Melexis Technologies NV MLX90132SLQ-AEA-000-TU

Overview

MLX90132SLQ-AEA-000-TU from Melexis is a fully integrated 13.56 MHz multi-protocol RFID/NFC transceiver IC supporting ISO/IEC 14443A/B, 15693, 18000-3 Mode 1, and 18092 (NFC). It delivers up to 300 mW RF output power, operates at baud rates up to 848 kbit/s, and embeds tag emulation for NFC peer-to-peer passive mode. It is used in automotive access/start systems and industrial NFC applications.

For engineers reviewing the MLX90132SLQ-AEA-000-TU datasheet, pinout, applications, or equivalent options, key selection considerations include dual TX/RX analog front-end architecture, SPI/UART interface flexibility, field/tag detection capability, low-power operating states (down to 1 µA in Hibernate), and QFN-32 5×5 mm lead-free package compatibility with antenna matching networks.

Technical Context

The MLX90132SLQ-AEA-000-TU integrates a dual-driver RF transmitter (TX1/TX2) with 180° phase shift and internal load modulation for tag emulation, enabling both reader and card-emulation modes. Its digital section handles full protocol stack layers - from bit/frame encoding/decoding (SOF/EOF/EGT/CRC) to sub-carrier detection - using a 528-byte buffer and programmable symbol encoder/decoder.

It features two independent power domains: VDD (2.7–5.5 V) for digital/analog blocks and VDD_TX (2.7–5.5 V) for high-current drivers, with dedicated GND_TX/GND_RX/GND_DIG pins. Clock recovery from the HF field enables tag mode operation without external crystal, while a 27.12 MHz crystal drives the 13.56 MHz HFO in reader mode.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

The MLX90132SLQ-AEA-000-TU is housed in a lead-free QFN-32 package (5 mm × 5 mm, 0.5 mm pitch) with exposed thermal pad (EXP) requiring connection to GND for thermal and electrical performance.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar multi-protocol 13.56 MHz RFID/NFC transceiver applications.

Compared with PN5180A and ST25R3916B, the MLX90132SLQ-AEA-000-TU delivers the lowest Hibernate current (1 µA), native clock recovery for tag mode (no external crystal needed), and minimal external component count for antenna matching - making it optimal for space-constrained, battery-powered, and dual-mode (reader + card) applications.

Availability

MLX90132SLQ-AEA-000-TU is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for automotive access systems, industrial white goods interfaces, NFC/wireless power combo modules, and secure access control readers requiring stable component supply across production lifecycles.

Supply support for MLX90132SLQ-AEA-000-TU includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Melexis is a Belgian semiconductor company specializing in sensor and wireless ICs for automotive, industrial, and consumer markets, with expertise in magnetic sensing, RF, and low-power mixed-signal design.

The MLX90132 product line was developed to deliver compact, standards-compliant 13.56 MHz NFC/RFID transceivers for embedded applications demanding dual-mode operation, ultra-low power consumption, and minimal external component count.

FAQ

What communication interfaces does the MLX90132SLQ-AEA-000-TU support?

The MLX90132SLQ-AEA-000-TU supports both SPI and UART interfaces. SPI operates up to 2 Mbps (1.5 Mbps in tag emulation with clock recovery enabled), while UART defaults to 57.6 kbps and supports up to 2 Mbps. Interface selection is hardwired via SSI_0/SSI_1 pins at power-on reset - no runtime switching. The MLX90132SLQ-AEA-000-TU does not support I²C or USB interfaces per its datasheet specification.

Does the MLX90132SLQ-AEA-000-TU require an external crystal in all operating modes?

No. The MLX90132SLQ-AEA-000-TU requires a 27.12 MHz crystal only in reader mode to generate the 13.56 MHz HFO. In tag emulation mode, it recovers clock directly from the incoming HF field using its internal clock recovery block - eliminating the need for external crystal and reducing BOM count. The MLX90132SLQ-AEA-000-TU also includes a 32 kHz RC oscillator for low-power timing in sleep/hibernate states.

What is the maximum RF output power of the MLX90132SLQ-AEA-000-TU and how is it achieved?

The MLX90132SLQ-AEA-000-TU delivers up to 300 mW RF output power into a properly matched antenna load. This is achieved through its dual-driver architecture driving TX1 and TX2 differentially with 180° phase shift, supplied by the dedicated VDD_TX rail (2.7–5.5 V). Power level is modulated via ASK with index adjustable between 10% and 100%, set automatically by protocol selection or fine-tuned via internal register writes per the datasheet procedure.

How does the MLX90132SLQ-AEA-000-TU handle ISO/IEC 14443A and 15693 protocol differences?

Upon receiving the Protocol Select command (0x02), the MLX90132SLQ-AEA-000-TU automatically configures its digital demodulator, bit encoder/decoder, and receiver bandwidth for the selected standard. For ISO/IEC 14443A, it enables 106 kbps sub-carrier detection and 7-bit framing; for ISO/IEC 15693, it switches to 26.48 kHz sub-carrier and supports extended frames up to 528 bytes. All CRC, SOF/EOF, and EGT handling is performed in hardware - no host MCU intervention required.

What power-saving features are implemented in the MLX90132SLQ-AEA-000-TU?

The MLX90132SLQ-AEA-000-TU implements six distinct power states: Hibernate (1 µA), Sleep (20 µA), Tag Detection (45 µA), Ready (2.5 mA), Reader (variable), and Tag Emulation (2.5 mA). Wake-up sources include IRQ_IN pulse, NSS edge, timer, or field/tag detector events. The MLX90132SLQ-AEA-000-TU achieves ultra-low standby via independent power domains and automatic clock gating - allowing rapid transition (<2 ms) from Sleep to Ready state using the crystal oscillator settling time.