- AS3911 NFC Development Kit provides NCI standard-based interfaces for Android/Linux/Windows OS

September 23, 2014 – ams (Country Manager Jong-Deok Lee), a company specializing in high-performance analog ICs and sensors, announced the release of the AS3911 NFC development kit and interface software stack, which enable easy NFC implementation in all microcontroller-based systems.

NFC is a technology already widely adopted by consumers through applications related to contactless payment methods. Many OEMs seek to enhance the value of their electronic products by providing a simple yet secure wireless NFC interface between microcontrollers and the outside world. The new AS3911 NFC development kit announced by ams eliminates the need for OEM designers to create a completely proprietary software interface between the host microcontroller, the operating system, and the NFC reader IC.

The software embedded in the AS3911 development kit includes an NFC controller interface (NCI) stack and a standards-based modular firmware/software solution, operating from the hardware level to the operating system. Developed in collaboration with Stollmann E+V GmbH, this kit manages the interaction between microcontrollers of ams’ AS391x family and NFC/HF readers.

The AS3911 development kit, which is fully compatible with Android, Linux, Windows 7, and Windows 8 operating systems, enables developers to quickly and easily develop NFC applications suitable for multiple microcontrollers. The standard interface is suitable for all types of devices with NFC capabilities, such as routers, set-top boxes, automotive infotainment systems, consumer electronics, and home appliances.

Because the NCI stack features a modular design, users can optimize the design to suit the system and select only the characteristics and functions required by the application. This means that designers can optimize for a minimal microcontroller to handle overhead and memory usage, or optimize for high performance and multi-protocol support.

NCI supports all NFC protocols defined by ISO standards organizations and also provides scalability for proprietary card systems. NCI also supports the automatic antenna tuning feature provided by ams's AS391x family of NFC readers.

“The new development kit combines the market-proven Stallman NFC software stack with the advanced features and high performance of the AS3911 NFC reader IC, enabling all engineers working with microcontrollers to easily adopt NFC,” said Rene Wutte, Marketing Manager for ams’ HF/NFC Readers.

Stallman CEO Juergen Schick stated, “As NFC is being widely adopted in mobile phones, device manufacturers providing contactless connectivity features to phones are showing renewed interest in NFC.” “ams is an ideal partner for Stallman as it possesses the AS391x family of NFC readers and is perfectly positioned for the substantial market growth we anticipate,” he said. “The advantage of easy integration with software libraries is complemented by the unique features of the AS3911, enabling OEMs to accelerate time-to-market.”

The NCI software stack is compatible with various physical interfaces, including UART, SPI, and I2C.

The AS3911 development kit and NCI software stack are available now. The development kit can be ordered online at www.ams.com. For more information on the AS3911 NFC/HF reader or the AS3911 development kit, see www.ams.com/NFC-HF-Reader/AS3911.