2019 IEEE International Conference on RFID Technology and Applications (RFID-TA)
A simple NFC parameters measurement method
based on ISO/IEC 14443 standard
¹I-Fong Chen, ²Chia-Mei Peng and ³Zhi-Da Yan
¹Department of Computer and Communication, Jinwen University of Science and Technology
²Department of Communication Engineering, Feng Chia University
³Graduate Institute of Communication Engineering, National Taiwan University
Abstract—A simple NFC (near field communication)
parameters measurement method based on ISO/IEC 14443
standard was presented in this article. The measurement
procedure of three test items, namely off-keying duration time
evaluation, H-field strength measurement and NFC system
performance evaluation were illustrated. By using the real-
time spectrum and oscilloscope, the calculation with all
conversion and correction factors is derived. Experimental
results are shown to verify the validity of theoretical work.
I. INTRODUCTION
The performance characteristics of the Tag and Reader
devices may vary drastically due to application factors as
well as the particulars of the RF air interface (frequency,
modulation, inventory algorithm, etc.). Of key concern is the
matching of the various performance characteristics to the
user application. Additionally, in an open environment users
of NFC technology demand multiple sources fit the devices
from technology providers. A key challenge is a method of
evaluating the differences between various technology
providers’ products in a consistent and equitable manner. In
this article specifies the Tag performance metrics and
producers for measuring them. Tags are passive-backscatter
devices and operate within an Interrogator-talks-first. NFC
system is operating in the 13.56MHz frequency range. The
system comprises Readers-also known as Interrogators, and
Tag-also known as Labels. The active component of a Tag
is the Tag IC which determines all of the functional
properties of the Tag as well as many of its performance
parameters. The following standards contain provisions
which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions
of the part of ISO/IEC 14443. At the time of publication, the
editions indicated were valid. All standards are subject to
revision, and parties to agreements based on this part of
ISO/IEC 14443 are encouraged to investigate the possibility
of applying the most recent editions of the standards listed
below. ISO and IEC maintain registers of currently valid
International Standards [1-5].
a. ISO/IEC14443, identification cards-contactless
integrated circuit(s) cards - Proximity cards.
b. ISO/IEC 10373, Identification cards - Test methods.
c. ISO/IEC 7816-2, Identification cards -Integrated
circuit(s) cards with contacts - Part2: Dimensions and
location of the contacts.
Various air interface modulation and coding schemes are
permitted by the Protocol [1]. The measurement methods of
978-1-7281-0589-5/19/$31.00 ©2019 IEEE
power and bi-directional communication between Reader
and Tag are presented as below section.
II. NFC STANDARD OVERVIEW
The Near Field Communication (NFC) ISO/IEC 14443
standard defines the requirements for proximity cards
commonly used for identification purposes. The ISO/IEC
differentiates these cards from close-coupled cards
(ISO/IEC 10536), which provide extremely close distances
with the coupling device, and vicinity cards (ISO/IEC
15693), which provide longer distances from the associated
coupling device. The standard appears in four parts, as
presented in the following list:
a. ISO/IEC 14443-1:2008 Part 1: Physical characteristics:
Specifies how the cards are put together physically.
The standard discusses two types of cards:
identification cards conforming to ISO/IEC 7810, and
thin, flexible cards conforming to ISO/IEC 15457-1.
However, the standard also recognizes that the
technology could appear in other forms.
b. ISO/IEC 14443-2:2010 Part 2: Radio frequency power
and signal interface: Determines the characteristics of
the fields used to provide power and bidirectional
communication between proximity coupling devices
(PCDs) and proximity cards or objects (PICCs). This
specification doesn’t determine the means used to
generate the field. Type A, B, and FeliCa cards use
different modulation methods and coding schemes.
c. ISO/IEC 14443-3:2011 Part 3: Initialization and anti-
collision: Defines how the communication process
begins, proceeds, and ends. For example, this part of
the standard describes how a device polls (looks for)
potential connection and then initiates a command to
start communications. Type A, B, and FeliCa cards
use different protocol initialization procedures.
d. ISO/IEC 14443-4:2008 Part 4: Transmission protocol:
Defines a messaging protocol to be used for
communicating with proximity cards. For example,
this part describes the format of a message that would
be used to read data from or write data to a card. The
same messaging protocol applies to both Type A and
B cards. FeliCa uses a different protocol defined in the
JIS 6319-4 standard.
The standards refer to the reader as a proximity coupling
device (PCD) and to the card (Tag) as a proximity integrated
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 2019 IEEE International Conference on RFID Technology and Applications (RFID-TA)

coupling circuit (PICC). When PCD communicated to PICC, and before it exceeds 60% of Hintial.
there are two different signal modulations. About the RF
power and signal interface, there are two signaling schemes,
type A and type B. The basic characteristics of type A and
type B are shown in the Table I.

Table I. Basic characteristics of ISO/IEC 14443 Type A and Type B

For the purposes to obtain the NFC parameters defined in

ISO/IEC 14443, the brief measurement method as shown in
the next section.
III. NFC PARAMETERS MEASUREMENT
Fig. 1. ISO/IEC 14443 type A modulation waveform [6].
The measurement procedure of three test items, namely
modulation index, field strength and NFC performance were
In this article presents a simple method to evaluating the off-
illustrated. The DUTs are Tag (13.56 MHz, denoted as
keying duration time by using oscilloscope, the measure
PICC) and Reader (13.56 MHz, denoted as PCD). By using
system setup is shown in Fig. 2. The reading antenna was
the real-time spectrum and oscilloscope, the calculation with
setup between Reader and Tag, then the H-field signal
all conversion and correction factors is derived.
power can be detected. The modulation index is defined as
A. Off-keying duration time evaluation [a-b] / [a+b], where an and b are the peak and minimum
In the Modulation on H-field alternating with RF carrier., signal amplitude respectively, correspond to 90% and 5%
the data bit rate for the transmission during initialization and Hintial. When the evaluation modulation index is less than
anti-collision shall be fc/128, the type A communication 95%, it means off-keying, the duration time is defined as the
schemes are half duplex with a 106 Kbit per second data time-slot between the modulation index less than 95%.
rate in each direction. Data transmitted by the card is load
modulated with an 847.5 kHz subcarrier. Properties are
defined at the air interface (spec. on time, residual carrier,
overshoot). Parameters are specified in value ranges,
individual for Reader and Transponder, to allow signal
distortion by coupling of resonant antenna circuits. The Off-
keying duration time can be obtained by using RSA 3408B
real time spectrum analyzer. For example: ISO/IEC 14443
type A, communication between PCD (proximity coupling
device, Reader) and PICC (proximity card, Tag) takes place
using the modulation principle of ASK 100% of the RF
operating field to create a “pause”, as shown in Figure 1.
The envelope of the PCD field shall decrease monotonically
to less than 5% of its initial value HintialL and remain less
than 5% for more than t2. This envelope shall comply to Fig.
1. If the envelope of the PCD field does not decrease
monotonically, the time between a local maximum and the
time of passing the same value before the local maximum
shall not exceed 0.5µs. This shall only apply if the local Fig. 2. PCD field strength measurement system.
maximum is greater than 5% of H intialL. Overshoots shall
remain within 90% and 110% of H intial. The PICC shall B. H-field strength measurement
detect the ”End of Pause” after the field exceeds 5% of H intial For 13.56MHz passive Tag applications, the voltage transfer
between Reader and Tag coils is accomplished through

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 2019 IEEE International Conference on RFID Technology and Applications (RFID-TA)

inductive coupling between the two coils. For verifying the

operation of a Tag or a Reader according to ISO/IEC 14443- Table II. Measured magnetic field strength.
2, the test apparatus includes: Calibration coil, Test Reader
assembly, Reference Tag, Digital sampling oscilloscope.
The calibration coil is a loop antenna. When the space is
6cm between Reader and Tag, the magnetic field strength
(H) is at least 1.5A/m, and the strength is not over 7.5A/m
on 0cm. The test method is shown in Fig. 2. The reading
antenna (loop antenna) is put between the reader and tag.
The magnetic field strength (H) is given by: The load modulation amplitude (X) is at least small than
1.2
30/H mV (peak), then the signal can be de-modulated.
( X  L)
H  N Z (1)
C X  m  320  30 Y (2)
H H
1.2

Where N, C and Z are turns, circum and input impedance of The final evaluation results for the physical NFC system in
loop antenna. X is the Max. signal value from oscilloscope. three distances (0cm, 3cm and 6cm) are shown in Table III.
L is the loss of oscilloscope probe.
Table III. The final evaluation results for the physical NFC system.
C. NFC system performance evaluation
The Tag shall be capable of communication to the Reader
via an inductive coupling area where the carrier frequency is
loaded to generate a sub-carrier with frequency fs. The sub-
carrier shall be generated by switching a load in the Tag.
1.2
The load modulation amplitude shall be at least 30/H mV
(peak) when measured as described in the test methods, IV. DISCUSSION
where H is the (root mean square, rms) value of magnetic Based on EMV contactless specifications for payment
field strength in A/m. The physical case study as below: systems book D: EMV contactless communication protocol
using RSA 3408B real time spectrum analyzer to get the specification [7] and NFC Forum Technical Specification:
load modulation index (m), as shown in Fig. 3. Then to Analog Technical Specification 2.1 [8], the universal
measure the magnetic field strength (H), the measurement conformance test platform for contact-based and contactless
result is shown in Table II. terminal testing were used by Comprion UT ³ platform
(which is adopted by third party Lab), as shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 3. Load modulation index measurement.

The load modulation amplitude (X) is at least small than

1.2
30/H mV (peak), then the signal can be de-modulated.

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 2019 IEEE International Conference on RFID Technology and Applications (RFID-TA)

[8]. NFC Forum Technical Specification: Analog Technical

Specification 2.1.
[9]. https://www.comprion.com/products-solutions/products:
solutions-a-z/ut3-platform/

Fig. 4. Comprion UT³ platform for NFC analog performance test [9].

The measured H-field strength and NFC system

performance was shown in the Table IV. There are slightly
difference between the measured and evaluated (the
presented evaluated method) results. The validity of
presented evaluated method was verified.

Table IV. The measured NFC performance and H-field strength.

V. CONCULSION
In this article, based on the ISO/IEC 14443 standard, a
simple measurement method was presented to test three
items: off-keying duration time evaluation, H-field strength
measurement and NFC system performance evaluation.
There are slightly difference between the evaluation results
and third party Lab measurement. The presented method
provides a guide-line for R&D engineer in the NFC product
design stage. The equations (1) and (2) are induced from the
experimental studies. Experimental results are shown to
verify the validity of theoretical work.
REFERENCES
[1]. Standard: ISO/IEC14443, Identification cards-contact-
less integrated circuit(s) cards - Proximity cards.
[2]. Standard: ISO/IEC 10373, Identification cards - Test
methods.
[3] Standard: ISO/IEC 7816-2, Identification cards -
Integrated circuit(s) cards with contacts - Part2: Dimensions
and location of the contacts.
[4] Standard: ECMA-340, Near Field Communication
Interface and Protocol (NFCIP-1).
[5]. Standard: ECMA-352, Near Field Communication
Interface and Protocol (NFCIP-2).
[6]. Michael Gebhart, “RFID Systems”, Graz University of
Technology, March. 2016.
[7]. EMV® Contactless Specifications for Payment Systems
Book D EMV Contactless. Communication Protocol
Specification 2.6 March 2016

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