The security of NFC transactions in the new ARM mbed wearable reference design

     Ams AG, a global leader in high-performance sensor and analog IC solutions, and STMicroelectronics, a global leader in semiconductors across multiple electronics applications, announced ARM's new wearable reference design selection of NFC solutions from both companies to deliver secure, high-performance NFC and microcontroller capabilities.

     Jointly developed by ST and AMS, the NFC solution includes ST's ST54E in a system-level package with an NFC controller (NFCC) and a GlobalPlatform v2.2 compliant security element; Also included is AMS 'AS39230 NFC analog front end with enhanced NFC technology. The NFC solution is particularly suitable for particularly small, battery-powered products such as wearables and smartphones.

     Ams' enhanced NFC technology overcomes the operational challenges faced by traditional NFC devices trying to pass a tiny antenna in a hostile RF transmission environment. Even with small antennas smaller than 100mm2, the integrated solutions from AMS and ST meet the EMVCo requirements for RF performance in contactless payments.

     ST's SiP provides full support for all major NFC global security standards, ensuring that the ARM mbed wearable reference design can support secure payment methods required for Internet of Things (loT) applications, including contactless payments, automated ticking and access control.

     The integrated solutions from AMS and ST achieve very low average power consumption, helping to extend battery operation time after charging. These are thanks to the enhanced NFC front end and the NFCC's fully configurable power cycle.

     The mbed Wearable Reference Design provides a model that wearable device original manufacturers can quickly replicate for high-performance NFC card simulation. Because the integrated solution provides a complete NFC software stack developed by ST, it is particularly easy for system designers to operate. The software stack is compatible with the ARM mbed iot device platform.

     In addition, the integrated solution's high RF performance ensures that NFC can perform in even the most demanding operating environments. The NFC system utilizes the unique capabilities of AMS AS39230 to achieve active load modulation. This enhances the signal transmission of the NFC front end to a "workplace" - a space in which the wearable device can be coupled to an NFC card reader, comparable to or more than a contactless card, which typically has an antenna 40 times larger. The integrated solution provided by AMS and ST is also optimized for the antenna of the mbed wearable reference design, making it immune to Bluetooth and GPS radio interference in the wearable reference design.

     The close compatibility between the separate ST and AMS components provides fine power-saving capabilities: the ST54E can enter deep sleep mode when the NFC RF field is not present. At the same time, the AS39230 rapidly cycles through its low-power active power mode, using an average current of only 18 µA. The integrated solution's software is optimized for low-power microcontrollers based on ARM technology. Its modular design means that users can choose to select only those modules supported by their device, helping to reduce the system's memory requirements and optimize resource usage. The software stack can also optionally support point-to-point and read/write capabilities, and can be updated wirelessly while the device is in the RF field.

     The ST54E is recognized and available to developers as a fully NFC Forum compliant card emulation, peer-to-peer, and card reader mode. It is also suitable for applications that require global authentication, including Universal Standards, EMVCo, GlobalPlatform, Visa, mastercard, American Express, Discover, and the People's Bank of China (PBoC). In addition, the security of mbed's wearable reference design is enhanced by a standalone fingerprint reader, which uses ST's STM32F411 dynamic and efficient microcontroller based on the ARM Cortex-M4 kernel for fingerprint image processing and matching.

     Mark Dickson, Director of Wireless Business at AMS, said: "Our integrated NFC reference design with ST provides the best RF performance, interoperability and low-power operation in the market today and has been recognized by the industry. Thanks to minimum system requirements in terms of board space footprint and processing power, this integrated solution is ideal for space-constrained designs such as the ARM mbed Wearable reference Design."

     Laurent Degauque, Marketing Director of ST's Security Microcontrollers division, said: "AMS and ST's NFC solutions offer a shortcut to developing secure and energy efficient wearable/iot applications such as contactless payments, ticketing and access control. Compatibility with the mbed iot device platform allows Oems to quickly move from prototype to product and focus on more value-added features."

     Zach Shelby, vice president of Marketing at ARM's iot Business, said: "The ARM mbed Wearable Reference Design provides a proven design foundation for many companies to quickly build low-power iot devices and focus on adding value through their own innovations. "Ams and ST's NFC solutions demonstrate the high energy efficiency achieved by leveraging ARM Cortex®-M processors and the mbed OS development platform for small-size devices and applications."