Automotive
NXP Unlocks the Potential of Multifunction Car Keys
Pioneering the market for ‘smart’ car keys, NXP Semiconductors N.V. today announced the availability of its production-ready single-chip solution for multifunction car keys - the NCF2970 (KEyLink Lite). Enhancing the functionality of car keys by supporting Near Field Communications (NFC) technology, NXP’s KEyLink Lite enables car manufacturers to offer a new driving experience with keys that connect to external NFC-compliant devices, such as mobile phones, tablets and laptops.
The New ‘Smart’ Key Applications:
KEyLink Lite can be deployed in five new driver-friendly applications:
Car Finder – The car key records the GPS coordinates of your car’s last parking position, which can later be read by an NFC-compliant mobile phone, which then uses a service such as Google Maps to download a vicinity map and help you locate the car.
Route Planner – You can enter your destination while sitting comfortably in front of a PC at home and transfer the data into the car key via NFC. Once you are inside the car, your destination will be automatically uploaded to the in-car navigation system: No more stressful finger-tapping on the car navigator screen.
Car Status and Service Data Management – Before stepping out from your home or office, you can find out how much fuel remains in your car for your next journey - by simply waving your car key over your NFC-compliant mobile phone. And, you no longer need to carry your car service history on paper; the important data is saved on your KEyLink Lite-powered ‘smart’ car key.
Car Self-Diagnosis – Transfer diagnostic data from your car to a PC via the car key, then upload it to a service website and run a diagnostic analysis in seconds.
Car Personalization – Car manufacturers can pre-fit cars with upgraded services, which can later be unlocked in the field. Obtain permissions from your car manufacturer –for example, by making an online request at home - and store the permission for the new features onto the car key. All new features will be automatically activated the next time you enter the car.
Technical Features:
Connectivity to NFC devices and ISO/IEC 14443 readers. NXP has integrated the ISO/IEC 14443 Type A interface into the automotive IC NCF2970. In addition to immobilizer and Passive Keyless Entry/Go functions, this device allows contactless data exchange with NFC-compliant devices via a standardized 13.56-MHz wireless link.
Keyless entry interface. The NXP KEyLink Lite solution includes a low-frequency (125 kHz) front-end for the immobilizer and Passive Keyless Entry/Go systems, and works with an external UHF transmitter (315 to 928 MHz) for both Remote Keyless Entry and Passive Keyless Entry/Go systems.
Power consumption and memory. The KEyLink Lite chip features a low-power high-speed RISC core with up to 32-kB user EROM for customer applications and 6-kB EEPROM for application specific user data, operating at a wide supply voltage range from 2.0 to 3.6 V.
Supporting Quote:
Drue Freeman, vice president, global sales and marketing, Automotive business unit, NXP Semiconductors, said: “The car key experience will never be the same again. Drivers will have a whole new connected car experience with a variety of services for comfort, convenience and maintenance, available at the swipe of the ‘smart’ key. By bringing together our industry-leading technology for car access and immobilization with our expertise in NFC, NXP’s KEyLink Lite will open a lot more doors to the world of connected mobility.”