NXP chip powers Toppan Forms NFC module in Lenovo ThinkPad laptops

This NFC reader / writer module is the first of its kind to be released to global markets. It is based on NXP Semiconductors‘ PN533 NFC IC, a highly integrated transmission module for contactless communication at 13.56 MHz including a microcontroller, and Toppan Forms expertise in hardware module and software driver packaging. This newly developed module solution is compatible with the leading contactless smart cards in the market today; including MIFARE™, the world‘s most widely used contactless smart card technology, and FeliCa, the contactless card system widely used in Japan for transportation and electronic payment applications. The module solution is also compatible with open standard (ISO 14443 types A and B) cards, which are used worldwide in many banking, government and public deployments, such as e-Passports and Japanese drivers licenses.

Katsuhiko Moriyama, General Manager, Toppan Forms, said, “With the launch of this ground-breaking module, Toppan Forms plans to expand its NFC reader/writer business to become the de-facto standard in the computer industry. We anticipate that the introduction of NFC readers to PCs will help NFC technology to mature and rapidly capture a much wider consumer base. In addition to the PC market, we are now turning our attention to other applications such as cell phones and consumer electronics devices, which can also benefit greatly from many of NFC‘s features.”

Henri Ardevol, General Manager Secure Transactions, NXP Semiconductors, added, “This is a significant project in which we are deploying NFC reader infrastructure into the PC environment. The expansion of NFC into these kinds of platforms will provide exciting new possibilities for consumers to experience secure transactions on their PC, such as authentication of payments, secure online banking and a range of government services.”

The module utilizes a PC/SC conformant driver and is compatible with existing PC/SC applications, allowing it to integrate seamlessly into most existing security and payment applications. The reader is Windows Certified and is compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7*. The module driver is available through Toppan Forms‘ NFC Software Development Kit for PC/SC. This software allows developers to produce contactless card-enabled applications much faster and with greater flexibility.