STMicroelectronics has announced a complete fully integrated NFC (Near Field Communication) System-on-Chip

STMicroelectronics has announced a new fully integrated secure System-on-Chip (SoC) solution implemented in advanced silicon technology for the fast emerging NFC (Near Field Communication) market. NFC technology provides advanced wireless or ‘contact less’ services for users, such as electronic payment via mobile phone.

Implemented in the company’s leading-edge 0.13-micron embedded non-volatile memory EEPROM technology, the new device, called the ST21NFCA, integrates all the necessary hardware and software for a complete NFC system, including support for all the NFC proximity and vicinity standards.

NFC is a fast emerging short-range wireless connectivity standard that significantly simplifies the interaction of consumer devices in a range of applications. The technology can be implemented in various devices, such as in a mobile phone, to enable secure electronic payments. While use in mobile phones is expected to be the primary driver for the deployment of the technology, other uses can include ‘contact less’ banking, transport ticketing and ‘smart poster’ applications.

Developed to be used in mobile devices, or within the PC environment, the ST21NFCA is a flexible fully integrated system-on-chip IC that offers a complete hardware capability for contact less communication at 13.56MHz, and is suitable to be designed into RF reader systems, as well as RF Tag or contact less smart cards. The device also integrates the necessary Host Controller Interface (HCI) functions, in addition to interfaces for both the I2Cbus and SPIbus, and is compliant with the ETSI specification for Single Wire Protocol (SWP), which describes the connection between a mobile phone’s UICC (Universal Integrated Circuit Card) and the NFC controller.

Based on the technology and the architectures already implemented in ST’s advanced SIM card range, the ST21NFCA includes the company’s advanced ST21 smart card microcontroller along with 36 Kbytes of EEPROM, 112 Kbytes of User ROM and 4 Kbytes of RAM. In addition, the chip includes an integrated RF analog front end (AFE) and embedded firmware that supports the existing contact less standards for proximity and vicinity. Additionally, the chip’s fully integrated firmware provides fast and easy design and implementation for leading mobile phone and portable consumer equipment manufacturers.

“NFC technology has already proven that it has huge potential for a range of applications, such as secure payment via a mobile phone or electronic ticketing for travel,” said Marie-France Florentin, ST’s Smart card ICs Business director. “And, now, with more than 20 years experience in smart cards and secure MCUs, together with its leading-edge silicon technology and key know-how in wireless markets, ST is delivering a fully integrated and flexible System-on-Chip that will enable the world’s leading mobile device manufactures to integrate NFC technology into their products with an extremely fast time to market.”

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