NFC label end controller realizes battery-free intelligent sensing Internet of Things solution

     Infineon Technologies AG expands its portfolio of NFC label-end controllers. The new IC is a single-chip solution that allows the iot industry to create low-cost, miniaturized, intelligent edge computing/sensing devices that maximize benefits for end users and manufacturers. Mobile phones can control and power these devices, with potential applications ranging from medical patches and disposable case-point testers to data recorders, smart thermostats and sensor inserts.

     The label-side controller supports dual power supply, enabling it to operate in passive (battery-free) or battery-powered mode based on energy collection and operate as an independent sensor node with a 3V to 3.3V external power supply. In passive mode, the entire sensing system, including the integrated circuit and its connected sensors, can gain power by collecting energy from the phone's NFC field. Coupled with its natural electrically isolated sensing interface, these features open up numerous possibilities for creating innovative sensing use cases that require no batteries and minimal maintenance. This is particularly useful for applications where the power supply must be electrically isolated to meet security needs.

     The NFC tag side controller is based on a low power ARM Cortex-M0 microcontroller and combines several key components. This includes an ISO14443 Type a compliant NFC front end and a motor controlled driver with an H-bridge circuit with a current drive capacity of up to 250mA. The NGC1081 also offers a sensing unit based on a 12-bit SAR ADC with four analog inputs and a 10-bit DAC with one analog output. The sensing unit also includes an I2V converter and an integrated temperature sensor that provides ±0.3C accuracy in temperature ranges 0C to 45C and ±0.4C (-20C to 0C and 45C to 85C).

     This highly integrated single-chip solution enables customers to implement smart sensing devices with miniaturized product designs and smaller system BOM costs. In addition, a tangible IC architecture and well-designed hardware/software partitioning enable customers to produce fully flexible software-defined functionality. The controller's configurability and versatility make it an excellent choice for tuning to the specific needs of different applications and systems.

     Moreover, its seamless connection to mobile phones allows for the adoption of a cloud-based business model. This is supported by a lean and scalable mailbox concept that ensures robust access management to maintain data integrity and security. Application-specific commands and messages from open protocol interfaces extend the protocol layer.