Smart lock and energy harvesting secure wireless power
Infineon Technologies has announced that wireless power system company, NuCurrent, is an Infineon Preferred Partner. The partnership launches with a focus on Infineon’s energy harvesting actuator and sensing ICs. With NuCurrent and Infineon technology, devices will implement optimised, contactless access and entry, eliminating or minimising the need for batteries in many applications.
NuCurrent’s design tools enable IP and development services which allow OEMs a faster route-to-market.
Infineon’s NFC tag-side controllers with integrated H-bridge and energy harvesting modules are a single-chip solution for developing cost-effective, miniaturised actuation or sensing applications operating in passive or active mode. The partnership will incorporate NuCurrent’s wireless power systems technology and design capabilities.
“NFC wireless energy harvesting and charging are game-changing technologies from various perspectives: product design, environmental sustainability, and user experience,” said Jacob Babcock, CEO of NuCurrent. As the capabilities of energy harvesting expand NFC is expected to deliver new features to product developers.
“Infineon and NuCurrent are bringing together complementary capabilities that are paving the way for new solutions eliminating batteries in locks, sensors, and other applications via contactless energy transfer,” explained Doris Keitel-Schulz, vice president of Contactless Power and Sensing at Infineon. “We are providing a reliable, low-maintenance, and secure replacement to batteries that significantly reduces e-waste. Our energy harvesting technology via mobile phone NFC field enables the digitalisation of the passive world and connects them into the mobile phone ecosystem,” she said.
Over time, the partnership is expected to produce solutions for varied applications, particularly locks in industrial, office, and hospital settings.
For sensor applications, the partnership enables new categories of applications where sensors do not require batteries and are triggered by NFC energy harvesting. An example of potential applications is a smart lock with energy harvesting features, showcased at CES 2023 in Las Vegas.
NuCurrent supplies wireless power technologies and product integration, spanning span magnetics, software and systems simulation. The company holds over 300 patents and systems integration expertise which supports manufacturers of appliances, smartphones, wearables, hearables, consumer electronics, medical devices, robotics, IoT, sporting equipment and other emerging product categories.
