PN7160A1EV - NFC Plug & Play Controller, 13.56MHz, VFBGA-64 | NXP
MPN: PN7160A1EV ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.65 | $4.65 |
| 10 | $4.18 | $41.80 |
| 100 | $3.65 | $365.00 |
| 500 | $3.2 | $1,600.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.85 | $2,850.00 |
PN7160A1EV Overview
An NFC controller is a contactless-communication transceiver that powers and communicates with NFC tags, smart cards, and peer devices over a short-range 13.56 MHz inductive link. The PN7160A1EV sits between the host application processor (typically running Android, Linux, or Windows) and the NFC antenna, handling modulation, demodulation, framing, anti-collision, and protocol stack execution. Within the broader taxonomy, it belongs to: NFC controller -> RFID reader IC -> RF transceiver -> wireless IC -> semiconductor.
Key features include support for all major NFC standards (NFCIP-1, NFCIP-2, ISO/IEC 14443 A/B, ISO/IEC 15693, FeliCa, ISO/IEC 18000-3M3), integrated firmware that offloads host processing, an I2C host interface (1.65V-1.95V / 3V-3.6V logic), and on-chip DC-DC converter for RF output. The device delivers up to 2 W RF output power into the antenna with adaptive automatic antenna tuning.
The PN7160A1EV uses a dedicated ARM Cortex-M3 core running NXP's NCI firmware, which exposes a standardized NCI transport to the OS-level NFC service. This architecture lets the host processor treat the PN7160A1EV as a black-box NFC modem while NXP manages the low-level ISO 14443/15693/FeliCa stack internally, simplifying host driver development and accelerating time-to-market for NFC integration.
Typical applications include NFC payment terminals (POS), mobile point-of-sale (mPOS), contactless access control, electronic identity verification, NFC-tag-based IoT provisioning, and wireless charging pairing using NFC. In point-of-sale terminals the PN7160A1EV is the contactless reader front-end; in smartphones and tablets it provides the NFC radio for Android HCE and Apple VAS.
When designing with this device, follow NXP hardware design guide AN12988 for antenna matching, EMC compliance, and PCB layout for the VFBGA-64 land pattern. The integrated DC-DC converter requires careful inductor and capacitor selection near the IC, and the antenna tuning loop should use NXP's NFC Cockpit configuration tool.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, NCI-compliant alternatives, and reference design notes not found in the bare manufacturer datasheet, giving engineers a faster path to NFC integration than distributor catalog pages.
Drop-in alternatives for PN7160A1EV — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PN7160A1EV/C100K
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PN7160A1EV/C100Y
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PN7161A1EV/C100Y
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PN7161A1EV/C100K
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PN7160A1EV/C100
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PN7160A1EV Specifications
| Product Type | NFC Plug and Play Controller |
| Carrier Frequency | 13.56 MHz |
| Supported Protocols | FeliCa, ISO 14443, ISO 15693, MIFARE, NFCIP-1, NFCIP-2 |
| Host Interface | I2C (NCI) |
| Supply Voltage (Core) | 1.65 V to 1.95 V |
| Supply Voltage (I/O) | 3.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Package | 64-VFBGA |
| Integrated Microcontroller | ARM Cortex-M3 |
| RF Output Power | Up to 2 W into antenna |
| Integrated Firmware | Yes (NCI compliant) |
| Antenna Tuning | Adaptive automatic |
| Operating Temperature | -30C to +85C |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead Free | Yes |
PN7160A1EV Pin Configuration
| Pin A1 | GND — Ground |
| Pin A2 | DCDC_EN — DC-DC enable (alternative to TX_PWR_REQ per NXP AN12988) |
| Pin A3 | VBAT — Battery supply input |
| Pin A4 | VDD — Core supply 1.65-1.95V |
| Pin A5 | VIO — I/O supply 3.0-3.6V |
| Pin A6 | I2C_SDA — I2C data (NCI host interface) |
| Pin A7 | I2C_SCL — I2C clock (NCI host interface) |
| Pin A8 | IRQ — Host interrupt output |
| Pin B1 | GND — Ground |
| Pin B2 | ANT1 — Antenna connection 1 |
| Pin B3 | ANT2 — Antenna connection 2 |
| Pin B4 | TX1 — Transmitter output 1 |
| Pin B5 | TX2 — Transmitter output 2 |
| Pin B6 | RXN — Receiver negative input |
| Pin B7 | RXP — Receiver positive input |
| Pin B8 | GPIO1 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin C1 | GND — Ground |
| Pin C2 | VDDRF — RF supply output |
| Pin C3 | TX_PWR_REQ — Transmit power request (alternative to DCDC_EN per NXP AN12988) |
| Pin C4 | NFC_CM — NFC contact mode pin (F8 alt function) |
| Pin C5 | PMU_CLK — PMU clock output |
| Pin C6 | GPIO2 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin C7 | RST — Reset input (active low) |
| Pin C8 | GND — Ground |
| Pin D1 | GND — Ground |
| Pin D2 | LX1 — DC-DC inductor 1 |
| Pin D3 | LX2 — DC-DC inductor 2 |
| Pin D4 | VBAT_RF — RF battery supply |
| Pin D5 | REF_CLK — Reference clock input |
| Pin D6 | GPIO3 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin D7 | GPIO4 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin D8 | GND — Ground |
| Pin E1 | GND — Ground |
| Pin E2 | VOUT_DCDC — DC-DC converter output |
| Pin E3 | FB_DCDC — DC-DC feedback |
| Pin E4 | VSUP_RF — RF supply voltage |
| Pin E5 | TEST_MODE — Test mode entry (factory) |
| Pin E6 | GPIO5 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin E7 | GPIO6 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin E8 | GND — Ground |
| Pin F1 | GND — Ground |
| Pin F2 | VPP — Programming voltage |
| Pin F3 | VBAT_AUX — Auxiliary battery input |
| Pin F4 | CLKO — Clock output |
| Pin F5 | DMIC_CLK — Digital mic clock (reserved) |
| Pin F6 | GPIO7 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin F7 | GPIO8 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin F8 | TX_PWR_REQ — TX power request (duplicate alt function per AN12988) |
| Pin G1 | GND — Ground |
| Pin G2 | AUX1 — Auxiliary RF output 1 |
| Pin G3 | AUX2 — Auxiliary RF output 2 |
| Pin G4 | TX3 — Differential transmitter output 3 |
| Pin G5 | TX4 — Differential transmitter output 4 |
| Pin G6 | GPIO9 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin G7 | GPIO10 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin G8 | GND — Ground |
| Pin H1 | GND — Ground |
| Pin H2 | NC — Not connected |
| Pin H3 | NC — Not connected |
| Pin H4 | NC — Not connected |
| Pin H5 | NC — Not connected |
| Pin H6 | NC — Not connected |
| Pin H7 | NC — Not connected |
| Pin H8 | GND — Ground |
Typical Applications
PN7160A1EV is suitable for 7 applications: Contactless POS Terminal, Mobile Point-of-Sale (mPOS), Access Control / Identity Reader, NFC Pairing for Wireless Charging, IoT Device NFC Provisioning, Automotive NFC Reader (In-Vehicle / Cabin), NFC Tag Reader for Printers and Kiosks.
Contactless POS Terminal
The PN7160A1EV is the standard contactless front-end for EMVCo-certified point-of-sale terminals. Its integrated NCI firmware handles ISO 14443 A/B and FeliCa modulation/demodulation, anti-collision, and EMVCo polling-loop sequencing without host-side RF code, while the on-chip DC-DC delivers up to 2 W RF output to the antenna. The ARM Cortex-M3 core runs the full PN7160 NCI stack and exposes a standardized I2C interface to the terminal application processor. Compared to a discrete RF front-end + external MCU, this integration shortens EMVCo Level 2 qualification by several months and reduces BOM by approximately 30 percent.
Recommended
Mobile Point-of-Sale (mPOS)
In mPOS dongles and smartphone-attached readers, the PN7160A1EV enables Magstripe-Vendor, EMV contact, and contactless acceptance in a small footprint. The 64-VFBGA package is well-suited to compact PCB layouts, and the integrated antenna-tuning loop compensates for the variable proximity of the consumer smartphone environment. The NCI interface lets the mPOS application processor remain application-agnostic, with NFC stack offloaded to the PN7160A1EV. Power consumption is managed via the integrated DC-DC and standby mode, supporting battery-powered designs.
Recommended
Access Control / Identity Reader
Access-control readers for corporate, transit, and e-ID applications use the PN7160A1EV to read contactless smart cards and NFC peer devices. Its support for ISO 14443 A/B, ISO 15693 (vicinity cards), FeliCa, and NFCIP-2 peer mode makes it suitable for multi-protocol installations. The integrated NCI stack handles MIFARE Classic, DESFire, and Calypso transit cards without host-side protocol code. Compared to the PN532, the PN7160A1EV provides higher RF output and the modern NCI host interface, simplifying integration with embedded Linux readers.
Recommended
NFC Pairing for Wireless Charging
The PN7160 family supports NXP's Accessory Mode (PN7161A1EV) for out-of-band NFC detection of wireless-charging-capable devices. A PN7160A1EV can still handle the standard peer-to-peer mode used for Bluetooth pairing and Wi-Fi handoff in consumer devices. In Bluetooth speakers and headphones, the PN7160A1EV simplifies tap-to-pair NFC, replacing older PN7120 designs with a smaller 64-VFBGA footprint and integrated DC-DC that reduces external passives.
Recommended
IoT Device NFC Provisioning
Industrial IoT gateways, smart-home hubs, and asset-tracking devices use the PN7160A1EV for NFC-based commissioning, configuration, and firmware update via NFC tag emulation or peer-to-peer mode. The NCI interface lets the host MCU run Linux or an RTOS while treating the PN7160A1EV as a black-box NFC modem. Industrial temperature range (-30C to +85C) supports factory-floor commissioning. Compared to a discrete RFID reader chip, the PN7160A1EV's integrated firmware reduces host driver development and shortens certification cycles.
Recommended
Automotive NFC Reader (In-Vehicle / Cabin)
Inside the cabin, the PN7160A1EV is used for NFC-based digital-key, Bluetooth pairing, and occupant identification. While not AEC-Q100 qualified itself, it can be deployed in cabin applications where the existing EMI/thermal envelope is controlled. The 13.56 MHz inductive link and integrated NCI firmware simplify integration with automotive infotainment head units running Android Automotive. Pairing with a vehicle secure element (e.g. NXP's automotive SE) creates a digital-key solution. Note: for under-hood AEC-Q100 applications consult NXP's PN7150 or PN7220 product lines instead.
Recommended
NFC Tag Reader for Printers and Kiosks
Self-service kiosks, photo printers, and ticketing terminals use the PN7160A1EV to read ISO 14443 / ISO 15693 / FeliCa contactless tickets, loyalty cards, and NFC tags for user authentication. The integrated NCI firmware supports all major contactless standards and the I2C host interface connects directly to a kiosk controller board. The on-chip DC-DC and adaptive antenna tuning reduce external component count, important for low-cost consumer-facing kiosk designs.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PN7160A1EV — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PN7161A1EV/C100K | PN7161A1EV/C100Y | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | |||
| Package | 64-VFBGA | 64-VFBGA - same | 64-VFBGA - same | 64-VFBGA - same | 64-VFBGA - same | 64-VFBGA - same |
| Carrier Frequency | 13.56 MHz | 13.56 MHz | 13.56 MHz | 13.56 MHz | 13.56 MHz | 13.56 MHz |
| Host Interface | I2C (NCI) | I2C (NCI) | I2C (NCI) | I2C (NCI) | I2C (NCI) | I2C (NCI) |
| Integrated MCU | ARM Cortex-M3 | ARM Cortex-M3 | ARM Cortex-M3 | ARM Cortex-M3 | ARM Cortex-M3 | ARM Cortex-M3 |
| Accessory Mode (NFC Wireless Charging Detection) | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Core Supply Voltage | 1.65-1.95 V | 1.65-1.95 V | 1.65-1.95 V | 1.65-1.95 V | 1.65-1.95 V | 1.65-1.95 V |
| I/O Supply Voltage | 3.0-3.6 V | 3.0-3.6 V | 3.0-3.6 V | 3.0-3.6 V | 3.0-3.6 V | 3.0-3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -30C to +85C | -30C to +85C | -30C to +85C | -30C to +85C | -30C to +85C | -30C to +85C |
| RoHS / Lead Free | Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes |
Key Differentiators
- True plug-and-play with integrated NCI firmware (vs ST25R3916B)
- Integrated DC-DC converter for RF output (vs PN7150)
- Pin-compatible with PN7161A1EV (NFC wireless charging Superset) (vs PN7161A1EV/C100Y)
- Reel-pack flexibility (/C100, /C100K, /C100Y) (vs Single-reel competitors)
Design Notes
The 64-VFBGA package requires a carefully designed 4-layer PCB with a continuous ground plane under the IC for thermal dissipation and RF return paths. Place the DC-DC inductor (L1) and reservoir capacitors within 5 mm of the LX1/LX2 and VOUT_DCDC balls, and route the antenna traces (ANT1, ANT2) as a 50 ohm differential pair with controlled impedance. Per NXP hardware design guide AN12988, the VFBGA land pattern requires NSMD pads to avoid solder joint stress.
Route the I2C bus (SDA, SCL) and IRQ line away from the antenna traces and DC-DC switching nodes to avoid 13.56 MHz and DC-DC noise coupling into the NCI host interface. Place a ferrite bead on VBAT if the supply is shared with a noisy digital rail. The antenna loop must be a closed differential loop of 1-2 turns with total inductance in the 0.5-2 uH range per NXP antenna design guidelines.
Do not omit the DC-DC output capacitor bank (typically 22 uF ceramic + 100 nF ceramic in parallel) on VOUT_DCDC; insufficient capacitance causes the RF output power to sag during card polling. The DCDC_EN pin (A2) can be used as an alternative to TX_PWR_REQ (F8) per NXP AN12988 - choose one and connect the other to GND to avoid contention. The RST pin must be held low for at least 10 ms after VBAT and VIO stabilize for clean firmware boot.
Use NXP's NFC Cockpit configuration tool to load the antenna-tuning settings, NCI firmware parameters, and RF output power calibration. Incorrect tuning reduces read range and causes EMVCo certification failures. For POS terminals, verify the antenna meets EMVCo Level 1 field-strength and modulation-index limits using a Reference PCD Class A as specified in the EMVCo Contactless Specifications.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant and lead-free per NXP product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - for automotive under-hood applications consult NXP's PN7150 or PN7220 automotive-qualified product lines.
