PN7161 Documentation covers quick start steps, I2C wiring, Raspberry Pi and ESP32 setup, Apple ECP differences, libraries, and troubleshooting for the ELECHOUSE PN7161 NFC RFID Module.
Quick Start
- Use the module as an I2C NFC controller with NCI 2.0 firmware.
- Wire SDA, SCL, IRQ, VEN, VDD, VANT, GND, and optional DWL to your host.
- For Raspberry Pi / Linux, use the same linux_libnfc-nci workflow used by PN7160.
- For ESP32 / Arduino IDE, follow the same I2C setup documents used for PN7160.
- If your target application needs Apple Wallet / Apple VAS / Apple ECP, use PN7161 instead of PN7160.
What Makes PN7161 Different?
| Feature | PN7161 | PN7160 |
|---|---|---|
| Apple ECP | Supported | Not supported |
| Apple Wallet / Apple VAS workflows | Compatible | Not the right choice |
| NCI 2.0 | Yes | Yes |
| I2C hardware footprint | Same | Same |
| Linux / Android driver model | Same family workflow | Same family workflow |
Pinout / Wiring Reference
PN7161 uses the same practical wiring model as PN7160.
| PN7161 Pin | Raspberry Pi 4 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SDA | Pin 3 (SDA) | I2C data |
| SCL | Pin 5 (SCL) | I2C clock |
| IRQ | Pin 16 / GPIO23 | Interrupt |
| VEN | Pin 18 / GPIO24 | Enable / reset control |
| VDD | Pin 1 / 3.3V | Logic supply |
| VANT | Pin 2 or 4 / 5V | Antenna supply |
| GND | Pin 6 / GND | Common ground |
| DWL | Pin 22 | Optional maintenance pin |
ESP32 Wiring
| PN7161 | ESP32 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DWL | GPIO19 | Control pin used in the guide |
| SDA | GPIO21 | I2C data |
| SCL | GPIO22 | I2C clock |
| IRQ | GPIO14 | Interrupt |
| VEN | GPIO13 | Enable / reset |
| VDD | 3V3 | Logic supply |
| GND | GND | Common ground |
| VANT | 5V | Antenna supply |
Supported Platforms
- Raspberry Pi
- Linux with
linux_libnfc-nci - ESP32 in Arduino IDE
- Android / embedded Linux systems
- Embedded applications that require Apple ECP support
Initialization Method
- Bring the module up exactly as you would a PN7160 I2C board.
- Enable I2C on the host and verify bus visibility.
- Install the Linux or Arduino-side software stack.
- Run a basic reader / polling test first.
- Only after baseline communication works should you move on to Apple-specific higher-level application flows.
Libraries and Drivers
- NXP linux_libnfc-nci
- Quick Guide (shared with PN7160/PN7161)
- ESP32 guide (shared workflow)
- I2C address setting guide
- Reference schematic PDF
I2C Address Options
The PN7161 family board uses the same address-selection approach documented for PN7160/PN7161 I2C boards. Supported 7-bit addresses are:
- 0x28
- 0x29
- 0x2A
- 0x2B
Example Workflow
# Raspberry Pi / Linux baseline workflow
sudo raspi-config
# enable I2C
ls /dev/i2c*
git clone https://github.com/NXPNFCLinux/linux_libnfc-nci.git -b NCI2.0_PN7160
cd linux_libnfc-nci
./bootstrap
./configure
make
sudo make install
export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/usr/local/lib
nfcDemoApp poll
Common Errors
- Apple use case expected, but PN7160 hardware used: switch to PN7161 if Apple ECP is required.
- No board response: verify I2C, IRQ, VEN, power rails, and device address.
- Linux driver starts but no tags are detected: re-check config file transport / device node settings.
- ESP32 example does not respond: confirm pin mapping and supply rails for both VDD and VANT.
Troubleshooting
- First validate plain NFC polling before debugging Apple-specific application layers.
- Use the same bring-up checklist as PN7160 because the hardware platform is intentionally close.
- If multiple boards share the bus, confirm address resistor settings and bus pull-up health.
Version Differences
- PN7161 is the enhanced PN7160-family option that adds Apple ECP support.
- For non-Apple NFC reading / writing use cases, PN7160 may be sufficient and lower cost.
Update History
- 2026-04-05: First public PN7161 documentation page published.
- Reference basis: shared ELECHOUSE I2C quick-start documents plus the PN7161 product page technical notes.