither consumers nor shop owners don't need to worry about unauthorized reads.
• When connected to a power supply, the write and read performance gets boosted to a sensitivity level of -23 dBm, providing for extra long read ranges or to improve read rates in harsh environments

All the special features of the UCODE G2iL and G2iL+ series can be set or reset repeatedly by using 32-bit password protection.

Key features

• High chip sensitivity: Pmin = -18 dBm
• Extensive set of special features: - Product status flag, Read Protect, Real Read Range Reduction, Tag Tamper Alarm, Digital Switch, Digital Transfer, battery-assist mode
• Extended EPC number range: 128 bit
• Unalterable extended TID range (64 bit) with 32-bit serial number included
• Various delivery options (wafer, JEDEC flip chip strap, SOT886 package)
• Wide frequency range: 840 to 960 MHz
• Worldwide usage: EPCglobal 1.2.0 compliant

Key benefits

• Longer read ranges, smaller inlays due to high chip sensitivity
• Better theft deterrence due to tamper alarm and digital switch feature
• Greater consumer privacy through advanced read protection and a real read range reduction
• Easier electronic device configuration by the use of the data transfer mode
• Indication of product status supported by the product status flag (PSF)
• Superior READ and WRITE sensitivity of -23 dBm when connected to a power supply

Key applications

• Retail supply-chain management in fashion and consumer packaged goods (CPG) applications
• Electronic device market
• Authentication for brand protection
• Asset tracking

Related links

• NXP UCODE

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