STMicroelectronics, a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, announced that its market-unique, NFC / RFID-enabled memory device has been integrated in Classe Cube, the latest refrigerator from Dongbu Daewoo Electronics. The recently launched Classe Cube has become a sensation by offering a variety of innovative services to consumers as “Korea’s first NFC fridge.”
Classe Cube enables ‘smart’ use of a refrigerator by providing information on its current state or its users’ habits that is communicated between the fridge and an NFC-enabled smartphone. This communication is made possible by ST’s M24LR dynamic NFC / RFID tag, which stores sensor data from the fridge and provides the information to a smartphone. Users can easily access all the information through the Classe Smart app on their mobile device, enabling more efficient use of the fridge based on the users’ living habits and plans. Classe Cube alerts the user to its door being left open, reports on the temperature in different sections of the fridge, and provides a new level of maintenance service, including the direct submission of after-sales service requests and remote diagnostics.
Making this possible is ST’s M24LR dynamic NFC / RFID tag that provides interactive NFC connectivity in an affordable and easy-to-use device, enabling highly innovative designs. The memory device combines an I2C serial memory, available in several densities, and an NFC / RFID communication interface (ISO 15693) that converts radio waves emitted by RFID reader-writers and NFC-enabled phones or tablets into energy to power its circuits and in some cases even to enable complete battery-free operation. The unique series of devices enable the creation and integration of energy-autonomous data collection, asset tracking diagnostics capabilities, and in-field updates in a wide variety of applications, including phone and tablet accessories, computer peripherals, electronic shelf labels, home appliances, industrial automation, sensing and monitoring systems, and personal healthcare products.
“Integration of NFC technologies increases the intelligence of home appliances that results in higher customer satisfaction. This new connectivity strengthens the link with equipment service centers and helps optimize energy consumption based on the rapid detection of malfunctions,” said YS Jeon, Director of Refrigerator division, Dongbu Daewoo, adding that “we will continue to work hard to launch superior products that satisfy our customers by continuously adopting competitive, state-of-the-art technologies.”
“We are excited to offer products and technologies that increase convenience and advance the adoption of wireless technologies in digital home appliances with the integration of our market-unique NFC / RFID-enabled M24LR memory device in Korea’s first NFC fridge, “said Benoit Rodrigues, Memory Division General Manager at STMicroelectronics. “ST takes pride in helping its customers to develop products that make a real difference to people’s lives.”
