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NFC chip manufacturer NXP Semiconductors
NXP Semiconductors is currently the largest semiconductor manufacturer in Europe and one of the driving forces behind the development of NFC chips and standards. The company was spun off from Philipps Semiconductors in 2006 and is fully focused on microcontrollers and chips.
In addition, the company offers a broad portfolio of components that are used both in research and development of real products in the field of autonomous driving, Internet of Thinks and RFID/NFC based identification. NXP not only produces semiconductors for the areas mentioned above. It also provides system solutions, such as the BlueBox, a complete solution for autonomous vehicles. In the following the role of NXP in connection with NFC technology will be examined in more detail. First some basic terms will be explained.
NFC chips and NFC tags
Both terms are often used synonymously, but mean different things. The NFC chip specifically refers to the passive, electronic component that provides the NFC function, i.e. the microchip. In order for it to function, however, it must first be married to an antenna. The unit of both is often called an NFC inlay. If the antenna and chip are inserted into a product, such as a sticker for example, one ultimately speaks of an NFC tag. The term NFC tag thus refers to the usable product, typically a sticker, which contains an NFC chip that provides the basic technical function.
NXP NFC chips and NFC microcontroller
NFC chips are thus the technical solution for implementing near-field communication. However, these components can be further differentiated into NFC chip and NFC micro-controller:
- NFC micro-controller for active NFC devices such as smartphones
- NFC chips for passive NFC transmitters like NFC tags
NFC chips in NFC tags are essentially data storage devices. Various types of content can be stored on the chip, which can be read by active NFC devices such as smartphones. To make the readout work, so-called NFC microcontrollers in the smartphone provide all the necessary NFC functions. They enable the environment to be scanned for NFC tags, a radio connection to NFC tags to be established and the stored data to be read. In contrast to chips in NFC tags, NFC microcontrollers have a processor and bring their own energy source.
NXP Semiconductors offers both NFC microcontrollers for NFC-enabled end devices and various NFC chips for use in NFC tags. Meanwhile all major smartphone manufacturers such as Apple, Google and Samsung rely on NFC chips from NXP. One of the best-selling NFC chips for NFC tags is the NTAG series from NXP, which is particularly suitable for everyday applications and marketing purposes. For security relevant applications such as contactless payment or access control, NXP offers chips with MIFARE technology. The German electronic identity card also contains an RFID chip from NXP.
Acquisition by Qualcomm
Due to the strong growth of NXP, Qualcomm, currently the largest mobile phone chip manufacturer, plans to acquire NXP by the end of 2017, and the merger of the two companies is expected to further enhance NXP's role in the areas of autonomous driving, Internet of Things and identification.