Suitable for cold chain monitoring applications

ams announced the launch of the new AS39513 NFC sensor tag and data logger IC for smart labels, which enables more efficient and accurate monitoring of the storage and transport status of food, pharmaceuticals, healthcare products, etc.

The new product is a complete digital sensor with an integrated NFC front-end and can be easily integrated into smart labels. Various data stored in the built-in memory, as well as unique IDs and recorded temperatures, can be read using an authorized NFC reader such as a smartphone or tablet.

By reading smart labels based on AS39513, manufacturers, shipping companies, and distributors can examine specific log information regarding the storage status of individual shipments to determine whether perishable goods, such as fresh food, remain in perfect condition until unloading.

The AS39513 provides a complete solution for temperature monitoring and NFC connectivity. This product includes an NFC front-end, a temperature sensor, and an analog interface for external sensors. It also integrates features such as a real-time clock, a 10-bit ADC, a configurable data-logging engine, a 9kbit password-configurable EEPROM, and a serial peripheral interface (SPI) for connecting to an external MCU. AS39513 is available in the form of a bump-connected die or a chipscale package (CSP) with a height of 0.3 mm.

The AS39513, which operates on a single-cell (typically 1.5V) or dual-cell (3V) battery, can store up to 1,020 hourly measurements. Because it strictly complies with ISO15693 and NFC-V (T5T) standards, measurements can be read by an NFC mobile phone from a distance of several centimeters. Using an ISO15693 dedicated reader, reading is possible from a distance of about 1 to 2 meters, allowing multiple AS39513 tags on cabinets or refrigerators to be read simultaneously.
AS39513 is a product that can replace the ams SL13A sensor tag and has a high-performance temperature sensor that guarantees an accuracy of ±0.5°C in the temperature range of -20°C to +10°C and an accuracy of ±1°C in the temperature range of -20°C to +55°C.

By integrating a temperature sensor in this way, the AS39513 is highly suitable for cold chain monitoring applications, such as smart labels used in food, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare products. Furthermore, equipped with the ams Cool-Log engine, it allows for complete control and configuration of logging modes and timing. Temperature measurement can be performed in three ways. The first is to set a time interval and take measurements accordingly; the second is to set a threshold temperature value and take a measurement when the temperature rises to that threshold; and the third is to perform temperature measurement by transmitting a command signal through an external device.

The Cool-Log engine is one of the key innovations applied to the AS39513, enabling flexible operation and ultra-low power characteristics without the use of an MCU. With a standby current consumption of only 2µA, the AS39513 can autonomously log temperature data for more than a year using only a single 30mAh single-cell battery*.

Because of its excellent power performance, smaller and cheaper batteries can be used, enabling users to tag the entire process from the manufacturing stage to the consumption stage of a product. This chip operates in passive mode and harvests energy from the incoming RF field of the reader to supply a current of up to 3mA at 1.8V to an external circuit.

Giancarlo Cutrignelli, Head of Marketing for the Wireless Sensor Node business at ams, stated, “The AS39513 is a fully integrated smart wireless sensor that enables manufacturers, shipping companies, and distributors to verify that pharmaceuticals, food, and other goods are being stored and transported correctly. Using this product, relevant companies can collect detailed records regarding the storage temperature and other conditions of individual shipments, and after reviewing the records, they can refuse delivery of goods if necessary.”