SE052F - FIPS 140-3 L3 Industrial Secure Element | NXP
MPN: SE052F β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.2 | $3.20 |
| 10 | $2.9 | $29.00 |
| 100 | $2.55 | $255.00 |
| 500 | $2.25 | $1,125.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.98 | $1,980.00 |
SE052F Overview
A secure element is a tamper-resistant hardware module that stores cryptographic keys, executes cryptographic operations, and provides a root of trust for connected devices. Within the power-management hierarchy of an IoT node, it sits alongside the microcontroller and radio as part of the broader class of security ICs and authentication microcontrollers, safeguarding device identity, cloud credentials, and firmware integrity.
Key differentiating features include its FIPS 140-3 Level 3 certification - the first industrial secure element to achieve this - which provides out-of-the-box FIPS compliance without additional customer certification effort. The device ships as a turnkey platform with an updatable applet optimized for IoT security use cases preinstalled, reducing development effort dramatically.
Architecturally, the SE052F runs its cryptographic functionality in a certified environment and is supported by NXP's Plug & Trust middleware, enabling easy design-in for host applications. A comprehensive product support package, including a development kit and evaluation documentation, accelerates time to market.
Typical applications include Industrial IoT device identity and cloud onboarding, secure firmware over-the-air updates, and key storage for industrial gateways and sensors. Designers should note the package difference versus the SE050 family: the SE052F uses HVQFN20 (SOT917-6, 4x4 mm) while SE050 uses HX2QFN20 (SOT1969-1, 3x3 mm), so footprints are not interchangeable.
This page synthesizes verified distributor data, application-note migration guidance (AN14028), and pricing context not found in the manufacturer datasheet, providing drop-in alternative analysis and design notes for engineering teams.
Drop-in alternatives for SE052F β same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
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Request AlternativesSE052F Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Family | NXP EdgeLock SE052F |
| Device Type | Industrial hardware secure element (security / authentication IC) |
| Security Certification | FIPS 140-3 Level 3 (first industrial hardware secure element so certified) |
| Flash Memory | 100 kB |
| Host Interface | I2C, T=1 over I2C (T1oI2C) protocol |
| Package | HVQFN-20, SOT917-6, 4 mm x 4 mm, 0.85 mm thick |
| Pin Count | 20 |
| Preloaded Applet | Updatable IoT security applet preinstalled (turnkey) |
| Middleware Support | NXP Plug & Trust middleware |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Development Kit | Available (NXP evaluation/development kit for EdgeLock SE05x) |
SE052F hvqfn-20, sot917-6, 4 mm x 4 mm, 0.85 mm thick Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for SE052F (hvqfn-20, sot917-6, 4 mm x 4 mm, 0.85 mm thick package). This digital IC includes GPIO, communication interfaces (UART, SPI, I2C), and power pins. Refer to the manufacturer datasheet for alternate pin functions and configuration options. Essential for embedded system design and PCB layout.
No detailed pinout data available for SE052F.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
SE052F is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial IoT Device Identity and Cloud Onboarding, Secure Firmware Over-The-Air (OTA) Updates, Industrial Gateways and Edge Controllers, Smart Metering and Utility Infrastructure, Building Automation and Access Control, Medical and Laboratory IoT Devices.
Industrial IoT Device Identity and Cloud Onboarding
The SE052F fits Industrial IoT device identity use cases because it is the first industrial secure element certified to FIPS 140-3 Level 3, providing out-of-the-box compliance that regulators and cloud platforms increasingly demand. Its 100kB Flash holds device certificates, private keys, and provisioning data, while the preinstalled updatable applet automates secure cloud onboarding without custom applet development. Host MCUs connect over I2C with T=1 over I2C framing implemented by NXP's Plug & Trust middleware, so integration effort is minimal. Deployed in industrial sensors, gateways, and controllers, the SE052F establishes a hardware root of trust that ties each device to a unique, tamper-resistant identity - a quantified benefit being the elimination of a separate customer FIPS certification cycle, which typically saves months of compliance work.
Recommended
Secure Firmware Over-The-Air (OTA) Updates
The SE052F is well suited to securing firmware OTA pipelines because its FIPS 140-3 Level 3 certified crypto module performs signature verification and key operations inside a tamper-resistant boundary. The boot ROM or host MCU can delegate image verification to the SE052F over I2C using T=1 over I2C, ensuring update manifests and firmware signatures are validated with keys that never leave the secure element. The updatable applet architecture allows NXP-delivered security enhancements to be deployed in the field, extending product lifetime - a concrete advantage for industrial equipment with 10+ year service expectations. Designers pair the SE052F with the host processor's flash controller so that only images verified by the secure element are committed, closing the classic OTA attack vector of malicious or unsigned firmware injection.
Recommended
Industrial Gateways and Edge Controllers
Industrial gateways benefit from the SE052F because it provides hardware-isolated key storage separate from the Linux OS stack, complementing TPM-based platform security. Per Gateworks embedded design guidance, many high-end designs deploy both: a TPM secures the operating system while the EdgeLock secure element handles the application's connection to the outside world, including cloud credentials and MQTT/TLS client keys. The SE052F's 4x4 mm HVQFN20 package fits space-constrained gateway boards, and its I2C interface avoids consuming scarce SPI or high-speed peripheral resources. Its FIPS 140-3 Level 3 certification simplifies compliance audits for gateways sold into regulated industrial verticals such as energy and water infrastructure, where documented cryptographic module validation is frequently a procurement requirement.
Recommended
Smart Metering and Utility Infrastructure
Smart meters demand long-life, tamper-resistant key storage and auditable cryptographic compliance, both delivered by the SE052F. Its FIPS 140-3 Level 3 certification provides the validated crypto module documentation utilities require for regulatory filings, while the 100kB Flash accommodates billing keys, meter identity certificates, and symmetric keys for DLMS/COSEM-style communications. The turnkey updatable applet means meter manufacturers can re-provision or update security policies in the field over the utility's existing network, extending deployed-life security without physical recalls. Integration is straightforward: the metering MCU drives the SE052F over I2C with Plug & Trust middleware handling T=1 over I2C transport, and the 0.85 mm thick HVQFN20 package suits the low-profile layouts typical of meter PCB assemblies.
Recommended
Building Automation and Access Control
Access control readers and building automation controllers use the SE052F to protect credential databases, network keys, and tenant provisioning data inside certified hardware. The FIPS 140-3 Level 3 rating gives facility integrators a defensible compliance story for commercial building cybersecurity standards, and the preinstalled applet accelerates reader provisioning workflows. Over I2C, the panel controller offloads key agreement and signature operations to the SE052F, keeping master keys out of the main application processor's memory where software attacks are easier. The 4x4 mm HVQFN20 footprint reflows on standard SMT lines with no special handling, and the updatable applet lets property-technology vendors roll out new credential schemes (for example mobile-key algorithms) across an installed base without redesigning the reader hardware.
Recommended
Medical and Laboratory IoT Devices
Connected medical and laboratory instruments increasingly require validated cryptographic modules for data integrity and HIPAA-aligned security programs, making the SE052F's FIPS 140-3 Level 3 certification a decisive selection criterion. The secure element stores patient-data encryption keys and device authentication certificates in tamper-resistant hardware, while the host processor - often running a real-time OS - stays free of long-term secrets. Its T=1 over I2C interface integrates cleanly with instrument main boards, and NXP's Plug & Trust middleware with the Raspberry Pi-tested mini package speeds prototyping of cloud-connected lab data loggers, such as multi-channel thermocouple recorders. The turnkey applet reduces validation burden for quality/regulatory teams because the crypto module ships with third-party certification documentation already in hand.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for SE052F β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | SE050F2HQ1/Z01SDZ |
|---|---|---|
| Package | HVQFN-20 (SOT917-6), 4x4 mm, 0.85 mm | HX2QFN-20 (SOT1969-1), 3x3 mm - different footprint |
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors |
| Security Certification | FIPS 140-3 Level 3 | Common Criteria EAL6+ (no FIPS 140-3 L3) |
| Host Interface | I2C, T=1 over I2C | I2C, T=1 over I2C / SPI (family dependent) |
| Preloaded Applet | Updatable IoT security applet preinstalled | EdgeLock applet family |
| Middleware | NXP Plug & Trust | NXP Plug & Trust |
| Target Market | Industrial IoT (turnkey FIPS compliance) | General IoT device identity |
Key Differentiators
- First industrial secure element with FIPS 140-3 Level 3 certification (vs SE050F2HQ1/Z01SDZ)
- Turnkey preloaded updatable applet (vs SE050F2HQ1/Z01SDZ)
- Larger 4x4 mm HVQFN20 package with standard 0.85 mm profile (vs SE050F2HQ1/Z01SDZ)
Design Notes
Package selection is the single biggest migration pitfall in this family. Per NXP application note AN14028, the SE052F uses HVQFN20 (SOT917-6), 4 mm x 4 mm with 0.85 mm thickness, whereas the SE050 family uses HX2QFN20 (SOT1969-1), 3 mm x 3 mm. The land patterns are NOT interchangeable, so do not lay out a SE050 footprint expecting to drop a SE052F on it later. Follow the SOT917-6 footprint in the SE052 datasheet and verify solder-mask openings against the NXP PCB layout recommendation.
The host interface is I2C running T=1 over I2C (T1oI2C). Keep the bus short (typically under 30 cm at standard 100/400 kHz operation), fit pull-up resistors sized for bus capacitance, and avoid routing the I2C pair adjacent to switching-regulator nodes. For firmware, use NXP's Plug & Trust middleware (open source on GitHub, NXP/plug-and-trust); the mini package implements the T=1 over I2C transport and has been tested on Raspberry Pi, which makes host-side bring-up fast on embedded Linux or MCU platforms.
Do not assume compliance portability within the family: only the SE052F carries the FIPS 140-3 Level 3 certification. If your product's security claim depends on that certification (common in industrial and medical tenders), substituting an SE050 variant - even functionally similar - invalidates the claim. Also plan for applet updates: the SE052F ships with an updatable applet, so reserve a field-update path in your host firmware architecture rather than treating the applet as immutable factory content.
Compliance Information
FIPS 140-3 Level 3 cryptographic module certification confirmed from NXP product page and factsheet. RoHS/REACH/lead-free status not stated in provided data - consult NXP product pages for current environmental compliance declarations.
