MFRC5231. Introduction
This document describes the functionality and electrical specifications of the contactless
reader/writer MFRC523.
1.1 Different available versions
The MFRC523 is available in two versions:
? MFRC52302 (HVQFN32), hereafter named as version 2.0
? MFRC52301 (HVQFN32), hereafter named as version 1.0
The differences of the version 1.0 to the version 2.0 are summarized in Section 11.
2. General description
The MFRC523 is a highly integrated reader/writer for contactless communication at
13.56 MHz. The MFRC523 reader supports ISO/IEC 14443 A/MIFARE mode.
The MFRC523’s internal transmitter is able to drive a reader/writer antenna designed to
communicate with ISO/IEC 14443 A/MIFARE cards and transponders without additional
active circuitry. The receiver module provides a robust and efficient implementation for
demodulating and decoding signals from ISO/IEC 14443 A/MIFARE compatible cards and
transponders. The digital module manages the complete ISO/IEC 14443 A framing and
error detection (parity and CRC) functionality.
All protocol layers of the ISO/IEC 14443 A and ISO/IEC 14443 B communication
standards are supported provided:
? additional components, such as the oscillator, power supply, coil etc are correctly
applied
? standardized protocols, such as ISO/IEC 14443-4 and/or ISO/IEC 14443 B
anticollision are correctly implemented
The MFRC523 supports contactless communication using MIFARE higher baud rates
(see Section 8.3.4.11 on page 22) at transfer speeds up to 848 kBd in both directions.
The following host interfaces are provided:
? Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI)
? Serial UART (similar to RS232 with voltage levels dependent on pin voltage supply)
? I 2 C-bus interface
MFRC523
Standard 3V ISO/IEC 14443 A/B reader solution
Rev. 4.1 — 6 May 2015
115241
Product data sheet
COMPANY PUBLIC
MFRC523 All information provided in this document is subject to legal disclaimers. © NXP Semiconductors N.V. 2015. All rights reserved.
Product data sheet
COMPANY PUBLIC
Rev. 4.1 — 6 May 2015
115241  2 of 101
NXP Semiconductors MFRC523
Standard 3V ISO/IEC 14443 A/B reader solution
3. Features and benefits
? Highly integrated analog circuitry to demodulate and decode responses
? Buffered output drivers for connecting an antenna with the minimum number of
external components
? Supports ISO/IEC 14443 A/MIFARE
? Supports ISO/IEC 14443 B Read/Write modes
? Typical operating distance in Read/Write mode up to 50 mm depending on the
antenna size and tuning
? Supports MIFARE Mini, MIFARE 1K and MIFARE 4K encryption in Read/Write mode
? Supports ISO/IEC 14443 A higher transfer speed communication at 212 kBd, 424 kBd
and 848 kBd
? Supports MFIN/MFOUT
? Additional internal power supply to the smart card IC connected via MFIN/MFOUT
? Supported host interfaces
? SPI up to 10 Mbit/s
? I 2 C-bus interface up to 400 kBd in Fast mode, up to 3400 kBd in High-speed mode
? RS232 Serial UART up to 1228.8 kBd, with voltage levels dependant on pin
voltage supply
? FIFO buffer handles 64 byte send and receive
? Flexible interrupt modes
? Hard reset with low power function
? Power-down by software mode
? Programmable timer
? Internal oscillator for connection to 27.12 MHz quartz crystal
? 2.5 V to 3.3 V power supply
? CRC coprocessor
? Programmable I/O pins
? Internal self-test