TK5550

Read/Write Transponder

Description
The TK5550 is a complete programmable R/W station. Data are transmitted by modulating the amplitude
transponder, which implements all important functions of the RF field. The TK5550 can be used to adjust and
for identification systems. It allows the contactless modify the ID-code or any other stored data, e.g. rolling
reading and writing of data, which are transmitted code systems. The on-chip 264-Bit EEPROM (8 blocks,
bidirectionally between a read/ write basestation and the 33 bits per block) can be read and written blockwise from
transponder. It is a plastic-cube device, which the base station. The blocks can be protected against
accomodates the IDIC *) e5550 and also the antenna overwriting. One block is reserved for setting the
realized as an LC-circuit. No additional external power operation modes of the IC. Another block can obtain a
supply is necessary for the transponder, because it password to prevent unauthorized writing.
receives power from the RF field generated by the base

Features
D Identification transponder in plastic cube D Malprogramming protection
D Contactless read/write data transmission D Options set by EEPROM:
Bitrate [bit/s]: RF/8, RF/16, RF/32, RF/40,
D Inductive coupled power supply at 125 kHz RF/50, RF/64, RF/100, RF/128
Modulation: BIN, FSK, PSK, Manchester,
D Basic component: R/W IDIC e5550 Biphase
D Built-in coil and capacitor for circuit antenna
Application
D Starts with cyclical data read out
D Access control
D 224 bit EEPROM user programmable in 32-bit blocks D Rechargeable cash card
D Typical < 50 ms to write and verify a block D Process control and automation
D Write protection by lock bits D Other identification systems

Transponder TK5550
RF Field (e5550 + coil + C in plastic cube)

C
e5550
Power

Coil
Data

Base station
U2270B read/ write IC
MARC4 series mC

Figure 1. Transponder and base station

*) IDIC stands for IDentification Integrated Circuit and is a trademark of TEMIC.

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TK5550
Ordering Information
Extended Type Number Package Remarks
TK5550F–PP Plastic cube All kind of modulation; RF/8, RF/16, RF/32, RF/40, RF/50,RF/64,
RF/100 and RF/128 *)
Default programmed: Manchester Modulation, RF/32, MAXBLK = 2

*) see datasheet e5550 page 4

General The Read/ Write IDIC e5550

The transponder is the mobile part of the closed coupled The read/ write IDIC e5550 is part of the transponder
identification system (see figure 1 on page 1), whereas TK5550. The data are transmitted bidirectionally be-
the read/ write base station is basing on the U2270B or on tween the base station and the transponder. The
discrete solutions, and the read/ write transponder is transponder receives power via a single coil from the RF
basing on the IDIC e5550. signal generated by the base station. The single coil is
connected to the chip and also serves as the IC’s bidirec-
The transponder is a plastic-cube device consisting of tional communication interface.
following parts: Data are transmitted by modulating the amplitude of the
D The transponder antenna, realized as tuned LC-circuit RF signal. Reading occurs by damping the coil by an
internal load. Writing occurs by interrupting the RF field
D Read/ write IDIC (e5550) with EEPROM in a specific way. The TK5550 transponder operates at a
nominal frequency of 125 kHz. There are different bit
The Transponder Antenna rates and encoding schemes.
The antenna consists of a coil and a capacitor for tuning The on-chip 264-bit EEPROM (8 block, 33 bits each) can
the circuit to the nominal carrier frequency of 125 kHz. be read and written blockwise from the base station. The
The coil has a ferrite core for improving the distance of blocks can be protected against overwriting by using lock
read, write and programming operations. bits. One block is reserved for setting the operation modes
of the IC. Another block containes a password to prevent
unauthorized writing.
See e5550 data sheet for more detailed information of
IDIC .

POR
Modulator

Coil1
Mode register
decoder
Analog front end

Write

Memory

(264 bit EEPROM)

Controller

Coil2
generator

Input register
Birate

Test logic HV generator

95 10206
Vdd Vss Test pads

Figure 2. Block diagram e5550

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 TK5550
Electrical Characteristics
Absolute Maximum Ratings
Parameters Symbol Value Unit
Operating temperature range Tamb –40 to +85 °C
Storage temperature range Tstg –40 to +125 °C
Maximum assembly temperature, t < 5 min. Tass 170 °C
Magnetic field strength at 125 kHz Hpp 1000 A/m

Operating Characteristics Transponder

Tamb = 25°C, f = 125 kHz if not otherwise noted
Parameters Test Conditions Symbol Min. Typ. Max. Unit
Inductance L 3.8 mH
LC circuit, HPP = 20 A/m
Resonance frequency Room temperature fr 120 125 130 kHz
Quality factor QLC 13

Magnetic field strength (H)

Parameters Test Conditions Symbol Min. Typ. Max. Unit

Max. field strength where No influence to other tags Hpp not 4 A/m
tag does not modulate in the field
Minimum field strength
Read mode, write mode Tamb = –40°C Hpp –40 30 A/m
Tamb = 25°C Hpp 25 18 A/m
Tamb = 85°C Hpp 85 17 A/m
Programming mode Tamb = 25°C Hpp 50 A/m
Data retention EEPROM T = 25°C tretention 10 Years
Programming cycles 100,000
EEPROM
Programming time / block RF = 125 kHz tp 16 ms
Maximum field strength Hpp max 600 A/m

Modulation range (see also H–DV curve)

Parameters Test Conditions Symbol Min. Typ. Max. Unit

Hpp = 20 A/m 4.0
Hpp = 30 A/m 6.0
Modulation range DV V
Hpp = 50 A/m 8.0
Hpp = 100 A/m 8.0

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TK5550
4 9

3 8
TK of resonance frequency ( % )

2 7
6
1

DV (V)
5
0
4
–1
3
–2 2
–3 1
–4 0
–40 –20 0 20 40 60 80 100 0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Temperature ( °C ) Hpp (A/m)

Figure 3. Typical TK-range of resonance frequency Figure 4. Typical H–DV curve

Output voltage of the testing application

V1 Vmod

DV = V1–Vmod
Figure 5. Measurement of the modulation range DV

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 TK5550
Measurement Assembly
All parameters are measured in a Helmholtz-arrange- generating coils, so the magnetic field can be varied in
ment, which generates a homogenous magnetic field (see frequency and field strength.
figure 6 and 7). A function generator drives the field

SENSING COILS ( IN PHASE )

OUTPUT
SUBTRACTOR VOLTAGE
TK5550
AMPLIFIER
1:10

REFERENCE COIL REFERENCE COIL ( IN PHASE )

( IN PHASE )

FIELD GENERATING
COILS ( IN PHASE )

FUNCTION
GENERATOR

Figure 6. Testing application

30mm

15mm

TK5550
24mm 60mm

REFERENCE COIL 2mm REFERENCE COIL

SENSING COIL SENSING COIL

5mm

FIELD GENERATING COIL FIELD GENERATING COIL

Figure 7. Testing geometry

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TK5550
Writing Data into the TK5550
The write sequence of the TK5550 is shown below. The next 32 bits contain the actual data. The last 3 bits
Writing data into the transponder occurs by interrupting denote the destination block address. If the correct
the RF field with short gaps. After the start gap the number of bits have been received, the actual data is
standard write OP-code (10) is followed by the lockbit. programmed into the specified memory block.

RF field Standard OP–code 32 bit Address bits (e.g. block 4)

1 0 0 1 0 0 > 64 clocks

Start gap Lock bit

Read mode Write mode

12444

Figure 8. Write protocol

Write Data Decoding

The time elapsing between two detected gaps is used to A valid ’0’ is assumed if the number of counted clock
encode the information. As soon as a gap is detected, a periods is between 16 and 32, for a valid ’1’ it is 48 or 64
counter starts counting the number of field clock cycles respectively. Any other value being detected results in an
until the next gap will be detected. Depending on how error, and the device exits write mode and returns to read
many field clocks elapse, the data is regarded as ’0’ or ’1’. mode.
The required number of field clocks is shown in figure 9.

Field clock cycles 1 16 32 48 64

Write data decoder fail 0 fail 1 writing done

12445

Figure 9. Write data decoding scheme

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 TK5550
Behavior of the Real Device
The TK5550 detects a gap if the voltage across the coils Referring to the following diagram (figure 10) this means
decreases below a peak-to-peak value of 800 mV. Until that the device uses the times t0 internal and t1 internal. The
then, the clock pulses are counted. The number given for exact times for t0 and t1 are dependent on the application
a valid ’0’ or ’1’ (see figure 9), refer to the actual clock (e.g., field strength, etc.)
pulses counted by the device. However, there are always
more clock pulses being counted than where applied by Typical time frames are:
the base station. The reason for this is the fact, that a RF
field cannot be switched off immediately. The coil volt- t0 = 70 to 165 ms
age decreases exponentially. So although the RF field t1 = 330 to 425 ms
coming from the base station is switched off, it takes some tgap = 150 to 400 ms
time until the voltage across the coils reaches the thresh-
old peak-to-peak value of 800 mV and the device detects Antennas with a high Q-factor require longer times for
the gap. tgap and shorter time values for t0 and t1.

t1 tgap t0 Coil t1 tgap t0

Coil
voltage voltage
1 0 1 1 0 1

t1 internal t0 internal

Gap detect Gap detect

12446
Ideal behavior Real behavior
RF level reduces to zero immediately RF level decreases exponentially

Figure 10. Ideal and real behavior signals

Operating Distance
The maximum distance between the base station and the board, the typical distances in the range of 0 to 5 cm can
TK5550 depends mainly on the base station, the coil be achieved. Maximum distance values which are
geometries and the modulation options chosen (see generally valid can not be given in this data sheet. The
U2270B Antenna Design Hints and the U2270B data exact measuring of the maximum distance should be
sheet). When generating an appropriate field with a carried out with the TK5550 being integrated into the
suitable reader technique, a distance of 10 cm and more specific application.
can be obtained. When using the TEMIC U2270B demo

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TK5550
Application
110 kW
5V
5V VEXT VS VDD
VBatt
47 nF 22 mF DVS U2270B M44C260
RF
680 pF MS BP00
Input CFE BP01 osc IN
OE BP02 32 kHz
4.7 kW Standby BP03
Output BP10
1N4148 Gain osc OUT

470 kW
COIL2
1.5 nF 1.2 nF Read/write 100 nF Micro-
1.35 mH R circuit controller
C31 COIL1
DGND GND VSS
Power

Data

e5550
Transponder
fres + 2p 1ǸLC + 125 kHz
TK5550
12456

Figure 11. Complete transponder system with the read/write base station IC U2270B

Mechanical Specification
Dimensions in mm

Non toleranced dimensions: " 0.05

∠ " 1°

Figure 12. Mechanical drawing of transponder

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Ozone Depleting Substances Policy Statement

It is the policy of TEMIC TELEFUNKEN microelectronic GmbH to

1. Meet all present and future national and international statutory requirements.

2. Regularly and continuously improve the performance of our products, processes, distribution and operating systems
with respect to their impact on the health and safety of our employees and the public, as well as their impact on
the environment.

It is particular concern to control or eliminate releases of those substances into the atmosphere which are known as
ozone depleting substances ( ODSs).

The Montreal Protocol ( 1987) and its London Amendments ( 1990) intend to severely restrict the use of ODSs and
forbid their use within the next ten years. Various national and international initiatives are pressing for an earlier ban
on these substances.

TEMIC TELEFUNKEN microelectronic GmbH semiconductor division has been able to use its policy of
continuous improvements to eliminate the use of ODSs listed in the following documents.

1. Annex A, B and list of transitional substances of the Montreal Protocol and the London Amendments respectively

2 . Class I and II ozone depleting substances in the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 by the Environmental
Protection Agency ( EPA) in the USA

3. Council Decision 88/540/EEC and 91/690/EEC Annex A, B and C ( transitional substances ) respectively.

TEMIC can certify that our semiconductors are not manufactured with ozone depleting substances and do not contain
such substances.

We reserve the right to make changes to improve technical design and may do so without further notice.
Parameters can vary in different applications. All operating parameters must be validated for each customer
application by the customer. Should the buyer use TEMIC products for any unintended or unauthorized
application, the buyer shall indemnify TEMIC against all claims, costs, damages, and expenses, arising out of,
directly or indirectly, any claim of personal damage, injury or death associated with such unintended or
unauthorized use.

TEMIC TELEFUNKEN microelectronic GmbH, P.O.B. 3535, D-74025 Heilbronn, Germany

Telephone: 49 ( 0 ) 7131 67 2831, Fax number: 49 ( 0 ) 7131 67 2423

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