PN7161B1EV - NFC Plug & Play Controller, 13.56MHz, VFBGA-64 | NXP
MPN: PN7161B1EV ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.5 | $7.50 |
| 10 | $6.8 | $68.00 |
| 100 | $6.1 | $610.00 |
| 500 | $5.55 | $2,775.00 |
| 1,000 | $5.05 | $5,050.00 |
PN7161B1EV Overview
What is an NFC controller? An NFC controller is a contactless front-end IC that handles the RF physical layer, protocol stack, and (in many NXP devices) the host-side NCI interface for an application processor. NFC controllers belong to the broader category of RFID reader/writer ICs, which sit within RF & wireless identification semiconductors. They typically integrate an RF front-end, a digital protocol engine, and a host communication interface (I2C, SPI, or NCI), allowing designers to add contactless functionality without writing low-level firmware from scratch.
Key features of the PN7161B1EV include support for reader/writer, peer-to-peer, and card-emulation modes; integrated NCI 1.0 host interface over SPI; an on-chip RF front-end with Tx driver and Rx chain; and an integrated firmware stack. The device supports a low-power mode to meet mobile and IoT power budgets, and includes Apple Enhanced Contactless Polling (ECP) support for iOS interoperability.
The PN7161B1EV uses a 64-ball VFBGA package optimized for compact PCB layouts typical of smartphones, wearables, and IoT terminals. Internally, it combines an ARM Cortex-M0 core for firmware execution with a dedicated RF front-end, allowing the host processor to offload all NFC stack processing. This architecture reduces host CPU load and simplifies software integration for Android, Linux, and RTOS environments.
Typical applications include NFC payment terminals, mobile point-of-sale (mPOS) devices, Bluetooth-pairing tags, automotive digital key systems, eGovernment / eID readers, and IoT provisioning via NFC. The combination of NCI host interface and integrated firmware makes it especially attractive for platforms running Android or Linux where Linux NCI drivers are already available.
When designing with the PN7161B1EV, note that it requires an external matching network and antenna tuned to 13.56 MHz; bypass capacitors on VCC are mandatory and the exposed pad must be soldered to the ground plane for thermal dissipation and RF return. Avoid routing digital signal traces beneath the antenna area to minimize detuning.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the NXP datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PN7161B1EV — 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:
PN7160B1EV/C100
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PN7160B1EV/C100Y
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PN7161B1EV/C100
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PN7161B1EV/C100K
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PN7161B1EV/C100Y
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PN7161B1EV Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Product Type | NFC Plug and Play Controller |
| Carrier Frequency | 13.56 MHz |
| Supported Protocols | FeliCa, ISO 14443, ISO 15693, MIFARE, NFC Forum |
| Operating Modes | Reader/Writer, Peer-to-Peer, Card Emulation |
| Host Interface | NCI 1.0 over SPI |
| Integrated Firmware | Yes (full NFC stack) |
| Apple ECP Support | Yes |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 1.65 V to 1.95 V |
| Supply Voltage (VBAT/VIO) | 3.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Package | 64-VFBGA |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
PN7161B1EV Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | GND — Ground reference |
| Pin 2 | ANT1 — Differential antenna terminal 1 |
| Pin 3 | ANT2 — Differential antenna terminal 2 |
| Pin 4 | TX1 — Transmitter output 1 |
| Pin 5 | TX2 — Transmitter output 2 |
| Pin 6 | RXN — Receiver negative input |
| Pin 7 | RXP — Receiver positive input |
| Pin 8 | VBAT — Battery / interface supply 3.0-3.6 V |
| Pin 9 | VDD — Digital core supply 1.65-1.95 V |
| Pin 10 | VIO — Host interface I/O supply |
| Pin 11 | CLK_REQ — Clock request to host |
| Pin 12 | IRQ — Host interrupt (active low) |
| Pin 13 | SPI_NSS — SPI chip select (active low) |
| Pin 14 | SPI_CLK — SPI clock |
| Pin 15 | SPI_MISO — SPI master-in slave-out |
| Pin 16 | SPI_MOSI — SPI master-out slave-in |
| Pin 17 | RST_N — Hardware reset (active low) |
| Pin 18 | DWL_REQ — Download/firmware update request |
| Pin 19 | TEST1 — Test mode (must be left open or GND in production) |
| Pin 20 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 21 | GND — Ground reference |
| Pin 22 | GND — Ground reference |
| Pin 23 | GND — Ground reference |
| Pin 24 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 25 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 26 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 27 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 28 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 29 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 30 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 31 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 32 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 33 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 34 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 35 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 36 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 37 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 38 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 39 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 40 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 41 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 42 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 43 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 44 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 45 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 46 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 47 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 48 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 49 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 50 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 51 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 52 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 53 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 54 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 55 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 56 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 57 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 58 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 59 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 60 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 61 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 62 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 63 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 64 | EP — Exposed pad - thermal and ground return |
Power & Thermal Characteristics
| Power Input | 1.65 V to 1.95 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C |
Power input and thermal parameters for PN7161B1EV as published by the manufacturer.
Typical Applications
PN7161B1EV is suitable for 7 applications: Mobile Point-of-Sale (mPOS) Terminals, NFC Pairing and Provisioning for IoT Devices, Automotive Digital Key and In-Vehicle NFC, eID and eGovernment Document Readers, Access Control and Time-Attendance Terminals, Wearables and Hearables with Tap Pairing, NFC-Enabled Smart Home Hubs and Speakers.
Mobile Point-of-Sale (mPOS) Terminals
Why the PN7161B1EV fits mPOS: its integrated NCI 1.0 stack over SPI and 13.56 MHz front-end supporting FeliCa, ISO 14443, ISO 15693, and MIFARE allow a single IC to handle Apple Pay, Google Pay, contactless cards, and NFC tags. How it is used: the PN7161 sits between the application processor (running Android/Linux with the NCI driver) and an external 13.56 MHz loop antenna + matching network, offloading the full contactless protocol stack from the host. The Apple ECP firmware variant makes this part especially attractive for mPOS designs that must interoperate with iPhones in Apple Pay mode. Power: VDD 1.65-1.95 V, VBAT 3.0-3.6 V, with low-power card-detection mode to meet handheld-terminal battery budgets.
Recommended
NFC Pairing and Provisioning for IoT Devices
Why the PN7161B1EV fits IoT pairing: the integrated NCI stack lets an MCU-based IoT device accept Wi-Fi or Bluetooth credentials over NFC tap with no on-host NFC stack porting required. How it is used: a tap of an NFC phone delivers the network credentials to the PN7161, which forwards them via SPI to the host MCU. The 64-VFBGA footprint supports compact wearables and smart-home hubs, while the 13.56 MHz air interface is universally supported by Android and iOS. Trade-off: the PN7161 is more capable than needed for credential-tap-only use cases, but its low-power card-detection mode keeps standby current low.
Recommended
Automotive Digital Key and In-Vehicle NFC
Why the PN7161B1EV fits digital-key designs: FeliCa, ISO 14443, and MIFARE support cover CCC Digital Key and Apple Car Key protocols, and the Apple ECP firmware variant enables iPhone-based vehicle access. How it is used: the PN7161 is mounted in the door handle or center console, driving an external 13.56 MHz loop antenna tuned for short-range body-coupling links. Performance consideration: automotive environments require AEC-Q100 qualification, which the standard PN7161 does not carry; designers should evaluate NXP automotive-grade variants for production use. The 64-VFBGA package supports the slim form factor of modern door handles.
Recommended
eID and eGovernment Document Readers
Why the PN7161B1EV fits eID readers: ISO 14443 Type A/B and ISO 15693 support covers most national eID and ePassport contactless schemes, while MIFARE compatibility handles legacy transit and ID cards. How it is used: the PN7161 connects via SPI to a secure application processor that runs the eID verification stack, with the integrated NCI host interface simplifying OS porting. The 13.56 MHz front-end is appropriate for the 5-10 cm read range mandated by many eID specifications. Power: low-power polling modes help meet USB-bus-powered reader thermal limits.
Recommended
Access Control and Time-Attendance Terminals
Why the PN7161B1EV fits access control: FeliCa, ISO 14443, and MIFARE Classic / DESFire compatibility cover the majority of corporate and campus credential formats, and the integrated stack removes the need for external secure-element pairing for basic reader duty. How it is used: the PN7161 is mounted behind the reader faceplate, with the antenna etched into the PCB or implemented as a printed loop on the housing. Performance consideration: read range is governed by the matching network and antenna geometry; reference designs from NXP should be followed to achieve the 4-5 cm range typical of door-mount readers.
Recommended
Wearables and Hearables with Tap Pairing
Why the PN7161B1EV fits wearables: the 64-VFBGA package is small enough for earbuds, smartwatches, and fitness bands, while the integrated firmware eliminates the need for an NFC stack port to small RTOS environments. How it is used: the PN7161 provides tap-to-pair with phones (Android NFC hand-off and Apple ECP) and tap-to-launch of companion apps without a complex secure-element integration. Trade-off: the PN7161 is more feature-rich than needed for tap-only, but its small footprint and low standby current make it a strong fit for power-constrained wearable designs.
Recommended
NFC-Enabled Smart Home Hubs and Speakers
Why the PN7161B1EV fits smart-home hubs: a single IC handles NFC onboarding, contactless control surfaces (NFC tags), and Apple ECP-enabled iOS device interactions from the same antenna. How it is used: the PN7161 connects to a Linux or Android Things host over SPI, with the integrated NCI stack managed by the standard linux-libnfc-nci driver. The 13.56 MHz air interface is robust against the EMI noise typical of switching power supplies inside the hub. The 64-VFBGA package and HCI-H grade fan-out simplify routing on a multi-layer smart-home PCB.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PN7161B1EV — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PN7160B1EV/C100 | PN7160B1EV/C100Y | PN7161B1EV/C100 | PN7161B1EV/C100K | PN7161B1EV/C100Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 64-VFBGA | 64-VFBGA - same | 64-VFBGA - same | 64-VFBGA - same | 64-VFBGA - same | 64-VFBGA - same |
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors |
| Carrier Frequency | 13.56 MHz | 13.56 MHz | 13.56 MHz | 13.56 MHz | 13.56 MHz | 13.56 MHz |
| Apple ECP Support | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Host Interface | NCI over SPI | NCI over SPI | NCI over SPI | NCI over SPI | NCI over SPI | NCI over SPI |
| Supply Voltage VDD | 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 |
| Supply Voltage VBAT | 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 | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
| AEC-Q100 Automotive | Not qualified | Not qualified | Not qualified | Not qualified | Not qualified | Not qualified |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated NFC stack with Apple ECP support eliminates host-side firmware porting (vs PN7160B1EV/C100Y)
- Standardized NCI 1.0 over SPI host interface (vs PN7161B1EV/C100)
- 64-VFBGA package optimized for compact mobile and IoT designs (vs PN7160B1EV/C100)
Design Notes
Place 100 nF X7R bypass capacitors within 2 mm of every VDD, VBAT, and VIO pin. Per the NXP PN7160_PN7161 datasheet, the exposed pad (EP) must be soldered to a continuous ground plane for thermal dissipation and RF return-path integrity. Keep all digital signal traces (SPI, IRQ, RST_N) away from the ANT1/ANT2 traces and the matching-network loop to minimize capacitive coupling and detuning of the 13.56 MHz resonant circuit. Maintain a 50-ohm controlled impedance on SPI lines if the bus length exceeds 25 mm.
Design the antenna matching network with high-Q ceramic capacitors (NP0/C0G dielectric) to achieve the 13.56 MHz resonance specified by the NXP antenna design guide. Avoid using X7R or X5R capacitors in the matching network because their tolerance and voltage coefficient will degrade RF performance. The matching network should be placed within 5 mm of the ANT1/ANT2 pins, and the antenna loop should be at least 10 mm away from any ground pour or metal shielding to maintain a usable read range.
Do not exceed the absolute maximum VDD of 1.95 V or VBAT of 3.6 V, as over-voltage will permanently damage the PN7161's RF front-end. Always assert RST_N low for at least 1 ms after both VDD and VBAT rails are stable before initiating NCI communication. According to the NXP PN7160_PN7161 datasheet, leaving TEST1 floating may cause unpredictable firmware operation in production; tie TEST1 to GND through a 0 ohm resistor or direct trace. Do not route the SPI bus across the antenna region - this couples 13.56 MHz noise into the digital logic and may cause NCI communication timeouts.
Estimated: at maximum continuous RF transmission (1 W EIRP target with 5 V supply), the PN7161B1EV may dissipate approximately 0.5 W internally. With a 64-VFBGA exposed-pad footprint soldered to a 25 x 25 mm ground pour on FR-4 (estimated theta_JA of approximately 35 C/W), junction temperature rise above ambient is approximately 17 C, keeping Tj well within the -40C to +125C operating range. For enclosed housings without airflow, validate by thermocouple measurement during regulatory RF emission testing.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant and lead-free per NXP product page and DigiKey environmental listings. Standard PN7161B1EV is not AEC-Q100 qualified; for AEC-Q100 automotive applications, evaluate NXP automotive-grade NFC controllers separately. Halogen-free per NXP material declaration.
