NFC makes living in a multi-device world more enjoyable. With just a tap, new purchases can perform service discovery, connect to the home network, or pair with other components, such as a big-screen TV or high-end speakers. As a companion technology to Bluetooth, ZigBee and WiFi, NFC makes it easier to log on, commission devices, and use predetermined settings. Tap your smartphone to a Bluetooth speaker or headset, and the two devices securely pair automatically — you don’t have to type a code or search for a connection.
How NFC pairing works
Peer-to-Peer Mode is used to
establish a two-way communication channel between a pair of NFC- enabled
devices. Each NFC-enabled device serves as an endpoint, meaning the two
systems can initiate a communication as equals, or peers. The two-way nature
of Peer-to-Peer Mode enables more sophisticated interactions between devices,
so you can, for example, pair with Bluetooth or WiFi, or exchange business
cards with a colleague.
Peer-to-Peer Mode can use a passive communication scheme. Only one device needs to be active, drawing power to generate the necessary RF field. The second device can remain passive, acting only as a target and modulating the field. Working in passive mode is a significant benefit, from the standpoint of power consumption.
What to pair and connect with NFC in your living room
If you like what NFC is doing for smartphones, you’ll want to check
out the latest smart TVs and set-top boxes –.
It’s a small, powerful all-in-one premium set-top box, and the first
available on the market to be equipped with NFC. Simply tap your NFC-enabled
phone, tablet or camera to the set-top box to establish a wireless connection
and you will be able to enjoy videos and pictures on a big TV screen.
Add another pair of speakers to the TV — also with a single tap of the speaker to the box — and you will almost have a cinema-like movie experience in your living room. Bringing this experience to the next level, even a multi-speaker audio system can be set up with NFC. If all speakers are equipped with an NFC chip, you simply tap one speaker to another to establish the connection. That’s what we call a true wireless stereo system — and it works with any phone, no matter if it is NFC-enabled.
What’s inside?
NXP’s NFC controller
PN7120
, comes with embedded firmware, which makes it the perfect choice for all
applications running in Android, Windows, Linux or any other OS environment,
as they are often used in devices like set-top boxes. NXP’s
NFC tag portfolio
(NTAG series) is particularly well suited for use with battery-powered
systems, such as speakers and headsets, where it can wake the system and
initiate Bluetooth or WiFi pairing.
What will be the first NFC device in your living room?
Related links
NFC Technology page
PN7120 – Plug’n play full NFC controller
Fabrice is the Head of NFC IoT Security Marketing at NXP Semiconductors. He drives the adoption of NFC, Secure Elements and Authentication tags for securely connecting people and objects and improving everyone’s life. Fabrice has more than 20 years’ experience in B2B Marketing and Business Development of semiconductors solutions in high-tech industries and held several technical and management positions at NXP. He is based in Caen, France.
