PN7160B1HN - NFC Plug & Play Controller with NCI | NXP
MPN: PN7160B1HN ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.41 | $7.41 |
| 10 | $6.55 | $65.50 |
| 100 | $5.2 | $520.00 |
| 500 | $4.3 | $2,150.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.75 | $3,750.00 |
PN7160B1HN Overview
A Near Field Communication (NFC) controller is a contactless short-range radio transceiver that operates at 13.56 MHz and conforms to ISO/IEC 14443, ISO/IEC 15693, FeliCa, and NFC Forum specifications. NFC controllers sit in the wireless connectivity hierarchy between simple RFID readers and full application processors, providing peer-to-peer, reader/writer, and card-emulation functions to a host MCU via a standardized NCI command set. The PN7160 family targets consumer, industrial, and embedded-payment use cases where offloading the RF stack, low power draw, and fast host integration are priorities.
Key features include integrated firmware that removes the need for host-side stack development, a high RF output power that enables reliable operation even with small antennas, and on-board dynamic power control (DPC) that adjusts transmit power based on field strength to limit current consumption. The device is qualified to operate over the -40 C to +85 C industrial range, and it supports extended-length APDUs required by EMVCo L1. A hardware reset pin, multiple GPIO lines, and an IRQ output simplify host bring-up.
From an architecture standpoint, the PN7160 uses a dedicated firmware-controlled state machine with an embedded RF front-end. Because all protocol handling is on-chip, the host only needs to send standardized NCI commands; this keeps the host driver footprint small and lets the same firmware support multiple host operating systems. The exposed thermal pad on the 40-VFQFN package is essential for RF performance and must be soldered to the ground plane.
Typical applications include contactless payment terminals, access-control readers, IoT provisioning, Bluetooth-pairing helpers, and e-Government document readers. The MPN suffix B1 denotes the integrated firmware variant. Design considerations center on antenna matching, EMC compliance, and PCB layout: the RF loop must be kept short, the exposed pad must be well-grounded, and the host SPI lines should be length-matched to avoid signal-integrity issues at high speeds.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet. Engineers can use the comparison_table and design_notes sections to evaluate the PN7160 against alternative NFC controllers before committing to a BOM.
Drop-in alternatives for PN7160B1HN — 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:
PN7161B1HN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →PN7160A1HN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.15 / Unit
View Datasheet →PN7160B1HN/C100
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PN7160B1HN/C100E
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PN7150B0HN/C100
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PN5190B1HN
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PN7160B1HN Specifications
| Function | NFC Plug and Play Controller |
| Interface | NCI over SPI |
| Operating Frequency | 13.56 MHz |
| Supported Standards | FeliCa, ISO 14443, ISO 15693, MIFARE, NFC Forum |
| Host Interface Supply | 1.65 V to 1.95 V |
| RF/Analog Supply | 3 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C |
| Package | 40-VFQFN Exposed Pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Integrated Firmware | Yes (NCI-compliant) |
| Reader/Writer Mode | Yes |
| Card Emulation Mode | Yes |
| Peer-to-Peer Mode | Yes |
| Host OS Support | Android, Linux, Windows |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| MSL Level | 1 |
PN7160B1HN Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VBAT — Main battery supply input |
| Pin 2 | VDD_HOST — Host interface supply |
| Pin 3 | VDD_RF — RF/analog supply |
| Pin 4 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 5 | RF1 — Antenna terminal 1 (differential) |
| Pin 6 | RF2 — Antenna terminal 2 (differential) |
| Pin 7 | RST — Hardware reset (active low) |
| Pin 8 | IRQ — Host interrupt request |
| Pin 9 | SPI_CLK — SPI clock from host |
| Pin 10 | SPI_CS — SPI chip select from host |
| Pin 11 | SPI_MOSI — SPI master-out / slave-in |
| Pin 12 | SPI_MISO — SPI master-in / slave-out |
| Pin 13 | GPIO0 — General purpose I/O 0 |
| Pin 14 | GPIO1 — General purpose I/O 1 |
| Pin 15 | GPIO2 — General purpose I/O 2 |
| Pin 16 | GPIO3 — General purpose I/O 3 |
| Pin 17 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 18 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 19 | AUX_LB — Auxiliary load modulation input |
| Pin 20 | VPP — External field power output |
| Pin 21 | PMIC_CLK — Clock output to external PMIC |
| Pin 22 | PMIC_DATA — Data line to external PMIC |
| Pin 23 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 24 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 25 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 26 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 27 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 28 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 29 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 30 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 31 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 32 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 33 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 34 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 35 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 36 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 37 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 38 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 39 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 40 | EP — Exposed thermal pad (must be soldered to GND) |
Typical Applications
PN7160B1HN is suitable for 7 applications: Contactless Payment Terminals, Access Control & Door Readers, IoT Device Provisioning & Pairing, Bluetooth Pairing Helper (NFC Handover), e-Government Document Readers, Industrial Equipment Identification, Healthcare & Medical Device Pairing.
Contactless Payment Terminals
The PN7160B1HN's 13.56 MHz ISO 14443/MIFARE support and integrated NCI firmware make it a drop-in front-end for EMVCo contactless card readers. Placed between the secure element and the host MCU over SPI, it handles all RF protocol processing on-chip, freeing the host from low-level stack work. Compared to a discrete RF front-end design, the PN7160 reduces BOM by roughly 20 components and shortens certification time. For full EMVCo Level 1 compliance required by payment terminals, however, the PN7161B1HN variant is preferred because it adds hardware EMVCo certification and Apple ECP support - critical for Apple Wallet acceptance in retail POS systems.
Recommended
Access Control & Door Readers
In physical access control readers, the PN7160B1HN reads both 13.56 MHz MIFARE DESFire credentials and legacy 125 kHz prox cards (via external front-end). Its 40-VFQFN exposed-pad package dissipates up to 350 mW during continuous read, and the integrated firmware auto-switches between reader/writer and card-emulation modes for mobile credentials. Compared to older PN532-based designs, the PN7160 cuts power draw by 30 percent and adds native OS drivers for Android-based reader panels. The exposed pad must be well-grounded to maintain stable read range across the -40 C to +85 C industrial range.
Recommended
IoT Device Provisioning & Pairing
Smart-home and IoT hubs use the PN7160B1HN for one-tap NFC provisioning, allowing users to pair a phone with a smart device by tapping. The host SPI interface simplifies integration with ESP32 and STM32 host MCUs, while the integrated NCI firmware means no custom RF stack development. Typical power draw is below 100 mW when idle and under 400 mW during active polling, so battery-powered provisioning beacons can run for years on a coin cell. Compared to Wi-Fi-only provisioning, NFC adds zero-configuration pairing that works even when the device has no IP address yet.
Recommended
Bluetooth Pairing Helper (NFC Handover)
Wireless speakers, headphones, and wearables use the PN7160B1HN as an NFC 'tap-to-pair' helper that exchanges Bluetooth pairing tokens via NFC Forum handover. With sub-100 ms transaction latency, the user just taps the device on a phone and Bluetooth pairing completes automatically. The PN7160's on-chip RF handling removes the need for a dedicated pairing button and reduces BOM cost. Power draw is well under 50 mW in idle, so it's commonly added to battery-powered audio products without meaningful impact on battery life.
Recommended
e-Government Document Readers
ePassport and eID readers use the PN7160B1HN to read ICAO-compliant contactless travel documents operating at 13.56 MHz. The PN7160's support for extended APDUs (up to 261 bytes) is required for BAC/PACE secure sessions, and its on-chip firmware handles ISO 14443-4 framing. Compared to PC/SC reader modules, an embedded PN7160 design shrinks the reader footprint from a USB dongle to a panel-mount module. Industrial temperature range and exposed-pad thermal performance are key for outdoor kiosks and border-control installations.
Recommended
Industrial Equipment Identification
Factory automation systems tag tools and parts with NFC stickers, and the PN7160B1HN-equipped reader stations identify items in milliseconds. Its -40 C to +85 C industrial range and high RF output power enable reliable reads even through paint, plastic, or oil contamination. Compared to barcode scanners, NFC tagging allows read-write data updates and no line-of-sight requirement. The integrated NCI firmware lets a single Linux host manage multiple PN7160 readers on different SPI buses for assembly-line tracking.
Recommended
Healthcare & Medical Device Pairing
Medical devices such as glucose meters and wearable monitors use the PN7160B1HN to pair securely with patient phones via NFC. The PN7160 supports NFC Forum peer-to-peer and card-emulation modes, enabling bidirectional credential exchange without a custom RF stack on the medical-device side. Industrial temperature range and exposed-pad thermal performance are important for hand-held medical devices. Compared to Bluetooth-only pairing, NFC pairing works without navigating menus - critical for elderly or visually impaired patients.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PN7160B1HN — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PN7161B1HN | PN7160A1HN | PN7160B1HN/C100 | PN7150B0HN/C100 | PN5190B1HN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors |
| Package | 40-VFQFN Exposed Pad | 40-VFQFN Exposed Pad - same | 40-VFQFN Exposed Pad - same | 40-VFQFN Exposed Pad - same | 40-VFQFN Exposed Pad - same | 40-VFQFN Exposed Pad - same |
| EMVCo L1 Compliance | No (basic) | Yes (with Apple ECP) | No (basic) | No (basic) | No (basic) | No |
| Firmware Generation | B1 (current) | B1 | A1 (previous) | B1 | B0 | B1 (next-gen) |
| Operating Frequency | 13.56 MHz | 13.56 MHz | 13.56 MHz | 13.56 MHz | 13.56 MHz | 13.56 MHz |
| Host Interface | NCI over SPI | NCI over SPI | NCI over SPI | NCI over SPI | NCI over SPI | NCI over SPI |
| Lifecycle Status | Active | Active | Active (legacy) | Active | NRND/EOL transition | Active (next-gen) |
| Unit Price (1k qty) | ~$3.75 | ~$4.20 | ~$3.50 | ~$3.75 | ~$3.40 | ~$4.50 |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated NCI-compliant firmware removes host-side stack development (vs PN7160A1HN)
- Same-package EMVCo L1 option exists for payment terminals (vs PN7161B1HN)
- Drop-in upgrade path to next-gen PN5190 (vs PN5190B1HN)
Design Notes
The exposed thermal pad (pin 40) on the 40-VFQFN package must be soldered to a continuous, low-impedance ground plane for both RF performance and thermal dissipation. Use at least 9 ground vias stitched on a 0.5 mm pitch directly under the pad to maximize heat flow and minimize ground bounce. RF traces between pins 5/6 and the antenna matching network should be kept under 5 mm total length, length-matched, and surrounded by ground copper on adjacent layers to maintain 50 ohm differential impedance. Estimated: assuming a 4-layer 1 oz copper FR-4 stack-up with the exposed pad coverage above 80 percent, thermal resistance theta_JA is approximately 35 C/W.
The PN7160B1HN requires two supply rails: VDD_HOST at 1.65 V to 1.95 V (typical 1.8 V, up to 50 mA) and VDD_RF at 3 V to 3.6 V (typical 3.3 V, up to 250 mA during active RF transmission). Place 100 nF X7R ceramic decoupling capacitors on each supply pin plus a shared 10 uF bulk capacitor within 5 mm of the pins. The dynamic power control (DPC) feature automatically reduces RF output power when the field is strong, cutting peak current draw by up to 40 percent. Estimated: under nominal RF load, total board power consumption averages 180 mW with peaks at 700 mW during card authentication.
Do not connect the PN7160's IRQ line directly to a host MCU without a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD_HOST - the IRQ output is open-drain per the datasheet and will float if not pulled up. Similarly, ensure the SPI bus uses a unique chip-select line because the PN7160 does not support multi-drop SPI. Common pitfalls include routing the SPI clock over a ground split (causes clock glitches), placing the antenna too close to metal shielding (cuts read range by 60 percent), and skipping the firmware update check on production boards (the B1 firmware has had at least one revision update since launch).
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per NXP product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified (consumer/industrial grade). For payment terminals, EMVCo L1 compliance requires PN7161 variant.
