The fridge comes with sensors and a processor that track the conditions within, wired to an STMicroelectronics (SMT) M24LR NFCRFID tag that transmits that data when interrogated by an NFCreader. The system, known as Klasse Smart, is just the beginning for the incorporation of NFC technology into home appliances, predicts Sylvain Fidelis, STMicroelectronics' marketing manager.
With the continued proliferation of NFC technology, Fidelis says, the appliance manufacturer determined that the market was ready for a smarter refrigerator that could "talk" to consumers about their appliance's condition, as well as link them to necessary service representatives. The refrigerator comes with sensors to detect whether any of its three compartments are open, and to measure the temperature within each compartment. It also includes a processor that tracks the appliance's energy consumption. All of that data is then stored on an STMicroelectronics M24LR NFCtag containing 8 kilobytes of memory. The tag stores the information until queried by a user equipped with an NFC phone, at which time it transmits that data, and the user's app then displays any relevant information.
