Renesas Electronics is acquiring Panthronics, a fabless semiconductor company specializing in wireless products. The acquisition will expand Renesas’ portfolio of connectivity technology, extending its reach into near-field communications (NFC) for the Internet of Things (IoT), asset tracking, wireless charging and automotive applications.
NFC is a form of contactless communication based on radio-frequency-identification (RFID) technology. Headquartered in Graz, Austria, Panthronics designs but contracts production of NFC chipsets and software. Renesas and Panthronics have been partners since 2018, but acquiring Panthronics’ NFC technology will provide Renesas with in-house capabilities.
Renesas will combine its security functions in microcontrollers (MCUs) and microprocessors (MPUs) with Renesas’ technology. Renesas and Panthronics have launched four joint designs of NFC products, including wireless charging and wall-box smart-metering platforms. The companies have also developed an NFC connectivity board that is integrated into the Renesas Quick-Connect Studio ecosystem, which allows customers to add features to MCU development boards, enabling a plug-and-play addition of NFC connectivity.
“Connectivity has been a priority area of ours, expanding and differentiating the realm of solutions we offer,” said Hidetoshi Shibata, president and CEO of Renesas. “We see tremendous opportunities for Panthronics’ NFC connectivity technology.”
The acquisition is expected to close by the end of the calendar year.
