Introduction
The TRF7970A is an integrated AFE and multi-protocol data framing device for 13.56 MHz NFC/RFID systems, supporting all three NFC operating modes: Read/Write mode, Peer-to-Peer mode, and Card Emulation mode. It complies with ISO/IEC 14443 A and B, Sony FeliCa, ISO/IEC 15693, NFCIP-1 (ISO/IEC 18092), and NFCIP-2 (ISO/IEC 21481) standards. With built-in programmable options, the device is well-suited for a wide range of NFC, proximity, and vicinity identification applications.
The device is configured by selecting the desired protocol in the control registers. Direct access to all control registers allows fine-tuning of various reader parameters as needed.
The TRF7970A handles all framing and synchronization tasks for on-board ISO-compliant protocols, supporting data rates up to 848 kbps. It also supports Read/Write mode for NFC Forum Tag Types 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Additional standards or even custom protocols can be implemented using one of the direct modes provided by the device. These direct modes give users full control over the AFE, with access to raw subcarrier data or unframed but ISO-formatted data along with the associated (extracted) clock signal.
The receiver system features a dual-input receiver architecture for maximum communication reliability. It also includes multiple automatic and manual gain control options. Signal strength received from transponders, ambient sources, or internal levels is available in the RSSI register.
MCU-to-TRF7970A communication can be performed via SPI or parallel interface. When using the built-in hardware encoder and decoder, transmit and receive functions utilize a 127-byte FIFO register. For direct transmit or receive operations, the encoder or decoder can be bypassed, allowing the MCU to process data in real time.
The TRF7970A supports a wide supply voltage range of 2.7 V to 5.5 V and 1.8 V to 5.5 V data communication levels for MCU I/O interfaces.
When operating at 5 V supply, the transmitter offers selectable output power levels equivalent to 100 mW (+20 dBm) or 200 mW (+23 dBm) into a 50 Ω load, with support for OOK and ASK modulation with selectable modulation depth.
The auxiliary regulator supplies up to 20 mA for the MCU and other external circuits in the reader system. With an integrated RF field detector featuring programmable wake-up levels, eight selectable power modes, and ultra-low-power operating modes, designers can easily develop reliable, cost-effective designs with extended battery life.