Innovision Research & Technology Announces Topaz NFC Platform For Consumer Electronics And Mobile Applications
Now mandated by NFC Forum for the Global NFC standard
Innovision Research & Technology, a leading developer of NFC (Near Field Communications) and short-range RFID solutions has announced its low-cost NFC platform for consumer electronics and mobile applications. Topaz is designed to make NFC applications such a mobile payments, ticketing transactions and access to digital content using NFC-enabled mobile devices possible.
Topaz was last week mandated as the type 1 tag format of the NFC standard as one of only three proprietary tag formats approved by the NFC Forum, who are supported by all of the leading mobile device manufacturers.
Working to the ISO14443A standard, Topaz is targeted for operation with NFC devices in Reader/Writer mode – which means a ‘request and answer' communication cycle is set up between the NFC device and Topaz. As a low-cost option, Topaz is ideally designed for applications requiring a small amount of memory (1 to 2KB), such as smart poster or one-touch set-up applications, as well as general ISO14443A based RFID applications.
"The NFC revolution is here. By allowing two devices to communicate wirelessly with one another when in close proximity, communication will become as simple and instinctive as through touching," according to Heikki Huomo, CTO at Innovision Research & Technology.
"It's an exciting time for everyone involved, as it will open up a myriad of opportunities for consumer electronics, PC and mobile phone companies, as well as payment providers, chip manufacturers and systems integrators" Huomo continued, "We believe Topaz will play an important part in all of this and being one of only four mandated tag formats, alongside Philips, Sony, and other providers, reinforces our position as a leading player in the NFC market."
What is NFC?
NFC is a standards-based, short-range wireless connectivity technology that enables simple two-way interactions among electronic devices (such as digital cameras, mobile phones, PDAs and computers) allowing consumers to perform contactless transactions, access digital content and connect devices with a single touch. NFC also simplifies setup of longer-range wireless technologies, such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
NFC technology evolved from a combination of contactless identification and interconnection technologies. NFC operates in the 13.56 MHz frequency range, over a typical distance of a few centimetres. The underlying layers of NFC technology are ISO, ECMA, and ETSI standards.
NFC technology is supported by the leading mobile device, infrastructure and technology manufacturers and by all major payment providers, and it is compatible with millions of contactless cards already in use worldwide.
According to ABI Research by 2009, 50 per cent of all mobile handsets will be NFC-enabled – source: ABI Research 2004.
Topaz
Technical features
Topaz is designed for use in emerging low-cost NFC and RFID tagging applications working to the ISO/IEC 18092, ISO/IEC21481 and ISO/IEC14443A standards.
- Topaz IC is suitable for use in NFC Tags/smart poster/one-touch set up applications as well as general ISO/IEC14443A based RFID applications
- Targeted for operation with NFC devices which work to ISO/IEC18092 (NFCIP-1) and/or ISO/IEC21481 (NFCIP-2)
- Designed to be compatible with ISO/IEC14443 part 2 and 3
- UID provision in Topaz IC to enable collision detection by means of the Reader/Writer issuing a RID (Read UID) Command
- Passive RFID tag operating in the unlicensed 13.56MHz band
- Collision detection
- Anti-tear functionality preventing data corruption
- Fast data read/write rates
- High security through unalterable Unique ID numbers
- Designed for ease of manufacture
About Innovision Research & Technology plc
Innovision Research & Technology plc, is a leading NFC/RFID IC Design and solutions provider. At the heart of the emerging Near Field Communication (NFC) market, designing and developing solutions for the mobile handset and consumer device sectors the company also focuses on RFID and ultra low-cost Integrated Circuit (IC) and electronic design.
Innovision R&T develops innovative NFC/RFID IC designs, technologies and technology applications for commercialisation and then licenses the solution on to its customers who incorporate it into their own products. The company offers a complete IC and systems design engineering solution for its customers which includes pre-engineering studies, building of prototype systems and full custom silicon chip design, including complete product development through to volume production.
Innovision R&T products include Topaz, mandated by the NFC Forum as the NFC number one tag format, Jewel for mass transit ticketing applications, and "io", the world's smallest standards compatible near field RFID reader.
Headquartered in the UK, the company was established in 1994 and is listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: INN).
For further information, visit: www.innovision-group.com.