WPG World Peace Group Launches Low-Cost Passive Entry and Start (PEPS) Solution Based on NXP Products

On July 20, 2022, WPG Holdings, a leading semiconductor component distributor dedicated to the Asia-Pacific market, announced that its subsidiary WPI has launched a low-cost keyless entry and start (PEPS) solution based on NXP PCF7991, S32K144, NCK2910 and NCF29A1 chips.

Figure 1- A display board of WPG’s low-cost PEPS solution based on NXP products

The intelligent development of automobiles is prompting changes in many functional components related to automotive electronics. Among them, the keyless entry and start system (PEPS), as an innovative technology under the intelligent transformation of automobiles, is becoming the focus of major automakers. Using the PEPS system means that users can enter the car without a key and can realize functions such as one-button engine start, which not only improves access control management and anti-theft performance, but also brings a more convenient experience to users. At present, as the technology and solutions gradually mature, the PEPS system is entering the mid-range car market from the high-end car market. In line with this trend, WPG World Peace has launched a low-cost keyless entry and start (PEPS) solution based on NXP products.

Figure 2-Application scenario of WPG World Peace's low-cost PEPS solution based on NXP products

This solution consists of the main control S32K144, low-frequency antenna driver chip PCF7991, UHF receiver chip NCK2910 and key module NCF29A1. Among them, S32K144 is a 32-bit ARM®Cortex®-M0+/M4F MCU that meets the AEC-Q100 specification. The chip integrates a digital signal processor (DSP), a configurable nested interrupt vector controller (NVIC) and a single-precision floating-point unit (FPU), which can provide excellent performance for the system.

PCF7991 is a fully integrated advanced base station integrated circuit, designed for easy integration into engine anti-theft read-write or read-only systems, with a small number of external components and extremely high integration. PCF7991 has a stable frequency. Using this chip as an RFID front-end circuit can successfully apply RFID electronic tag technology to automotive electronic locks, and can achieve electronic identity recognition through wireless communication.

In addition, this solution uses the NCK2910 UHF receiver chip at the receiving end, which integrates a multi-channel UHF transmitter and has extremely low power consumption. At the key end, this solution uses the NCF29A1 tag chip, which has excellent LF (low frequency) sensitivity and low power consumption, which can achieve a long battery life.

Figure 3 - Block diagram of WPG's low-cost PEPS solution based on NXP products

Through the use of these devices, this solution can realize the car key ID storage function, remote control (RKE) function, keyless entry (PKE) function and passive communication vehicle anti-theft (IMMO) function, which can be applied to vehicle keyless entry and start or electric motorcycle proximity detection systems.

Core technology advantages:

• PEPS has more powerful system functions: automatic door unlocking when approaching (PKE), the owner only needs to carry the key within the sensing range and press the start button to start the engine (PKG). There is still a way to start the engine when the key is out of power (IMMO), just touch the key to the door handle sensing area to unlock.

• The key-side NCF29A1 has excellent LF (low frequency) sensitivity and low power consumption for long battery life.

• The receiving end NCK2910 has excellent RF performance.

Program Specifications:

 PEPS LF Board:

 PCF7991 realizes short-range IMMO passive communication of driving antenna;

In idle state, the average current of PCF7991 power consumption can reach 4~10mA;

 When LF impedance matching is good, the PCF7991 PKE command sending distance can reach 2.5~3.0m.

 PEPS UHF Board:

 NCK2910 has a whitelist function, which can filter UHF data that is not in the list;

 NCK2910 Auto-Flush mode and 6-wire SPI interface can reduce the master control resource consumption;

In Polling mode, the average current of NCK2910 power consumption can reach 1.4~1.7mA;

 When RF impedance matching is good, the NCK2910 RKE data receiving distance can reach 25~30m.

 PEPS KEY Board：

Ultra -high integration single-chip solution;

Support encryption algorithms: HITAG2, HITAG3 and AES algorithms, etc.;

Low power consumption: 12.5mA@10dBm (434MHz).