New NXP NFC tags offer security, tamper evidence and condition monitoring

NXP Semiconductors, one of the earliest members of AIPIA, has released a new family of Near Field Communication (NFC) integrated circuits (ICs) featuring tamper-detection and condition-monitoring functionality on a single chip, it says.

The NTAG 22x DNA family of NFC tags is designed for use in consumer brands, as well as with healthcare and smart-home products. It includes cryptographic security, in addition to either conductive or capacitive tamper protection and can be built with capacitive sensing-based moisture, pressure or fill-level detection.

With capacitive tamper detection, the tag’s electronics are connected to a capacitive structure, or to electrodes (metal plates) aligned on top of each other. If a tag has been tampered with, the capacitance has been changed and the opened status is stored in the chip’s memory once the tag is tapped against an NFC phone.