NXP's JN516x-EK004 evaluation kit is designed for use with the NXP JN516x range of ultra-low-power, high-performance wireless microcontrollers, which are suitable for ZigBee and other IEEE802.15.4-based network applications in areas such as smart lighting and home automation. The kit also provides the necessary components to implement contactless NFC commissioning, as well as the monitoring and control of wireless networks from devices on the Internet – the ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT). Using the demonstration applications available for the kit, designers can quickly produce demonstrators or proof-of-concept products. The same software can then be used for end products using JN516x ICs or modules.

This comprehensive kit includes carrier boards with NFC I^²C tags, JN5169 modules, plug-in expansion boards, a PN7120 NFC controller board, USB dongles, and a specially programmed Raspberry Pi board. Together with a JN516x software developer’s kit (SDK), JN516x-EK004 provides everything that is required for wireless network development. The Raspberry Pi board is programmed as an IoT gateway, allowing the development of wireless networks that connect to the Internet and other IP-based networks. The NFC controller board (PN7120) is integrated into the IoT gateway and NFC connected tags (NTAG I^²C) are integrated into the carrier boards. Together, they facilitate the quick and easy commissioning of nodes through simple NFC taps.

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