Microchip authenticates Qi 1.3 wireless charging

29th March 2022

James Anstee

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The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) has released the Qi 1.3 specification with the extended power profile. This new specification created demand for high security silicon authentication devices for full-service support. In response, Microchip Technology has announced the industrial grade TrustFLEX ECC608 and the automotive grade Trust Anchor TA100 combined with Microchip secure key provisioning services for Qi 1.3 power transmitters.

This new offering is an all-in-one secure storage subsystem that includes key provisioning for consumer and automotive systems.

The Qi 1.3 specification now mandates the addition of a secure storage subsystem with secure key provisioning including X.509 certificates to cryptographically verify the source and quality of the certified power transmitter. When a receiver, e.g. in a cell phone is placed on a Qi 1.3 power transmitter, it may initially accept a 5W charge or no charge at all. Then after a successful X.509 based ECC authentication proving the charger is an approved, "do no harm" device, the phone will then safely accept a 15W charge significantly reducing charging time.

Microchip is now a WPC licensed manufacturing Certificate Authority (CA), not only offering pre-configured secure storage subsystem solutions that reduce complexity and development time, but also lowering the technical barrier of entry by handling the entire key ceremony with the WPC root certificate authority on behalf of Microchip customers. By providing a complete certified reference design including application MCU, Qi 1.3 software stack, secure storage subsystems with supporting crypto library along with provisioning services for both automotive and consumer applications, Microchip is a one-stop shop for Qi 1.3 solutions.

“Our WPC secure storage subsystem solutions demonstrate Microchip’s continuous commitment to facilitating high volume deployment of state-of-the-art security architectures within embedded systems” said Nuri Dagdeviren, vice president of the security products business unit at Microchip Technology. “We work every day to lower the barrier of entry into this complex but essential technology for our customers in the wireless charging market.”

Development Tools

For hardware:

The Microchip ECC608 TrustFLEX is supported by the CryptoAuth Trust Platform Development Kit (DM320118)
TheTA100will require the TA100 8-pin SOIC Socket Board (AC164166) or TA100 24-VQFN Socket Board (EV39Y17A) to plug into the CryptoAuth Trust Platform Development kit

Additionally, Microchip offers the Trust Platform Design Suite software development tool for secure storage subsystems and a certified WPC Qi1.3 reference design.

Availability

Both the ECC608-TFLXWPCS and the ECC608-TFLXWPCU are available for purchase at $0.90 up to 10,000 units.
The TA100 is available starting at $1.50 in 10,000-unit quantities for SOIC8 and VQFN24. For additional information or to purchase products mentioned here, contact a Microchip sales representative, authorized worldwide distributor or visit Microchip’s website.