The global smart lock market size was valued at 1.38 billion USD in 2020. The demand was recorded at 8.9 million units and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.4 percent from 2021 to 2028 [1]. With integrated H-Bridge and energy harvesting modules, a smart actuator can be implemented in a single-chip solution with minimum components required. Infineon Technologies AG (FSE: IFX / OTCQX: IFNNY) has developed a new programmable 32-bit ARM® Cortex®-M0 microcontroller (MCU) with embedded near-field communication (NFC) frontend to enable cost effective development of smart actuators, such as passive locks.
Using the NFC interface, the NAC1080 MCU enables devices to be controlled directly by smartphones. Advanced local and cloud functions can be extended within the mobile app offered by regional marketing partners. This reduces the bill of material and supports miniaturized product design. NAC1080 supports various operation modes and can be powered either in passive mode by the NFC field with the energy harvested from the mobile phone, or through a battery supply in active mode . NAC1080 also provides an integrated AES128 accelerator and a true random number generator to enable data encryption/de-encryption in an ultra-low power environment.
Besides the passive NFC lock application, NAC1080 can also be used as an emergency backup power supply application. Active lock systems, for example, depend on battery power. If they are discharged, the NFC interface IC for electronic devices can power the door lock. Since the electric power is transmitted via NFC, this use case may take longer than in passive mode.
In the Greater China region, Infineon is working together with IH Tech and FIoT-Open Lab to offer complete smart NFC lock solutions based on NAC1080 combining IC products, application development, IoT device testing, certification and standardization. This collaboration enables the three companies to support local customers to accelerate the system development cycle and foster the ecosystem development together.
[1] Source: Grand View Research, Smart Lock Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report
Availability
Infineon’s NAC1080 MCU is available now. More information about the complete solution is available at www.infineon.com/NAC1080.
About IH Tech
IH Technology limited, a subsidiary company of Contel Technology Company Limited based in Hong Kong, is a leading IC application solutions and IC related service provider specialized to support customers on mass production level designs. This includes NFC antenna, circuit hardware, application software and APPs in handheld devices for both embedded module or stand-alone system. Contel Technology Company Limited is a HK listed company (ISIN: KYG2521A1067; trading symbol: SEHK:1912). Additional information can be found at www.conteltechnology.com.
About FIoT-Open Lab
FIoT-Open Lab, based in Fuzhou China, is a leading platform for enabling new “Smart+” technologies, especially for IoT, Big Data and Artificial Intelligence. It offers full suite expertise in technology development, total solution from chip design/packaging to end-application, IoT devices testing certification and setting industry standards. The company is thereby building a comprehensive IoT ecosystem with value added technical services to serve customers in Greater China. For more information on FIoT-Open Lab, please visit www.fiot-lab.org.