NFC Explained: What is NFC? How NFC Works? Applications of NFC

Summary

This video from the 'All About Electronics' YouTube channel delves into Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, explaining its capabilities for short-range wireless communication between devices. It covers NFC's three modes: Card Emulation, Peer-to-Peer, and Reader/Writer, and contrasts NFC with Bluetooth, RFID, and QR codes. The video also explores practical applications, including mobile payments, file sharing, and home automation, highlighting NFC's speed, security, and convenience.

Takeaways

• 📱 Near Field Communication (NFC) is a short-distance wireless communication technology used in smartphones and tablets for various applications like sharing photos, pairing Bluetooth devices, and mobile payments.
• 🤝 NFC operates when two enabled devices are within roughly 4 cm of each other, using radio waves to communicate, with at least one device requiring an external power supply.
• 🔖 NFC Tags are passive devices that draw power from the electromagnetic field of an active device, such as a smartphone, to facilitate communication.
• 📡 NFC-enabled devices communicate using antennas, which in smartphones are often located near the battery or on the back cover.
• 🔄 NFC supports three modes of communication: Card Emulation Mode, Peer-to-Peer mode, and Reader/Writer mode, each serving different interaction purposes.
• 🤖 In Peer-to-Peer mode, two active devices take turns generating radio waves to exchange data, operating at a carrier frequency of 13.56 MHz.
• 📚 Reader/Writer mode is similar to RFID, where an active device like a smartphone reads or writes data to an NFC tag using electromagnetic induction.
• 💳 Card Emulation Mode is used for mobile payments, where the smartphone acts like a smart card, responding to a payment terminal without generating its own radio waves.
• 🏡 NFC has diverse applications beyond payments and file sharing, including home automation, healthcare, library systems, and personal device settings customization.
• 🔐 Compared to Bluetooth, RFID, and QR codes, NFC offers faster setup times, operates at a specific frequency (13.56 MHz), and provides a higher level of security due to its communication principles and capabilities.

Q & A

What does NFC stand for and what is its primary function?

NFC stands for Near Field Communication. It is a short-distance wireless communication technology that allows two NFC-enabled devices to communicate with each other when they are within close proximity, roughly around 4 cm.

How does the communication between NFC-enabled devices occur?

NFC-enabled devices communicate using radio waves generated by antennas. These devices can operate in three modes: Card Emulation Mode, Peer-to-Peer communication mode, and Reader/Writer mode.

What is the difference between active and passive devices in NFC technology?

In NFC, an active device requires an external power supply, such as a smartphone or tablet. A passive device, like an NFC Tag, does not require an external power supply and is powered by the electromagnetic field of the active device.

Can you explain the Peer-to-Peer communication mode in NFC?

In the Peer-to-Peer communication mode, both devices are active and communicate by generating radio waves alternatively. One device transmits data while the other listens, and then they switch roles, allowing them to share information and files.

How does the Reader/Writer mode in NFC work?

In the Reader/Writer mode, an active device like a smartphone reads or writes data on a passive NFC tag using electromagnetic induction. The tag receives power from the electromagnetic field and responds back to the active device using load modulation.

What is Card Emulation Mode in NFC technology?

Card Emulation Mode is used for mobile payments where the smartphone acts like a passive smart card. It does not generate its own radio waves but responds to the payment terminal's requests, similar to how a contactless credit card would work.

What are the standards defined for NFC communication?

NFC standards, derived from existing radio communication standards, define parameters such as operating frequency, coding scheme, modulation technique, and data rate. These standards are known as NFC-A, NFC-B, NFC-F, and NFC-V.

What are some practical applications of NFC technology?

NFC is used for file sharing, mobile payments, pairing devices, and information sharing via smart posters and business cards. It can also be used in home automation, healthcare, library systems, and for personal usage like changing smartphone settings.

How does NFC compare to Bluetooth in terms of pairing and data transfer?

While Bluetooth offers a higher data transfer rate, NFC requires less time for device pairing, often less than 0.1 seconds, making it ideal for quick pairing before using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi for communication.

What is the main difference between NFC and RFID technologies?

NFC is derived from RFID standards but operates at a specific frequency (13.56 MHz). Unlike RFID, which allows only one-way communication, NFC supports both one-way and peer-to-peer communication.

How does NFC technology compare with QR codes in terms of security and convenience?

NFC requires less access time compared to QR codes, which need to be scanned. NFC is also more secure because if two tags are placed on top of each other, neither can be accessed, unlike QR codes that can be replaced or overlaid.

Outlines

00:00

📱 Introduction to NFC Technology

The video introduces NFC (Near Field Communication) technology, highlighting its widespread use in smartphones and tablets for sharing photos, pairing Bluetooth devices, and facilitating mobile payments through services like Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and Apple Pay. It explains that NFC is a short-distance wireless communication technology that operates at around 4 cm, with at least one active device like a smartphone or tablet, and possibly a passive device like an NFC tag. The video outlines the three modes of NFC communication: Card Emulation Mode, Peer-to-Peer communication mode, and Reader/Writer mode. It also touches on how NFC works, with devices communicating using radio waves generated by antennas, and how the technology differs from Bluetooth, RFID, and QR codes in terms of speed and convenience.

05:04

🔍 Deep Dive into NFC Modes and Standards

This section delves deeper into the three modes of NFC communication. The Card Emulation Mode is used for mobile payments, where the smartphone acts like a passive smart card, responding to requests from a payment terminal. The Reader/Writer mode is similar to RFID, where an active device like a smartphone can read or write data on an NFC tag using electromagnetic induction. The Peer-to-Peer mode allows two active devices to communicate by taking turns to generate radio waves, enabling the sharing of information and files. The video also discusses NFC standards such as NFC-A, NFC-B, NFC-F, and NFC-V, which define parameters like operating frequency, coding schemes, modulation techniques, and data rates. It mentions various applications of NFC, including file sharing, mobile payments, device pairing, smart posters, and business cards, as well as potential uses in home automation, healthcare, library systems, and personal device settings.

10:04

🆚 Comparing NFC with Other Technologies

The final part of the video compares NFC with Bluetooth, RFID, and QR codes. While Bluetooth offers a higher data rate, NFC is faster for initial device pairing, making it ideal for quick connections. NFC is derived from RFID standards but operates at a specific frequency (13.56 MHz) and allows for two-way communication, unlike RFID's one-way communication. When compared to QR codes, NFC provides quicker access to information without the need for scanning, and it is more secure as it prevents data access when multiple tags are overlapped. The video concludes by inviting viewers to share questions and suggestions in the comments and encourages them to like and subscribe for more informative content.

Keywords

💡NFC Technology

NFC, or Near Field Communication, is a wireless communication technology that enables data exchange between devices over a short distance, typically around 4 cm. It plays a central role in the video's theme, as it is the main subject being discussed. The script mentions various applications of NFC technology, such as sharing photos, pairing Bluetooth devices, and mobile payments using services like Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and Apple Pay.

💡Card Emulation Mode

Card Emulation Mode is one of the three modes of communication supported by NFC. It allows an NFC-enabled device, like a smartphone, to act as a contactless smart card. In the video, this mode is exemplified by mobile payments where the smartphone mimics a credit card at a payment terminal, facilitating transactions without the need for physical cards.

💡Peer-to-Peer Communication Mode

This mode is another communication method supported by NFC, where two active NFC devices can exchange data directly. The video script describes how this mode operates by having one device transmit data while the other listens, and then they alternate roles, allowing for the sharing of information and files between smartphones.

💡Reader/Writer Mode

Reader/Writer Mode is used when an active NFC device, such as a smartphone, reads or writes data to a passive NFC tag. The video explains that this mode is similar to RFID technology, where the active device induces a current in the tag to power it and then reads or writes data to it. This mode is crucial for applications like accessing information from smart posters or business cards.

💡Active Device

An active device in the context of NFC is one that requires an external power supply to operate. The video mentions smartphones, tablets, and payment terminals as examples of active devices. They are essential for NFC communication as they generate the radio waves necessary for data transfer, whether in communication with passive NFC tags or other active devices.

💡Passive Device

A passive device, such as an NFC tag, does not require an external power source. Instead, it is powered by the electromagnetic field generated by an active device. The video script explains that passive devices are a key component of NFC technology, as they can be used to store information that active devices can read, such as in the case of smart posters or for home automation.

💡Electromagnetic Induction

Electromagnetic Induction is the principle used by NFC in the Reader/Writer mode to power passive devices. The video describes how an active device generates a radio wave at 13.56 MHz, which induces a current in the passive tag, allowing it to power up and communicate. This concept is fundamental to understanding how NFC can interact with tags without a battery.

💡Load Modulation

Load Modulation is the technique by which a passive NFC tag responds to an active device. As explained in the video, the tag modulates the load connected to its antenna based on the data it stores, effectively turning the load on and off to send data back to the active device. This is a key aspect of how information is transferred from a passive tag to an active device in NFC communication.

💡NFC Standards

NFC Standards, such as NFC-A, NFC-B, NFC-F, and NFC-V, define various parameters for NFC communication, including the operating frequency, coding schemes, modulation techniques, and data rates. The video script highlights the importance of these standards in ensuring compatibility and interoperability between different NFC devices.

💡Mobile Payments

Mobile Payments are a significant application of NFC technology, as discussed in the video. Services like Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and Apple Pay use NFC to enable contactless transactions. The video explains how smartphones can act as passive smart cards in Card Emulation Mode, allowing users to make payments by simply tapping their devices at a payment terminal.

💡Home Automation

Home Automation is another application area for NFC mentioned in the video. It describes how NFC tags can be used to control various aspects of a home environment, such as adjusting lighting or air conditioning, by tapping an NFC-enabled smartphone to the tag. This showcases the versatility of NFC technology in simplifying everyday tasks and enhancing convenience.

Highlights

NFC stands for Near Field Communication, a short-distance wireless communication technology.

NFC enables communication between devices within about 4 cm using radio waves.

At least one device in an NFC interaction must be an active device like a smartphone or tablet.

Passive devices in NFC, such as NFC Tags, do not require an external power supply.

NFC supports three modes of communication: Card Emulation, Peer-to-Peer, and Reader/Writer.

In Peer-to-Peer mode, devices take turns generating radio waves to communicate.

Reader/Writer mode is similar to RFID, where an active device reads or writes data on a passive NFC tag.

Card Emulation mode is used for mobile payments, where the smartphone acts like a smart card.

NFC standards like NFC-A, NFC-B, NFC-F, and NFC-V define parameters for communication.

NFC is used for file sharing, mobile payments, device pairing, and information sharing via smart posters and business cards.

NFC can be used for home automation, such as controlling lights and temperature with a tap of a smartphone.

In healthcare, NFC can quickly provide patient information and history by tapping a smartphone to a patient's NFC tag.

NFC tags can be used for personal settings on smartphones, like turning on Bluetooth or opening apps.

NFC Tools app allows writing on NFC tags and shows the number of bytes required for a specific code or URL.

NFC has a faster setup time compared to Bluetooth, making it ideal for quick pairing of devices.

NFC is more secure than QR codes because it prevents access if another NFC tag is placed on top of the first.

NFC technology is more secure and faster for accessing information compared to QR codes.

Transcripts

Hey, friends welcome to the YouTube channel ALL ABOUT ELECTRONICS.

So, in this video, we are going to learn about the NFC Technology.

I am sure, most of you are already aware of this technology and many of you might have

used this technology in your smartphone or tablet for sharing photos with friends, and

perhaps you might have used this technology for pairing the Bluetooth speakers and smartwatches.

And in fact, because of this technology, we are able to use mobile payment services like

Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and the Apple Pay.

So, let’s understand in this video, what is NFC, how this NFC works, what are the different

applications of NFC, and what are the advantages of NFC over technologies like Bluetooth, RFID,

and QR code.

So, this NFC stands for Near Field Communication.

And as its name suggest, it is short distance wireless communication technology.

So. when two NFC enabled devices are very close to each other, roughly around 4 cm,

then they can communicate with each other using the radio waves.

Now, out of the two communicating devices, at least one device has to be an active device

like smartphone, tablet or payment terminal.

While other device can be active or passive.

And the example of a passive device is the NFC Tag.

Now, here the active device means the device which requires the external power supply.

While the passive device does not require any external power supply and it is powered

by the electromagnetic field of the active device.

So, after having a little background about NFC, now, let’s understand how NFC Works

and how NFC enabled devices can communicate with each other.

So, like I said earlier, these NFC enabled devices to communicate with each other using

the radio waves.

And these radio waves are generated using the antenna.

So, if take the case of a smartphone, then the antenna is fitted on the battery like

this or sometimes it is fitted on the back side of the back cover.

While in case of NFC tag, if you tear down the tag then, you will find the antenna pattern

like this.

So, using these antennas, these devices are able to communicate with each other.

Now, these NFC supports the three modes of communication.

The first is the Card Emulation Mode.

Second is the Peer-to-Peer communication mode.

And the third is the reader or write mode.

And the example of this mode is when we are sharing the information using the two smartphones.

Now, in this mode, both devices are active devices.

And they can communicate with each other by generating the radio waves alternatively.

It means that when one device transmits the data at that time the second device only listens

to it.

And it does not generate it's own radio waves.

Similarly, when the second device transmits the data, at that time the first device only

listen to it.

And it does not generate its own radio waves.

So, in this mode, both devices generate the radio wave alternatively at the carrier frequency

of 13.56 MHz.

And using this they can share information and files with each other.

So, this is all about the Peer-to-Peer communication mode.

Now, let's talk about the second mode, that is reader or writer mode.

And the example of this mode is when we are accessing the data or information using the

smartphone from the NFC tag.

So, this mode of operation is very similar to the RFID.

So, in this mode, the active device like smartphone or tablet reads or writes the data on NFC

tag using the principle of Electromagnetic Induction.

Now, to read the information from the NFC tag, the active device generates the radio

wave at the carrier frequency of 13.56 MHz.

So, these waves used to get coupled to the antenna of the passive tag and from this electromagnetic

waves, NFC tag receives the power.

So, this time-varying electromagnetic field generates the EMF or voltage in this passive

tag.

So, this generated voltage is rectified using the rectifier and it is used to power up the

chip inside this NFC tag.

Now, this small chip generally comprises of the clock, EEPROM, rectifier circuit and the

small controller.

So, once the chip is powered up then the tag responds back to the active device by the

technique which is known as the load modulation.

So, in this technique, the tag uses the internal clock of the chip and it generates the auxiliary

carrier frequency of 848 KHz.

Now, depending upon the stored data inside this chip, the load which is connected in

parallel to the antenna is turned ON and OFF.

And in this way, the data is sent back to the active device.

So, in this way, by the principle of electromagnetic induction, the passive tag receives the power

and using the load modulation the data is sent back to the active device.

So, this all about the reader and the writer mode.

Now, let's talk about the third mode, which is known as the card emulation mode.

So, the example of this mode is when smartphones are used for the mobile payments.

So, in this mode, both devices used to be an active device.

Generally, the one device used to be a smartphone and the second device obviously used to be

payment terminal.

But in this mode, the smartphones acts like a passive smart card.

So, they do not generate their own radio waves but they only respond back to the requested

data by the payment terminal.

So, in a way, the smartphone acts like a passive device.

So, the operating principle of this mode is very similar to the reader or writer mode.

So, these are the three supported modes of communication by the NFC.

Now, in this NFC, some standards are defined to establish the communication between the

two devices.

And in this standards, certain parameters are defined like, what should be the operating

frequency or the carrier frequency of the radio waves, what type of coding scheme should

be used.

What modulation technique should be used, and what should be the data rate for the information

sharing.

So, these standards are derived from the already existing standards which are used for the

radio communication.

And standards are known as the NFC-A, NFC-B, NFC-F, and NFC-V.

So, here is the table, which summerise some of the parameters which are defined under

these standards.

So, that is being said, now let's see some useful applications of the NFC.

Now, many applications are already known to us.

And in fact, we are already using NFC for these applications.

Like, for file sharing, for mobile payments, for pairing the different devices, and for

information sharing using the smart posters and the business cards.

But apart from that, it can be used for the home automation, for health care, in the library

system, or even for the personal usage.

So, at home, just by tapping the NFC tag using the smartphones we can change the brightness

of the ambient light.re Or it is also possible to change the temperature

of the AC.

Or even we can automatically close the doors using this NFC.

So, these are the some of the applications in which the NFC can be used at our home.

Similarly in the healthcare, just by tapping the mobile to the patient's NFC tag, you can

get the required information and the history of the patient very quickly.

Moreover that, these NFC tags can be used for the personal usage.

Like, just by tapping the NFC tag, we can change the setting of our smartphone.

So, just by tapping the NFC tag, we can turn ON the Bluetooth or Wi-Fi in our smartphone.

Or we can open particular app or game in our smartphone.

So, there are many android apps are available using which it is possible to write on these

NFC tags.

The most popular among all is NFC Tools.

So, using this app, it is possible to write on these NFC tags.

And in fact, it also shows the number bytes that are required to write a particular code

or URL in the NFC tag.

And using another app called trigger, we can assign the different task which should be

get performed once this NFC tag is detected.

Like when you are in the car, then just by tapping the NFC tag, we can start the navigation

in our phone.

And once we reach the office then just by tapping the tag on the desk, we can turn the

silent profile in our phone.

So, these are the some of the applications in which NFC can be used.

Alright, so far we understood, what is NFC?

How this NFC works?

And we have seen some useful applications of NFC.

Now, let's compare this NFC with the different technologies like Bluetooth, RFID and the

QR code.

So, first, let's compare this NFC with the Bluetooth.

So, this Bluetooth is also wireless communication technology and using this we can share the

information and file with the different devices.

And in fact, the data rate at which the information can be shared on Bluetooth is quite high compared

to NFC.

But in case of Bluetooth, the time that is required for pairing the devices is more compared

to NFC.

In fact, in NFC two devices can be set up in less than 0.1 seconds.

And that is why today in many devices NFC is used for pairing the different devices.

And once the pairing between the device is established, then for communication either

Bluetooth or Wi-Fi is used.

So, now let's compare NFC with the RFID.

So, this NFCis derived from the RFID standards.

And in fact, the working principle of NFC is quite similar to the RFID.

But these RFID works on the different frequencies.

Starting from the low frequency up to the ultra-high frequencies.

But NFC works on the particular frequency band, that is 13.56 MHz band.

So, that is the one difference between the NFC and RFID.

Now, in case of RFID, the reader sends the request to the RFID tag and in response.

RFID tag replies back to the Reader.

So, we can say that there is only one-way communication is possible in case of RFID.

While in case of NFC, it is also possible to have peer-to-peer communication.

That means, two devices can communicate with each other alternatively.

So, that is the difference between the NFC and RFIDs.

Now, let's compare this NFC with QR code.

So, this QRCode technology can also be used in some applications where these NFC tags

are used.

For, an example using this QR Code, we can open some applications or we can provide some

additional information to the customer about the product.

So, in a way, this QR Code, can also be used n place of NFC tags.

But to access the information, we need to scan this QR Code using the mobiles.

While in case of NFC, just by tapping the mobile to the NFC tag, the information can

be easily accessed.

So, we can say that the access time which is required in case of NFC is less than the

QR Code.

Moreover that, this NFC is more secure than the QR Code, because, in case of QR Code,

it can be replaced by putting another QR Code on top of it.

While in case of NFC, if someone puts another NFC tag on top of it, then neither of the

tags can get accessed.

So, in a way, NFC technology is more secure than the QR Code Technology.

So, this is all about the comparison of NFC with the different technologies like QR Code,

Bluetooth, and RFID.

So, I hope in this video, you understood what is NFC, how this NFC works and what are the

different applications in which this NFC can be used.

So, if you have any questions or suggestion, do let me know in the comment section below.

If you like this video, hit the like button and subscribe to the channel for more such

videos.