Moving on from Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, mediums of connectivity and communication are stepping a notch up with the introduction of Broadcom BCM2079x NFC chips in 40nm. This marks the birth of the first ever dedicated chips aimed at enhancing connectivity, especially through mobile payment.
The chips are manufactured with the 40nm CMOS technology and are designed with low-power techniques to consume up to 90 percent less energy. The company describes them to be the smallest and the most power efficient solution for near field communication. It also allows field power harvesting which enable the chips to draw energy from the environment and carry on transactions even if the battery of the device has expired.
“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,” asserts Craig Ochikubo, VP and GM, Wireless Personal Area Networks, Broadcom Corporation.
For wide ranging communication solutions, the BCM2079x NFC chips are compatible with Broadcom’s InConcert BCM4330 Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and FM combo chip. Also, it is the only NFC controller integrated with transaction-based Application ID (AID) routing for simultaneous support of multiple secure elements. To further enhance the productivity and efficiency of the NFC centered products, Broadcom is also working with the NFC Forum which will facilitate interoperability with other near field devices.
The pricing and availability details of the Broadcom BCM2079x NFC chips in 40nm have not been disclosed yet.
