OREANDA-NEWS. Toshiba Corporation announced the launch of "TC35670FTG", a low power consumption dual function IC that supports both Bluetooth(r) Low Energy (LE) communications and NFC Type 3 Tag. Sample shipments start today.

Recently, more and more Bluetooth(r) Smart devices offer Bluetooth(r) LE compatibility. The new IC joins Toshiba's line-up of Bluetooth(r) LE ICs, and offer two key features: easy operation of Bluetooth(r) pairing with NFC Tag function; long-time stand-by status for devices powered by small coin-cell batteries. The IC will facilitate adoption of Bluetooth(r) LE communications in small devices, such as wearable healthcare devices, sensors, toys and, most notably, future touch and start smartphone accessories.

Previously, set makers had to integrate ICs for both Bluetooth(r) and NFC Tag when designing a system supporting both communication functions. Toshiba's new approach offers a design that will help to minimize the part counts, reduce the assembly area by about 30% and shorten system development.

The NFC Tag component has a 1.5 Kbyte E2PROM for storing data that set makers can access using both the Bluetooth(r) LE and NFC Tag to connect each I2C interfaces, allowing data to be easily handled in each system.