STMicroelectronics,
a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics
applications, announced that its automotive NFC Reader IC (ST25R3914) and its
automotive 8-bit microcontroller (STM8AF) have been chosen for the Qi-compliant
automotive wireless charging reference design from Rohm.
Contactless
communication based on NFC is already in extensive use for functions such as
mobile payment by smartphone and in recent years, NFC use has been rapidly
widening from mobile devices to industrial equipment, IoT devices, and even
automotive systems.
The
automotive wireless charging module reference design from Rohm, for which
they’ve selected ST’s NFC Reader IC and 8-bit MCU, is based on the
BD57121MUF-M, a Qi-standard 15-W wireless charger IC being developed by Rohm
that aims to increase the adoption of wireless charging in the center console
of the vehicle. One benefit of ST’s technology contribution is to enable the
sophisticated control that makes possible the detection of contactless smart
cards in proximity to the charging system in order to halt the charging
immediately. This important and appreciated function prevents the failure of
those cards due to the strong magnetic field generated by the Qi transmitter.
ST’s
automotive NFC Reader IC, the ST25R3914, is an AEC-Q100 grade 1 qualified NFC
analog front-end device supporting ISO14443A/B, ISO15693, FeliCa, and active
P2P. Its best-in-class RF performance and its unique Automatic Antenna Tuning
function dynamically adapting to challenging metallic environments make it the
perfect fit for automotive applications. It comes with a MISRA-C:
2012-compliant RF middleware which helps to shorten the time required for
software development.
The
automotive 8-bit MCU from ST, STM8AF, provides high performance, wide-ranging
choice for memory size, and many package options, contributing to more flexible
automotive systems. The MCU features true data EEPROM, CAN and LIN bus, and
high operating temperature support up to 150°C. In combination with the NFC
function, it can also be used as a controller to manage new types of automotive
NFC applications, such as Bluetooth® / Wi-Fi pairings for smartphones,
“infotainment” using NFC verification, and engine start-up.
“Rohm’s
adoption of the ST NFC products and 8-bit microcontroller for their Qi-standard
automotive wireless-charging reference design shows that ST’s broad product
lineup has big potential for creating new and valuable automotive functions,”
said Hiroshi Noguchi, Japan country manager, STMicroelectronics, adding that,
“We anticipate many auto manufacturers will see wireless charging as an important
added value that will provide ST with another way to contribute to a more
comfortable driving experience for consumers.”
Source: STMicroelectronics