1 General description
MFRC631, the cost efficient NFC frontend for payment.
The MFRC631 multi-protocol NFC frontend IC supports the following operating modes:
• Read/write mode supporting ISO/IEC 14443 type A and MIFARE Classic communication mode
• Read/write mode supporting ISO/IEC 14443B
The MFRC631’s internal transmitter is able to drive a reader/writer antenna designed to communicate with
ISO/IEC 14443A and MIFARE Classic IC-based cards and transponders without additional active circuitry. The
digital module manages the complete ISO/IEC 14443A framing and error detection functionality (parity and
CRC).
The MFRC631 supports MIFARE Classic with 1K memory, MIFARE Classic with 4K memory, MIFARE Ultralight,
MIFARE Ultralight C, MIFARE Plus and MIFARE DESFire products. The MFRC631 supports higher transfer
speeds of the MIFARE product family up to 848 kbit/s in both directions.
The MFRC631 supports layer 2 and 3 of the ISO/IEC 14443B reader/writer communication scheme except
anticollision. The anticollision needs to be implemented in the firmware of the host controller as well as in the
upper layers.
The following host interfaces are supported:
• Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI)
• Serial UART (similar to RS232 with voltage levels dependent on pin voltage supply)
• I2C-bus interface (two versions are implemented: I2C and I2CL)
The MFRC631 supports the connection of a secure access module (SAM). A dedicated separate I2C interface is implemented for a connection of the SAM. The SAM can be used for high secure key storage and acts as a very performant crypto coprocessor. A dedicated SAM is available for connection to the MFRC631. In this document the term „MIFARE Classic card“ refers to a MIFARE Classic IC-based contactless card.
2 Features and benefits
• Includes NXP ISO/IEC14443-A and Innovatron ISO/IEC14443-B intellectual property licensing rights
• High-performance multi-protocol NFC frontend for transfer speed up to 848 kbit/s
• Supports ISO/IEC 14443 type A, MIFARE Classic and ISO/IEC 14443 B modes
• Supports MIFARE Classic product encryption by hardware in read/write mode
Allows reading cards based on MIFARE Ultralight, MIFARE Classic with 1 kB memory, MIFARE Classic with 4
kB memory, MIFARE DESFire EV1, MIFARE DESFire EV2 and MIFARE Plus ICs.
• Low-power card detection
• Compliance to "EMV contactless protocol specification V2.3.1" on RF level can be achieved
• Antenna connection with minimum number of external components
• Supported host interfaces:
– SPI up to 10 Mbit/s
– I2C-bus interfaces up to 400 kBd in Fast mode, up to 1000 kBd in Fast mode plus
– RS232 Serial UART up to 1228.8 kBd, with voltage levels dependent on pin voltage supply
• Separate I2C-bus interface for connection of a secure access module (SAM)
• FIFO buffer with size of 512 byte for highest transaction performance
• Flexible and efficient power saving modes including hard power down, standby and low-power card detection
• Cost saving by integrated PLL to derive system clock from 27.12 MHz RF quartz crystal
• 3 V to 5.5 V power supply (MFRC63102)
2.5 V to 5.5 V power supply (MFRC63103)
• Up to 8 free programmable input/output pins
• Typical operating distance in read/write mode for communication to a ISO/IEC 14443 type A and MIFARE
Classic card up to 12 cm, depending on the antenna size and tuning
The version CLRC63103 offers a more flexible configuration for Low-Power Card detection compared to
the CLRC63102 with the new register LPCD_OPTIONS. In addition, the CLRC63103 offers new additional
settings for the Load Protocol which fit very well to smaller antennas. The CLRC63103 is therefore the
recommended version for new designs.
3 Applications
• Reader for MIFARE product-based cards
• Industrial
• Access control
• Gaming
• Closed loop payment