Infineon acquires NFC patent portfolio

Infineon has completed the acquisition of the NFC patent portfolios of France Brevets and Verimatrix. The NFC patent portfolio includes nearly 300 patents issued in multiple countries, all related to NFC technology, including technologies such as Active Load Modulation (ALM) embedded in integrated circuits (ICs), as well as easy-to-use NFC-enhancing technologies. usability to bring convenience to users. Infineon is currently the sole owner of this patent portfolio. The NFC patent portfolio, previously held by France Brevets, is now fully covered by Infineon’s patent management.

The recently acquired NFC patent portfolio will enable Infineon to quickly and easily complete development work in some of the most challenging environments, enabling innovative solutions for customers. Potential application scenarios include the Internet of Things, as well as secure identity authentication for wearable devices such as wristbands, rings, watches, and glasses, and financial transactions through these devices. These patents will be applied to a booming market – ABI Research expects shipments of NFC-based devices, components/products to exceed 15 billion units during 2022-2026.

NFC device manufacturers often need to design the device into a specific geometry with specific materials. Also, physical size and safety constraints are lengthening the design cycle. For example, to integrate NFC functions in wearable devices, small loop antennas and specific structures are usually required, but the size of the antenna is inconsistent with that of traditional passive load modulation devices. In this regard, Active Load Modulation (ALM), a technology covered by the NFC patent portfolio, helps overcome this limitation.