Smartphones and wearables can be used to authenticate IoT devices, home-automation applications, and secure data storage via Bluetooth Smart technology. STMicroelectronics and ClevX, an IP developer for portable storage and mobile device manufacturers have announced what they believe is the world’s first DataLock-secured encrypted portable storage media with Bluetooth Smart wireless user-authentication.
For the first time, users can interact with secure portable storage (full-disk, XTS-AES 256bit encryption) from smartphones or wearable devices where all user data on the drive is encrypted and can be locked or unlocked using single- or multi-factor authentication. The technology is suited for healthcare, home automation and security, secure-access control systems, and portable data storage.
Luca Difalco, VP of marketing, STMicroelectronics’ Americas region said: “While we’re demonstrating the capability in an easy-to-use hardware-encrypted secure USB-Drive, the elegance and versatility of the solution is provided by an application that we can add to our BlueNRG device to make lock-down security accessible via Bluetooth Smart.”
The two companies have reference designs for secure portable storage media, including flash, hard-disk, and solid-state disk drives. They use ST’s Bluetooth Smart chips (BlueNRG) and low power STM32L0 MCUs and are immediately available for licensing and partnerships, including both ST/ClevX-based hardware and firmware in addition to the related smartphone and wearables apps.
The reference designs are OS-host agnostic. USB drives with the DataLock BT technology operate across all computer platforms and embedded systems while providing various easy-to-use security layers (including a wireless lock/unlock mechanism, phone as an authentication factor, phone + PIN, or phone + PIN + userID/location/time). The reference designs support USB Remote Management, for corporate deployments and remote password resets, drive disabling and erasing, and successful implementation of corporate-wide policies.
Lev Bolotin, Founder/CEO, ClevX, LLC notes: “Using ST and ClevX technologies, the DataLock BT Security solution protects data on a USB. . . Consumers, healthcare workers, mobile professionals, and corporations can improve their productivity and security on-the-go by using their phones to authenticate themselves to their USB drives and change security options, as required.”
Wearable
Wireless charging ICs offer dual mode power capability for quick charge
Dual-mode Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) Qi 1.2 and AirFuel Alliance (PMA) SR1E medium power 15W capability has been added to the Semtech TS80000 wireless charging portfolio.
The ICs support the increased battery capacity for quick charging smart phones, tablets, phablets, and medical and industrial devices.
The company’s medium power wireless charging technology can be integrated into existing portable devices as well as infrastructure and automotive applications. The TS80K devices can support both receiver and transmitter applications. The company also provides reference designs and evaluation kits to implement the technology.
Key feature are the scalability. According to the company, this is the only product on the market that supports from 100mW low power wearable solutions to 100W high power solutions for industrial tools, medical equipment and “connected” furniture applications.
Multi-mode receiver and output power from 100mW to 20W allow compatibility between all transmitters supporting any of the three industry standards.
Multi-mode transmitter for all power levels, from 100mW to 40W allow embedded charging capability in furniture, vehicles and public venues that can support all three standards based on a single, cost-effective platform, says the company.
http://www.semtech.com
3D image sensors will detect surroundings
At next month’s Consumer Electronics Show, CES 2016, Infineon and pmdtechnologies gmbh will be showcasing the REAL3, 3D image sensor chips.
Compared to the previous version, the optical sensitivity and power consumption has been improved. The space-saving devices make it possible for cell phones to operate mini-camera systems that can measure 3D depth data, says the company.
Mouser stocks ‘smallest’ light sensor from ams
Mouser Electronics is now stocking the TSL2584TSV light-to-digital converter, or ambient light sensor, from ams, which, at half the size of similar converter sensors is claimed to have the industry’s smallest footprint and height (1.14 × 1.66 × 0.32mm).
About Weartech
This news story is brought to you by weartechdesign.com, the specialist site dedicated to delivering information about what’s new in the wearable electronics industry, with daily news updates, new products and industry news. To stay up-to-date, register to receive our weekly newsletters and keep yourself informed on the latest technology news and new products from around the globe. Simply click this link to register here: weartechdesign.com
