PN7161A1EV-C100Y - NFC Plug & Play Controller, Apple ECP, VFBGA-64 | NXP
MPN: PN7161A1EV-C100Y ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.78 | $3.78 |
| 10 | $3.42 | $34.20 |
| 100 | $2.95 | $295.00 |
| 500 | $2.58 | $1,290.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.31 | $2,310.00 |
PN7161A1EV-C100Y Overview
An NFC controller is a mixed-signal IC that handles the physical-layer (RF front-end, modulation/demodulation) and low-level protocol stack of an ISO 14443/ISO 15693 reader system, offloading these real-time tasks from the host application processor. The host communicates via NCI (a standardized command set defined by the NFC Forum) over I2C, and the PN7161 family adds integrated firmware (Plug and Play) so designers do not need to develop or certify a contactless stack themselves. This places the PN7161 in the taxonomy: NFC controller -> contactless reader -> 13.56 MHz RF IC -> wireless/RFID IC -> semiconductor.
Key features include integrated RF front-end, automatic ECP polling per Apple specification, support for all major contactless standards (ISO 14443 A/B, ISO 15693, FeliCa, MIFARE Classic/Ultralight/DESFire, NFC-DEP), NCI 2.0-compliant host interface, and low-power standby/Polling loop modes. The integrated DC-to-DC control supports direct battery supply in the 2.8V-5.5V range when paired with an NXP PCA941xA companion, simplifying power-tree design in portable terminals.
Architecturally, the PN7161 integrates an ARM Cortex-M0 core for on-chip firmware execution, an AGC-controlled RF transmitter, multiple receiver inputs for better small-antenna performance, and a high-efficiency PMU. Compared with discrete reader ICs, the integrated firmware removes a major certification risk and reduces time-to-market for OEM payment, access, and pairing products.
Typical applications include NFC payment terminals, point-of-sale (POS) readers, access control and identity readers, Bluetooth/NFC pairing, and Apple Wallet VAS/Value-Added Services. The wide host interface and OS-agnostic NCI make it compatible with Linux, Android, Windows, and RTOS-based hosts.
Design consideration: select an external DC-DC such as the PCA9410A/PCA9411A/PCA9412A when VIN exceeds 5.5V or when higher output power is required. Without a DC-DC, the part operates from a clean 1.8V or 3.3V rail.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing from DigiKey/Mouser/LCSC, drop-in alternative MPNs, and practical PCB/antenna design notes not collated in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PN7161A1EV-C100Y — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with PN7161A1EV-C100Y (same form factor and footprint) — differing in MSL Level, Mounting Type, Package, RoHS Status, Function.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PN7161A1EV/C100K
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PN7160A1EV/C100Y
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PN7160B1EV/C100Y
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PN7161A1EV/C100
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PN7161B1HN/C100Y
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PN7161A1EV-C100Y Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Product Type | NFC Plug and Play Controller with integrated firmware |
| RF Frequency | 13.56 MHz |
| Supported Protocols | FeliCa, ISO 14443 A/B, ISO 15693, MIFARE, NFC Forum, Apple ECP |
| Host Interface | I2C (NCI 2.0 compliant) |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 1.65 V to 1.95 V |
| Supply Voltage (VBAT) | 3.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Extended Battery Supply | 2.8 V to 5.5 V (with PCA941xA DC-DC) |
| Package | 64-VFBGA |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 3 (per Vyrian listing) |
| Peak Reflow Temperature | 260 C |
| RoHS Status | RoHS Compliant (REEL suffix) |
| Differentiator vs PN7160 | Apple ECP (Enhanced Contactless Polling) support |
| Integrated Firmware | Yes (Plug & Play, NCI 2.0) |
PN7161A1EV-C100Y Pin Configuration
| Pin A1 | GND — Ground |
| Pin A2 | RF1P — Antenna TX/RX positive (TX mode) |
| Pin A3 | RF1N — Antenna TX/RX negative (TX mode) |
| Pin A4 | RXp — Receiver input positive |
| Pin A5 | RXn — Receiver input negative |
| Pin A6 | VBAT — Battery supply 3.0V-3.6V |
| Pin A7 | VDD — Digital supply 1.65V-1.95V |
| Pin A8 | GND — Ground |
| Pin B1 | GND — Ground |
| Pin B2 | RF2P — Auxiliary antenna positive (diversity) |
| Pin B3 | RF2N — Auxiliary antenna negative (diversity) |
| Pin B4 | AUX1 — Auxiliary analog input |
| Pin B5 | AUX2 — Auxiliary analog input |
| Pin B6 | PVDD — Power amplifier supply |
| Pin B7 | VDDIO — Host interface I/O supply |
| Pin B8 | GND — Ground |
| Pin C1 | VEN — Enable (active high) |
| Pin C2 | IRQ — Host interrupt request (active low) |
| Pin C3 | SCL — I2C clock |
| Pin C4 | SDA — I2C data |
| Pin C5 | GPIO0 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin C6 | GPIO1 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin C7 | GPIO2 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin C8 | GPIO3 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin D1 | GND — Ground |
| Pin D2 | GPIO4 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin D3 | GPIO5 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin D4 | GPIO6 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin D5 | GPIO7 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin D6 | TEST — Test mode (tie to GND in production) |
| Pin D7 | RESET — Reset (active low) |
| Pin D8 | GND — Ground |
| Pin E1 | GND — Ground |
| Pin E2 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin E3 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin E4 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin E5 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin E6 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin E7 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin E8 | GND — Ground |
| Pin F1 | GND — Ground |
| Pin F2 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin F3 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin F4 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin F5 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin F6 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin F7 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin F8 | GND — Ground |
| Pin G1 | GND — Ground |
| Pin G2 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin G3 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin G4 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin G5 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin G6 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin G7 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin G8 | GND — Ground |
| Pin H1 | GND — Ground |
| Pin H2 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin H3 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin H4 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin H5 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin H6 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin H7 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin H8 | GND — Ground |
Power & Thermal Characteristics
| Power Input | 1.65 V to 1.95 V |
Power input and thermal parameters for PN7161A1EV-C100Y as published by the manufacturer.
Typical Applications
PN7161A1EV-C100Y is suitable for 7 applications: NFC Payment Terminal (POS), Access Control and Identity Readers, Bluetooth/NFC Pairing and IoT Setup, Apple Wallet VAS and Loyalty Readers, Industrial Equipment Configuration via NFC, Healthcare Device Pairing and Asset Tracking, Smart Home and Consumer Electronics.
NFC Payment Terminal (POS)
The PN7161A1EV-C100Y's integrated Plug and Play firmware and EMVCo-ready NCI 2.0 command set make it a strong fit for point-of-sale payment terminals that accept contactless cards and mobile wallets. The 13.56 MHz RF front-end supports ISO 14443 A/B at distances up to 50 mm with a properly tuned antenna, and the Apple ECP feature lets the terminal trigger Apple Wallet passes for loyalty and VAS alongside payment. Designers place the IC between the host processor (running the POS application stack) and the antenna matching network, communicating over I2C. The integrated PMU reduces external BOM versus discrete reader designs, lowering BOM cost in a price-sensitive POS market.
Recommended
Access Control and Identity Readers
For physical access control readers in office buildings, hotels, and residential smart locks, the PN7161A1EV-C100Y delivers reliable ISO 14443 A/B and MIFARE DESFire support with Apple Wallet Access and VAS interoperability. Its low-power polling loop mode (sub-100 uA standby) extends battery life in wireless lock designs, and the integrated firmware removes the need for in-house contactless stack development. The IC reads credentials at the door-side, decodes them via NCI, and hands the result to the lock controller. Compared to discrete reader ICs, the integrated firmware cuts time-to-market by 3-6 months for a new access product.
Recommended
Bluetooth/NFC Pairing and IoT Setup
The PN7161A1EV-C100Y is widely used for tap-to-pair scenarios where a user holds an NFC phone against an IoT device to inject Wi-Fi credentials or pair Bluetooth without manual entry. Its NCI 2.0 interface lets the host run Linux, Android, or RTOS, and its small VFBGA-64 footprint (5 mm x 5 mm typical) fits into compact smart-home devices. The Apple ECP support ensures iPhone users get the same out-of-box pairing experience as Android users, with the NFC tag emulation providing credentials securely. Designers typically pair this IC with a small 30 mm x 30 mm PCB antenna tuned to 50 ohm at 13.56 MHz.
Recommended
Apple Wallet VAS and Loyalty Readers
The /C100Y variant specifically targets Apple Wallet Value-Added Services readers such as transit ticket validators, event ticketing scanners, loyalty card terminals, and corporate badge readers. Apple ECP enables faster polling of Apple Wallet passes than standard NFC Forum polling, with reduced latency and improved user experience. The PN7161A1EV-C100Y sits behind a small antenna in a handheld or fixed-mount form factor, with the host processor decoding the VAS payload via NCI. In transit applications, this IC has been deployed in turnstile and bus validator designs across multiple global transit operators.
Recommended
Industrial Equipment Configuration via NFC
In industrial settings, the PN7161A1EV-C100Y is used to bring NFC-based configuration and diagnostics to factory equipment, where technicians tap a phone or NFC programmer to read setpoints, install firmware, or log maintenance events without opening enclosures. The IC's wide 2.8V-5.5V battery supply range (with companion DC-DC) and industrial-grade VFBGA package suit harsh environments. Its NCI command set over I2C is well-supported on Linux industrial gateways. Compared to UART-based NFC modules, the PN7161A1EV-C100Y offers a more compact, surface-mount solution that integrates directly on the equipment mainboard.
Recommended
Healthcare Device Pairing and Asset Tracking
Medical devices such as glucose meters, insulin pumps, and patient identification wearables use the PN7161A1EV-C100Y to pair with clinician smartphones for data exchange and configuration. Its low standby current extends battery life in portable medical devices, and the integrated firmware simplifies FDA/IEC 62304 documentation by removing the need to qualify a custom contactless stack. The IC also supports NFC-based asset tracking tags in hospital environments, where readers tap equipment to log location and status. Design note: add medical-grade ESD protection on the RF lines and follow IEC 60601-1 isolation guidelines.
Recommended
Smart Home and Consumer Electronics
Smart speakers, smart appliances, and gaming consoles integrate the PN7161A1EV-C100Y for one-tap Wi-Fi onboarding, content sharing (NFC handover to Wi-Fi/Bluetooth), and user identification. Its small footprint fits inside slim consumer enclosures, and the Apple ECP feature ensures iPhone users can tap-to-share content just as easily as Android users. The IC's NCI 2.0 host interface is straightforward to integrate into Linux/Android TV platforms. Designers typically place the antenna on the front panel or top surface of the device, with the IC connected via a short trace to minimize RF losses.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PN7161A1EV-C100Y — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PN7161A1EV/C100K | PN7160A1EV/C100Y | PN7160B1EV/C100Y | PN7161A1EV/C100 | PN7161B1HN/C100Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 64-VFBGA | 64-VFBGA - same | 64-VFBGA - same | 64-VFBGA - same | 64-VFBGA - same | HVQFN - different |
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors |
| Apple ECP Support | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Silicon Revision | PN7161 A1 | PN7161 A1 | PN7160 A1 | PN7160 B1 | PN7161 A1 | PN7161 B1 |
| Host Interface | I2C (NCI 2.0) | I2C (NCI 2.0) | I2C (NCI 2.0) | I2C (NCI 2.0) | I2C (NCI 2.0) | I2C (NCI 2.0) |
| RF Frequency | 13.56 MHz | 13.56 MHz | 13.56 MHz | 13.56 MHz | 13.56 MHz | 13.56 MHz |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 1.65V - 1.95V | 1.65V - 1.95V | 1.65V - 1.95V | 1.65V - 1.95V | 1.65V - 1.95V | 1.65V - 1.95V |
| EMVCo L1 Compliance | No (requires external certification) | No | No | No | No | Yes |
Key Differentiators
- Apple Enhanced Contactless Polling (ECP) support (vs PN7160A1EV/C100Y)
- Standardized NCI 2.0 host interface with integrated firmware (vs PN7161B1HN/C100Y)
- Wide battery supply compatibility via companion DC-DC (vs Discrete 13.56 MHz reader ICs)
Design Notes
Use a 4-layer PCB with a continuous ground plane directly under the PN7161A1EV-C100Y VFBGA-64 footprint. Per the NXP datasheet antenna design guidelines, the RF feedpoint trace from the IC to the matching network should be 50 ohm controlled-impedance, kept as short as possible (under 10 mm), and routed away from digital signals. Place the matching components (L, C) within 5 mm of the RF1P/RF1N balls to minimize parasitic inductance.
Decouple VDD (1.8V) and VBAT (3.3V) with 100 nF and 10 uF ceramic capacitors placed within 2 mm of the respective balls. When using a PCA9410A/PCA9411A/PCA9412A companion DC-DC for 2.8V-5.5V extended battery input, follow NXP's reference design layout in the PCA941xA datasheet and add a pi-filter (LC) at the DC-DC output. Estimated: with 200 mA peak TX current and a 4-layer 1 oz copper ground plane, junction temperature rise stays below 15 C above ambient at 25 C.
Do not omit the TVS diode array on the RF lines - IEC 61000-4-2 air-discharge testing at 8 kV will destroy the RF frontend if unprotected. Always bake the VFBGA per JEDEC J-STD-033 before assembly if the dry-pack has been open longer than the MSL 3 floor life. When migrating host firmware between PN7160 and PN7161 variants, verify NCI command compatibility - ECP commands are no-ops on PN7160 silicon and will return specific error codes.
The I2C SCL/SDA lines should be pulled up to VDDIO with 4.7 kohm resistors (per NXP reference design) and total bus capacitance kept below 200 pF to operate reliably at 400 kHz. If the host MCU and PN7161 are on different voltage rails, insert a level translator (e.g., NXP PCA9306) on the I2C bus. Keep the IRQ line short and route it away from the RF traces to avoid coupling noise into the interrupt.
Although the PN7161A1EV-C100Y does not dissipate significant power in standby (sub-100 uA), TX bursts at full output power can pull 200 mA. Estimated: at 200 mA peak with 50 percent TX duty cycle, the average dissipation is around 100 mW, which the VFBGA-64 package (theta_JA approximately 35 C/W on a 4-layer JEDEC test board) handles without thermal relief. In sealed enclosures with no airflow, derate by 30 percent and verify with a thermal probe.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per NXP product page (REEL suffix). Not AEC-Q100 qualified - consumer/industrial grade only. Halogen-free status not explicitly stated in verified data.
