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Would You Be Interested in RoadTesting an MCU with Integrated NFC

rscasny

Near Field Communication is growing in popularity. It's being used for more than payment processing; and it's even popping up in some of our design challengers' builds (e.g., The Cooker Connector by ). For the most part on the element14 community, projects that have included NFC have used an add-on expansion board or shield. But today I was sent some information on an MCU that integrates NFC.

 

It's produced by NXP, and called the LPC8N04 microcontroller.They consider it an entry-level connectivity solution for embedded applications with integrated NFC connectivity. It contains multiple features, including several power-down modes and a selectable CPU frequency of up to 8 MHz for ultra-low power consumption. The peripheral complement includes 32 kB of flash memory, 8 kB of SRAM, 4 kB of EEPROM, one I2C, one SPI/SSP, and up to 12 general purpose I/O pins. Your can read more about it by clicking here.image

 

NXP also says that it enables developers to quickly implement broad-based solutions that leverage system diagnostics or environmental conditions for a smarter tagging experience. With the added benefit of flexible communication modes, you'd have the ability to push data to an LPC8N04 MCU-based edge-node, for example, in device provisioning, configuration or customization. 

 

I think it has interesting possibilities for Board Games, Healthcare Wearables, Robotics, Industrial Uses and, of course, Secure Payments.

 

What do you think?

 

Would you be interested in roadtesting this product? What would you like to test or build?

 

 

  • This might be interesting to play with.  I will have to figure out a project.

  • Hi Randall,

     

    From what I've seen, NXP's NFC technology is second-to-none. There are extremely sophisticated things that can be done with it, I hope the Design Challenge entrants make use of their NFC boards otherwise they are missing out. I love that it is possible to wake up this microcontroller through NFC based energy harvesting : ) The power consumption figures in the datasheet as very impressive too, very low power : ) and very low frequency clock capability too.

    It seems a really nice blend of features, I'm glad they used a low-cost Cortex-M0 core, hopefully this means this IC will get used in many applications. I'd definitely apply if I had the chance, I've not used the LPC products before, not sure what I'd build yet, but would definitely exercise the unique capabilities in that block diagram.

  • On the device page, it says that it is in preproduction phase. What does this mean?

    I saw NFC technology used in Finder digital time switches. One can use the smartphone to program the time switch and load the programmed configuration using NFC. It comes very easy if you have to program several time switches with the same configuration or with a different configuration. Using the smartphone, you can also read the configuration from a time switch, already programmed, and transfer the configuration to another time switch, using NFC.

    I would roadtest it in a project that would create a thermostat that can be programmed using NFC.

  • Would you be interested in roadtesting this product?

    I've had a play with NFC and have a phone that has some great NFC features BUT they only supplied two sticker tags, and have no blanks or anything else.

     

    We utilise NFC prox tags for security at work, and they are a great way to provide low maintenance access in a very small package.

     

    One suggestion I'd make with this Road Test make sure there are plenty of compatible tags to go with the reader.

    The stickers are a great use and can be almost hidden, while providing the desired effect.

     

     

    I was lucky to mentor a group of pupils in a Neighbourhood Engineer, in aproject to assist the elderly.

    Their idea was to identify the right key for the door, and their idea was a card reader BUT in reverse.!

    The prox tag was on the door and the reader was handheld.

     

    What would you like to test or build?

    I might be able to build something to make use of this.

      imageimage

    Cheers

    Mark

  • in reply to cghaba

    Good Question.

     

    Thanks for asking. My gut feeling is perhaps the page is not up to date. However, I don't know at this moment. But I will check for you on Monday.

     

    Usually, when I am contacted, the product is near release to just after launch.

     

    So, let me get back to you.

     

    Thanks.

     

    Randall Scasny

    RoadTest Program Manager

  • This is an interesting RT.

     

    I have a few blank RFID cards and a tiny NFC/RFID transponder.

  • Very interesting - I have an idea for a game I would prototype If given the chance. 

  • Re: Clarification of Pre-Production

     

    I wanted to clarify my earlier comment regarding the question about "pre-production."

     

    The supplier told me: "Pre-production means that the production is starting now in volume.  The product has been already launched into the Mass Market. Boards are being delivered. They are just about ready to change from pre-production to fully launched."

     

    I hope that this clarifies my previous comment.

     

    Randall Scasny

    RoadTest Program Manager

  • I've worked with a few variations of NFC products, and the limiting factor always seems to be the antenna design.  If you make the antenna large enough to get some distance, it doesn't fit into a small package, and if the antenna is too small, you have to be very close for the communications to work.  If you talk to the designers, ask them if they can make two evaluation boards, one as small as possible, and one with as much gain as possible.

     

    Scott

  • NFC is definitely on my list of technologies to become proficient with. It is already widely used but the applications are still in their infancy relative to what will be implemented in the next few years. I have experimented with RFID and a little NFC trying to get the range out to 1 foot. I could get about 9 inches reliably. I don't know if this road test would fit in my schedule as the dates aren't set, but I would follow the road test activity for sure.