Broadcom Introduces First NFC Chips in 40 NM to Drive Next Generation of Mobile Payments and Consumer Electronic Connectivity

Manufactured in 40 nm CMOS technology, the new Broadcom BCM2079x family slashes power consumption by more than 90 percent, uses 40 percent fewer components and has a 40 percent smaller board area, making it the smallest and most power efficient NFC solution on the market. The NFC controllers are platform agnostic with support for multiple secure elements or SIM cards — or both at the same time. In addition, Broadcom's advanced Maestro™ middleware allows new NFC applications to utilize Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capabilities in the device to spur new innovations in user interface and media sharing.



An accelerated adoption of NFC could transform the use of smartphones, advancing beyond contactless mobile payments and ticketing to enable radically simplified connectivity between the handset and other devices like Bluetooth headsets and Wi-Fi-enabled digital televisions. The proliferation of NFC has the ability to expand the usefulness of smartphones and inspire a range of new applications built on the ability to create simple, secure connections between devices and enable services with a touch of the phone.



Technology Advantages:

Reduces power consumption:

Low power target detection mode, which leverages Broadcom's innovative low-power techniques, reduces polling power consumption by more than 90 percent for longer battery life.

Support for field power harvesting allows the chip to draw energy from the environment so it can support transactions even if the phone battery has expired.

Reduces board space requirements and design complexity:

Industry's smallest size chip integrates more external components, reducing total solution BOM (bill of materials) costs.

Easily pairs with Broadcom's InConcert® BCM4330 Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and FM combo chip for comprehensive connectivity solution.

Complete Broadcom software stack including Maestro™ middleware rounds out end-to-end solution for reduced design complexity, creative connectivity options and faster time to market.

Provides support and flexibility for all business models and future wireless innovation:

Only NFC controller to integrate transaction-based Application ID (AID) routing for simultaneous support of multiple secure elements (both SIM and non-SIM) within a single device.

Multiple SWP (single wire protocol) interfaces allow for standards-based SIM and embedded secure element integration.

Broadcom is also working closely with the NFC Forum to define and drive standards to ensure interoperability with other NFC devices.



Quotes:

John Devlin, Group Director, Security and Identification, ABI Research

Broadcom has already demonstrated its leadership in helping drive adoption of technologies like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi in smartphones and other consumer electronics products, having established itself as the leading supplier of wireless connectivity combo chips to handset makers. The features and capabilities of these new solutions position the company to follow a similar trajectory with NFC.

Craig Ochikubo, VP and GM, Wireless Personal Area Networks, Broadcom Corporation

Broadcom is committed to making NFC as ubiquitous as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are today. These solutions provide the features and performance that enable disruptive innovation that will reshape the mobile consumer experience. Our leadership and proficiency in wireless connectivity influenced the architecture of these new chips to meet the performance required by OEMs, allowing them to more easily add NFC to their designs.