Austrian lock maker Nuki and Silicon Valley-based U-Tec are using Silicon Labs technology to create native Matter-over-Thread smart locks.

Texas-based Silicon Labs provides secure, intelligent wireless technology. As more Matter-ready devices are deployed to streamline the connected home experience, companies require reliable and secure ways to accelerate the time to market of their Matter-compatible products.

The fourth-generation Nuki Smart Lock (nuki.io/en/smart-lock) uses native Matter-over-Thread to add smart capabilities to European-style door knobs. Silicon Valley-based smart lock manufacturer U-Tec uses Silicon Labs in its Ultraloq Bolt Fingerprint Matter, said to be the first biometric smart deadbolt lock with Matter-over-Thread.

“The companies leading IoT industry trends and setting the curve with Matter capabilities are coming to Silicon Labs for our Matter expertise,” said Jacob Alamat, senior vice president at Silicon Labs. “As the largest code contributor to Matter of any semiconductor company, Silicon Labs has extensive expertise in the field, enabling our array of industry-leading Matter SoCs and modules and empowering strong, cutting-edge partnerships.”

Nuki’s fourth-generation smart lock is a retrofit smart lock for European-style doors. It is the first with native Matter support, meaning users do not need a separate bridge or module to run their smart lock in multiple ecosystems. The lock is supported by numerous Silicon Labs products, selected for their energy efficiency, security and reliability in developing with Matter-over-Thread.

“As pioneers in the smart home sector, it was not only important for Nuki to be part of the Matter movement from the very beginning, but also it would have been unthinkable not to be,” said Martin Pansy, CEO of Nuki. “It is all the more rewarding that we could live up to this role with the launch of our fourth-generation smart locks. But this would not have been possible without a strong partner. In over a year of intensive work on this project, Silicon Labs has constantly proven its expertise.”

The Silicon Labs Matter-certified MG24 SoC and EFP01 power management IC (www.silabs.com/power/efp01-power-management-ic) provide Nuki with the combination for energy-efficient mesh IoT wireless connectivity using Matter, OpenThread and Zigbee protocols.

Nuki (nuki.io) is also using Silicon Labs’ BG22 Bluetooth SoC to meet the requirements of high-volume, battery-powered Bluetooth products and the Silicon Labs WF200 wifi transceiver, which is for secure, low-power IoT wifi applications and optimised for low-power and optimal RF performance in crowded RF environments.

Later this year, the Austrian company plans to bring its retrofit locks to the USA.

U-Tec’s mission revolves around empowering homeowners with innovative, user-friendly smart home products that enhance security, simplify daily life and offer peace of mind through accessible, reliable technology. The reliability and security provided by Silicon Labs help form the backbone of this in its latest smart lock.

U-Tec’s Ultraloq Bolt Fingerprint smart lock provides a six-in-one unlocking experience and multi-layered security. Empowered by the integration with Silicon Labs MG24 SoC, Ultraloq Bolt Fingerprint Matter will be the first smart lock with biometric recognition technology to support Matter-over-Thread.

“More than one million North American U-Tec customers choose us because they seek a way to seamlessly and securely integrate connected devices into their homes,” said David Huang, strategic partner director at U-Tec (u-tec.com). “Silicon Labs has built a reputation as a leader in Matter and is a natural fit for our first Matter smart lock.”

With features such as 2.4GHz RF, low current consumption, an AI and ML hardware accelerator and Secure Vault (www.silabs.com/security/secure-vault), the MG24 SoC (www.silabs.com/wireless/zigbee/efr32mg24-series-2-socs) helps U-Tec create intelligent, robust and energy-efficient smart locks that are secure from remote and local cyber attacks.

Silicon Labs (SiLabs.com) is all-in on Matter, with a portfolio of hardware and software focused on Matter and expert support. This includes the opportunity to work directly with Silicon Labs engineers and experts in the recently opened Silicon Labs Interoperability Lab in Boston, Massachusetts. There, engineers can evaluate products to see how they would work in a simulated home environment as they prepare for Matter certification.