Secora Connect X enables NFC wireless charging and e-payments
Adding NFC capabilities to wearable devices means they can be used in shops for payment and to gain access to public transportation and office buildings.
The Secora Connect X multi chip package is connected to a single tiny antenna that has a small footprint, which leaves more space for other components. The simple layout of external circuitry with chip size reduction means no more than seven capacitors are used. The small antenna also reduces the battery charging time – e.g. from 20 to 80 per cent charging level in less than 45 minutes.
Infineon said its Secora Connect X NFC technology provides an easy path to EMVCo-based payments and also enables NFC wireless charging for smart wearables such as smart rings, wristbands and smartwatches, making them more user-friendly and convenient.
“The next few years will be exciting for the wearables industry as the use of sensors and digitally-enabled devices increases and healthcare becomes a major driver of innovation for wearables,” said Tolgahan Yildiz, head of payment solutions at Infineon’s Connected Secure Systems division. “NFC wireless charging will become increasingly important to power ever smaller devices, both for increased user convenience and to enable slim designs”. He explained that the Secora Connect X technology supports this trend by turning small passive wearables – which can be everyday objects such as rings or wristbands – into smart connected devices that enable digital payment transactions.
The trend toward easy, fast and convenient digital payment options has been accelerated by the pandemic, prompting service providers to develop more IoT-enabled devices for a contact-free seamless payment experience. These devices require a new small form factor, high security, and, of course, trusted consumer and payment data protection.
The Secora Connect X boosted NFC technology offers advanced secured remote management capabilities and enables consumer authentication on the corresponding smart device. Designed primarily for payment, transit and access applications, Secora Connect X enables secured NFC use cases, said Infineon. The company supports several smart ring manufacturers with this special design to integrate payment and NFC wireless charging into small devices using only one NFC antenna for both functions.
Infineon offers a PSoC-based evaluation kit which can be used with pre-certified payment applications and a simple user interface for a seamless migration path and overall faster time-to-market, said Infineon. CDCVM (Consumer Device Cardholder Verification Method) capabilities are also supported to reduce transaction times, increase security and facilitate seamless customer authentication without requiring additional PIN entry at the terminal. Payment data is stored on Infineon’s Secure Element.
The low power consumption means the total battery life can be as long as three to four days. The standby mode of the payment solution has little impact on battery life because it requires between 4.0 to 6.0 microA which is sigificantly less than other products on the market, reported the company.
Secora Connect X is available now featuring the EMVCo certification. An evaluation kit is also available on request.
A demonstration of Secora Connect X will be showcased at MWC 2023, Barcelona, Spain, from February 27 to March 2, 2023 at Infineon’s booth Hall 5a-5a51.
