NFC tags protect against cloning

Designed to enable NFC in home automation and consumer applications, these next-generation connected NFC tags allow design engineers to quickly add “tap-and-connect” communications to any electronic device.

The ICs consist of EEPROM, SRAM, NFC interface, digital control unit, power management and energy harvesting unit, and an I²C slave interface. Energy and data are transferred via an antenna con, which is directly connected to the NTAG I²C plus IC.

The ICs offer zero-power capabilities, password protection, full memory access configuration from both interfaces, and an originality signature for protection against cloning.

When operating in energy harvesting mode, the NTAG I²C plus ICs can supply external low-power devices (such as microcontrollers) with the energy generated from the RF field of the external NFC device.

Delivering four times’ higher data transfer performance than previous versions, this second generation of NXP’s connected tag technology maintains full backward compatibility with first-generation NTAG I²C products, providing a cost-effective choice for integrating NFC capabilities into any embedded system.

The NTAG I²C plus integration is supported by an all-in-one Explorer kit that includes a ready-to-use demonstration board with LCD display, antenna board with RF and I²C interfaces, and comprehensive evaluation tools for all NTAG I²C plus functionalities.

The ICs are ideal for a variety of connected applications, including Internet of Things (IoT) nodes, home entertainment accessories, wearables, fitness and medical equipment, and smart meters.