PN7160B1EV-C100Y - NFC Plug & Play Controller, 64-VFBGA | NXP
MPN: PN7160B1EV-C100Y ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.45 | $3.45 |
| 10 | $3.1 | $31.00 |
| 100 | $2.78 | $278.00 |
| 500 | $2.49 | $1,245.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.21 | $2,210.00 |
| 3,000 | $1.95 | $5,850.00 |
PN7160B1EV-C100Y Overview
An NFC controller is an integrated circuit that implements the physical and protocol layers of Near Field Communication, allowing a host processor to read and write NFC/RFID tags, emulate contactless smart cards, and peer-to-peer data exchange with phones or other NFC devices. The PN7160 belongs to the broader hierarchy: NFC controller -> contactless frontend -> RF IC -> wireless transceiver -> semiconductor. Its integrated firmware and NCI (NFC Controller Interface) compliance remove the need for developers to write low-level stack code, placing the part in the Plug-and-Play category rather than the raw PN512/PN53x register-level controllers.
Key differentiating features include support for all NFC Forum modes (Reader/Writer, Peer-to-Peer, Card Emulation), integrated firmware with NCI interface, driver availability for Android, Linux, and Windows, RTOS and bare-metal support, a low-power standby mode with host wake-up via IRQ, and a single 3.3V rail plus a 1.8V host interface supply. The integrated LDO and power management reduce external BOM, while the embedded firmware accelerates time-to-market.
Technically, the PN7160 uses a Cortex-M0 microcontroller core running NXP's licensed contactless stack, with on-chip matching network control and automatic antenna tuning support. The RF output stage is compliant with ISO/IEC 14443 type A/B, ISO/IEC 15693, FeliCa, and NFC Forum digital protocol specifications. The SPI host interface runs up to 10 MHz and exposes an NCI-compliant command set, making the part portable across any OS with an NCI driver.
Typical applications include payment terminals, mobile point-of-sale (mPOS) devices, access control readers, IoT pairing and provisioning, Bluetooth/Wi-Fi tap-to-connect, eTicket and transit readers, and industrial identification. The VFBGA-64 footprint suits compact reader designs where board area is at a premium.
When designing in, allocate at least a 30 mm x 30 mm keep-out area under and around the antenna, route the SPI bus as short as possible, and follow NXP application note AN11740 antenna matching guidance. Use the included NXP NCI driver package to minimize stack porting effort.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the standalone NXP datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PN7160B1EV-C100Y — 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:
PN7161B1EV/C100Y
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PN7160B1HN/C100
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PN7161B1EV/C100K
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PN7160B1EV-C100Y Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Function | NFC Plug and Play Controller with Integrated Firmware and NCI Interface |
| RF Frequency | 13.56 MHz |
| Supported Standards | FeliCa, ISO 14443, ISO 15693, MIFARE, NFC Forum modes |
| Host Interface | SPI |
| Supply Voltage 1 (RF/Analog) | 3.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Supply Voltage 2 (Host I/O) | 1.65 V to 1.95 V |
| Package | 64-VFBGA |
| Integrated Firmware | Yes (NCI-compliant) |
| Supported Host OS | Android, Linux, Windows; RTOS and bare-metal |
| Reader/Writer Mode | Yes |
| Peer-to-Peer Mode | Yes |
| Card Emulation Mode | Yes |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (BGA) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (per Newark listing) |
PN7160B1EV-C100Y Interfaces & Connectors
PN7160B1EV-C100Y exposes the following interfaces and connectors as published by the manufacturer: Power Input. Expansion header pinout, connector pin numbering, and electrical limits are defined in the manufacturer documentation.
| Power Input | 3.0 V to 3.6 V |
Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the full expansion header pinout and connector pin numbering.
Power & Thermal Characteristics
| Power Input | 3.0 V to 3.6 V |
Power input and thermal parameters for PN7160B1EV-C100Y as published by the manufacturer.
Typical Applications
PN7160B1EV-C100Y is suitable for 7 applications: Contactless Payment Terminals, Mobile Point-of-Sale (mPOS) Devices, Access Control & Door Readers, IoT Tap-to-Connect / Provisioning, eTicket / Transit Card Readers, Industrial Identification & Asset Tracking, Wireless Charging / NFC Diagnostic Tools.
Contactless Payment Terminals
The PN7160B1EV-C100Y's support for ISO 14443 type A/B, FeliCa, MIFARE, and NFC Forum reader/writer modes makes it a strong fit for EMVCo contactless payment terminals. Its integrated NCI firmware removes the burden of writing an EMV stack from scratch, accelerating PCI PTS certification. The SPI host interface pairs cleanly with secure processors from NXP, STMicroelectronics, and Infineon used in PIN pads, while the 3.0-3.6V analog rail and 1.65-1.95V host rail simplify power-tree design with the secure element's I/O domain.
Recommended
Mobile Point-of-Sale (mPOS) Devices
For mPOS dongles that pair with phones and tablets over Bluetooth, the PN7160B1EV-C100Y's compact 64-VFBGA package and integrated firmware minimize PCB area and host-side code size. Operating from a single 3.3V rail plus 1.8V host I/O, the part simplifies battery-powered designs. The NCI interface allows Android and iOS hosts to drive it via standard NCI drivers, while Reader/Writer mode supports all major contactless cards, making the device compatible with global mPOS deployments including Tap-to-Pay and Apple ECP via PN7161 migration.
Recommended
Access Control & Door Readers
The PN7160B1EV-C100Y supports ISO 14443 and ISO 15693, covering the majority of corporate badge formats including MIFARE Classic, MIFARE DESFire, HID iCLASS, and legacy 15693 tags. Its integrated Peer-to-Peer mode enables smartphone-based mobile credentials via NFC Handover to Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. The 3.0-3.6V supply range aligns with PoE-powered access controller rails, and the SPI interface integrates with Linux-based access panel hosts running the NXP NCI driver stack without proprietary API layers.
Recommended
IoT Tap-to-Connect / Provisioning
NFC tap-to-connect dramatically simplifies Wi-Fi and Bluetooth pairing for IoT devices without screens or keyboards. The PN7160B1EV-C100Y's Peer-to-Peer mode and integrated firmware enable a single tap from a phone to securely hand off Wi-Fi credentials to a smart-home device, eliminating complex pairing flows. Its low standby current and IRQ-driven wake-up make it well-suited to battery-powered sensors, while the 64-VFBGA package fits compact IoT enclosures. NXP provides example NFC Handover implementations for Android and Linux hosts.
Recommended
eTicket / Transit Card Readers
Transit and eTicket readers require FeliCa support (used by Japanese transit systems like Suica/ICOCA), ISO 14443 (for open-loop payments), and ISO 15693 (for legacy transit cards), all of which the PN7160B1EV-C100Y supports natively. Card Emulation mode allows the reader to act as a transit card validator. The integrated NCI firmware handles the multi-protocol polling logic, and the SPI bus enables easy integration with industrial gate controllers. NXP's Apple ECP-capable PN7161 derivative supports Apple Wallet transit Express Cards.
Recommended
Industrial Identification & Asset Tracking
Industrial RFID readers for asset tracking, tool management, and production-line part identification rely on ISO 15693 and ISO 14443, both fully supported by the PN7160B1EV-C100Y. Its integrated firmware simplifies multi-tag anti-collision handling, and the SPI interface enables deterministic real-time response from PLCs and industrial PCs. The VFBGA-64 footprint is compact enough for handheld scanners, while the 3.0-3.6V supply range tolerates noisy industrial 24V-rail-derived voltages with appropriate front-end regulation.
Recommended
Wireless Charging / NFC Diagnostic Tools
Test and diagnostic equipment for NFC and contactless payment systems requires a known-good reference reader. The PN7160B1EV-C100Y's integrated NCI stack and 13.56 MHz compliance make it ideal for ATE fixtures validating tag compliance, EMVCo pre-certification, and RF performance measurements. Linux NCI drivers integrate with Python and LabVIEW test rigs via the SPI bus, while the small VFBGA package fits inline test heads. NXP provides reference antennas and matching-network calculators to support lab characterization.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PN7160B1EV-C100Y — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PN7161B1EV/C100Y | PN7160B1HN/C100 | PN7161B1EV/C100K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 64-VFBGA | 64-VFBGA - same | 64-VFBGA - HN layout | 64-VFBGA - same |
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors |
| RF Frequency | 13.56 MHz | 13.56 MHz | 13.56 MHz | 13.56 MHz |
| Host Interface | SPI | SPI | SPI | SPI |
| Apple ECP Support | No | Yes (ECP) | No | Yes (ECP) |
| Integrated Firmware | Yes (NCI) | Yes (NCI) | Yes (NCI) | Yes (NCI, K trim) |
| Supply Voltage (RF) | 3.0 V to 3.6 V | 3.0 V to 3.6 V | 3.0 V to 3.6 V | 3.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Supply Voltage (Host I/O) | 1.65 V to 1.95 V | 1.65 V to 1.95 V | 1.65 V to 1.95 V | 1.65 V to 1.95 V |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated NCI firmware eliminates host-side stack development (vs PN512 / RC663)
- Smaller footprint and modern package for compact designs (vs PN7160B1HN)
- Comprehensive multi-standard support out of the box (vs Specialized ISO 14443-only reader ICs)
Design Notes
Per the NXP PN7160/PN7161 datasheet and antenna application note AN11740, allocate a clear keep-out area of at least 30 mm x 30 mm centered under the antenna coil with no copper pour, ground planes, or traces. Place the matching-network components (L, C) within 5 mm of the TX1/TX2 balls and route the differential RF traces as a matched 50 ohm or 100 ohm differential pair with continuous ground reference on the layer below. Decouple VDD with 100 nF and 4.7 uF ceramic caps placed within 2 mm of the supply balls.
The PN7160B1EV-C100Y requires two supplies: VDD (3.0-3.6 V for the RF and analog blocks) and VDDIO (1.65-1.95 V for the host SPI interface). Power-up sequencing per NXP requires VDD to rise before or simultaneously with VDDIO; VDDIO rising significantly earlier can cause latch-up. Hold NRST low until both rails are stable. The integrated LDO simplifies power tree design but still requires input bulk capacitance (at least 10 uF) on VDD to handle the TX current pulses of up to ~250 mA during RF transmission.
A common pitfall is omitting the IRQ pin connection - the PN7160B1EV signals NCI events via a falling-edge IRQ that must be wired to a host GPIO with interrupt capability. Another is using too-long SPI traces (>50 mm) which can cause timing violations at 10 MHz SPI clock; keep SPI traces under 25 mm and use a 4-wire SPI with CS, CLK, MOSI, MISO. Finally, ensure the antenna Q-factor matches the target reader range; NXP's AN11740 antenna calculator should be used to size L and C matching components before PCB layout commit.
For SPI integrity, place 22-33 ohm series resistors at the SPI bus driver outputs near the host MCU to dampen ringing on the CLK and MOSI lines. Keep the SPI bus away from the RF antenna traces and matching network to avoid coupling digital noise into the receiver front-end. Use a ground via fence along the SPI bus for additional isolation. Estimated: SPI clock up to 10 MHz per NXP datasheet; at 10 MHz over 25 mm of trace, ringing can exceed 1 V peak without damping.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliance per Newark and DigiKey distributor listings. NXP PN7160 family is not AEC-Q100 qualified; for automotive NFC readers, choose AEC-Q100 qualified variants from the NXP portfolio or use this part with a separate qualified companion.
