NXP adds more powerful NFC controller and developer kits

NXP development boards
BOARDS: Demo kits make NFC integration easy for Raspberry Pi, BeagleBone Black and any board with an Arduino compatible header

PARTNER NEWS: Chip maker NXP has released a high performance NFC controller designed for use in consumer electronic devices as well as developer demo kits that interface with a range of popular prototyping platforms.

The new PN7150 joins the PN71xx family of plug-and-play NFC controllers which developers can use to rapidly build NFC into any hardware, especially that running an operating system based environment like Linux or Android.

The PN7150 features twice as much output power as the existing PN7120 and “can be ideal for applications such as home network gateways, routers, set-top boxes, TVs, as well as audio and medical devices,” says NXP.

The company has also introduced a range of developer boards featuring the new controller, including one with an Arduino interface, allowing it to connect with any board featuring an Arduino-compatible header.

“NFC technology, now, can be easily combined with development platforms including Kinetis, i.MX, UDOO Neo®, and QorIQ, allowing new communities to access the world of NFC,” says the company’s Paul Hubmer.

More details can be found in the press release:

NXP expands plug’n’play NFC portfolio: New controller and Arduino add-on boards

NXP today expanded its advanced portfolio for plug-and-play (near field communication) NFC solutions with Arduino™ add-on boards and the release of PN7150, a high performance NFC controller with integrated firmware and NCI interface. The expanded portfolio enables easier and faster integration of NFC technology in consumer electronic devices, especially in OS-based systems.

Building better development experiences

Leveraging its sophisticated portfolio of microcontrollers, the PN71xx family, now comes with various add-on boards, software examples and supports development platforms featuring an Arduino stackable header, including Kinetis, LPCXpresso, i.MX, and QorIQ, allowing for rapid NFC expansion and prototyping.

“To fulfill our vision and to create and enable NFC experiences everywhere, our products are designed for developers to explore NFC applications through the easiest possible deployment effort,” said Paul Hubmer, general manager of NFC infrastructure & consumer at NXP. “NFC technology, now, can be easily combined with development platforms including Kinetis, i.MX, UDOO Neo®, and QorIQ, allowing new communities to access the world of NFC.”

New NFC controller meets demands of the market

Equipped with embedded firmware, accompanied by Linux®, Android™, WinIoT drivers and several software examples, the PN7150 enables easy integration of NFC functionality in OS-based systems via the NCI interface. The new NFC controller can be ideal for applications such as home network gateways, routers, set-top boxes, TVs, as well as audio and medical devices.

“NXP’s robust portfolio of NFC controllers enable an easy integration of NFC technology to consumer devices, while instantly making them smarter, more intuitive and easy to use,” said Adam Justice, vice president at Grid Connect. “For example, with the PN7150 designed into our latest home gateway, consumers can install their smart home devices with just a tap. Additionally, maintenance tasks can be automated with cloud assistance for troubleshooting and firmware updates, which reduces our support efforts, saving us time and money.”

Each PN71xx device integrates a complete NFC frontend and an advanced 32-bit microcontroller along with preinstalled certified NFC software stacks. The PN7150 is the latest addition to NXP’s portfolio of plug-and-play NFC solutions. Compared to the board footprint optimized PN7120 in BGA package, first announced in 2015, PN7150 responds to latest market requests by featuring twice as much output power as PN7120 and an easy to assemble HVQFN40 package. In combination with NXP’s connected NTAG I²C plus, the PN71xx ICs can be used for Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi®, or ZigBee® pairing to simplify commissioning of home-automation applications.

The PN71xx family was designed to easily enable NFC projects that go beyond simple NFC Tag operations, leveraging the full potential of all NFC modes as card Emulation, reader and peer-to-peer functionality.

Key benefits of PN71xx NFC controllers:

  • Standard NFC Interface (NCI 1.0) to the application host and fully NFC Forum compliant.
  • Seamless integration of NFC in applications with OS systems, supported by Linux, Android and WinIoT drivers.
  • Plug-and-play NFC operation with many platforms enabled through three available development kits for either Arduino compatible boards, Raspberry Pi®, BeagleBone® Black or Arduino compatible boards.
  • Enables all NFC standardized modes and typical NFC use cases through an easy set-up, including pairing, personalization, extended user interface, and maintenance.

Availability

Samples as well as all compatible development kits of the PN7120 and the new PN7150 high performance NFC controller are available on:

http://www.nxp.com/products/:PN7150B0HN

http://www.nxp.com/products/:PN7120A0EV

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