We are all living in a dichotomous world. We can't think of a spoon without bringing to mind a fork. Night and day. Left and right. Good and bad. And although not as evident as the examples I indicated, cars go side by side with its teeny-tiny partner. The key.

The car key is seemingly destined to become the most visible object differentiating one car brand from another, thus cementing the bond between carmakers and car owners. At least, that's the expectation of car OEMs, and NXP Semiconductors is banking on it.

The Dutch chip supplier, known for its prominence in the keyless entry and immobilisation IC market, is unveiling a new smart-car access chip integrating passive keyless entry, a RF transmitter for remote control and an immobiliser in one package. The NCF29A1 has been sampled by Tier Ones and car OEMs, said Lars Reger, VP of strategy, new business and R&D for the automotive business unit at NXP. "You'll be able to see cool cars fitted with innovative keys in 2015."

The NCF29A1, which comes with a variety of upgraded features, including an ultra-low-power programmable MCU core, allows car OEMs to make car keys sexier than the remote key fobs that have become ubiquitous and boring. Reger described his potential "cool car."

When a driver with the new improved key in pocket, briefcase, or Maxwell Smart shoe-heel approaches his car, the car picks up the key's unique vibe from a range of 5-10m. The car responds by hitting the welcome lights. (The car shines "orange" lights for its primary driver and "pink" lights for the driver with a second key.)

Once the driver touches the door handle equipped with capacitive touch sensors, the car awakes and unlocks the door. Once inside a car, the driver simply pushes for ignition and liftoff.

By: DocMemory
Copyright © 2023 CST, Inc. All Rights Reserved