Infineon to launch smart lock solution using mobile phone for wireless charging

This solution will pave the way for smart locks to replace keys and enter thousands of households

[July 22, 2022, Munich, Germany] In the future, keys will become history in many areas of people's daily lives. Infineon Technologies AG will launch a smart lock solution that can be opened and closed by mobile phone. This smart lock does not require batteries and can be wirelessly charged by mobile phone, which is the so-called "energy harvesting" technology.

Infineon Technologies - Battery-free smart lock solution

Adam White, President of the Power & Sensing Systems Division at Infineon Technologies, said: “With our new solution, Infineon is paving the way for smart locks to replace keys in every household. Our smart lock solution does not require battery replacement and is the first to provide a reliable, maintenance-free and secure way to open and close a smart lock.”

Infineon Technologies pointed out that the company will also apply wireless power transmission solutions to other fields. "Because it is free from the constraints of batteries, our wireless power transmission solution helps save resources. In addition, it will enable new applications and scenarios, which used to be complicated or costly because of the need to use batteries," Adam White added. For example, a passive bicycle tire pressure sensor based on NFC communication can measure parameters that were previously difficult to obtain.

To activate the smart lock, you place your phone directly on it, using near-field communication (NFC) to verify that the device is authorized to open the smart lock. This is where encryption technology comes in. At the same time, power is wirelessly transferred to a capacitor to open or close the smart lock.

The core device of this solution is a 32-bit programmable microcontroller based on the ARM®Cortex®-M0 core, which has a built-in NFC wireless communication module. NAC1080 integrates a power generation device and a half-bridge driver IC, allowing customers to design and market small smart locks with very few components. NAC1080 also integrates an AES128 accelerator and a true random number generator, which can encrypt and decrypt data while achieving ultra-low power consumption.

NAC1080

This technology from Infineon is particularly suitable for applications that require miniature or small mechanical locks, such as office appliances, hospitals and gyms. Other potential applications include bicycle locks, post boxes and parcel lockers. Therefore, this solution not only brings greater convenience and flexibility, but also reduces key management costs for private and commercial properties.

Infineon’s new solution can also be used for complex door lock systems. It can be used as an emergency solution when the battery of a smart door lock is dead or the key is lost. Although the response time of this solution is longer for more complex door lock systems, it does free users from the shackles of expensive door opening services.

The smart lock market is booming. In 2020, the market size of smart locks was $1.4 billion, and it is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 18.2% from 2021 to 2028, increasing to $5.3 billion by 2028. This growth momentum will be even stronger as more battery-free devices come into use.

“British” Leads IoT

Microelectronics are at the heart of all IoT solutions. Infineon’s sensors, power actuators, MCUs, communication modules and security components support all devices. Infineon is a one-stop technology partner for smart, energy-efficient and secure IoT applications, and provides manufacturers with development boards, evaluation kits and design tools.