µFR Zero Online Series – Multi-Protocol Network NFC RFID Readers / Writers

Network Multi-Protocol NFC RFID Readers / Writers – µFR Zero Online Series

ISO15693, ISO14443 A/B, Wi-Fi, BLE, Ethernet, USB (CDC, HID, NCP), UART, SPI

µFR Zero Online is a series of advanced smart devices that combine the functionality of our feature-rich NFC devices based on Digital Logic’s API and communication protocol, with well-known and powerful ESP32 microcontrollers.

µFR Zero Online features a wide range of connectivity options including WiFi, BLE, Ethernet, USB (CDC, HID, NCP), UART, GPIO, and SPI, ensuring seamless integration into any environment.

These devices are a great choice for anyone looking to deploy advanced technology in smart homes, industrial settings, or any project needing robust and reliable smart solutions.
The µFR Zero Online NFC readers are compact, versatile, and modular solutions for NFC development. These multi-ISO NFC devices operate at 13.56MHz frequency and support ISO15693 and ISO14443 A/B standards. µFR Zero Online NFC readers result from 19 years of dedicated experience in NFC technology, incorporating valuable customer feedback and the latest advancements in NFC modules.

Designed with IT companies, system integrators, and individual developers in mind, µFR Zero Online NFC devices serve as professional tools for those involved in RFID NFC solution development. Featuring free NFC SDK with source code examples, cross-platform libraries, upgradeable firmware, and comprehensive API and communication protocol, the µFR Zero Online NFC devices ensure seamless NFC software integration.

The availability of plug-and-play applications effectively expands the µFR Zero Online NFC readers’ user base to end-users.

µFR Zero Online NFC devices are fully NFC compliant and feature Dynamic Power Control and Low Power Card Detection, which ensure the best possible card reading distance and functionality even while in Low Power mode.

The addition of well-documented API, software SDK, cross-platform libraries, firmware upgrades, and excellent technical support, makes µFR Zero Online devices exemplary tools for any RFID NFC project development.

Thanks to their modular design, the functionality of the µFR Zero Online NFC readers can be further expanded by stacking additional modules. Available modules include Access Control with integrated solid state relays, SAM card slots, RGB displays, OLED displays, and PIN pads. Custom development of µFR Zero modules is also possible on customer request.

Software

Firmware

COM Protocol

Libraries

Video Tutorial

The idea behind it

Most NFC readers on the market support only USB or a serial interface. To create end-user products with other connectivity options, system integrators need to use additional devices such as Raspberry Pi, Arduino, or BeagleBone. This adds additional hardware costs and prolongs project implementation time.

We recognized this requirement and developed an NFC solution with integrated Wi-Fi, BLE, and Ethernet connectivity options, providing system integrators with a single, powerful device for all of their projects.

The addition of Secure Element on some µFR Zero Online models allows hardware-accelerated encryption/decryption, enabling high-security authentication services used in Apple VAS and Google Smart Tap.

Who is it for?

µFR Zero Online is primarily intended for development companies and system integrators for further applications and turnkey solutions development. It finds its place in projects that require Ethernet, WiFi, and other 2.4GHz wireless communication, and where there is a need for direct interaction with other electronic devices (sensors, relay boards, etc). 

µFR Zero Online devices come with a fully-featured Software Development Kit, including firmware, libraries, source code examples, and documentation for various platforms, operating systems, and development environments. Upgrades are released frequently (including firmware, libraries, and API), and are available for download from our official Gitlab repository for FREE.

Beyond the already mentioned advantages, our clients enjoy a substantial reduction in development time and cost through our free, comprehensive, and fast-responding technical support.

µFR Zero Online Models Specification

Hardware

µFR Zero Online is built around two core components: NXP’s PN7462 IC and Espressif’s ESP32 module, each delivering unique functionality to the device.

PN7462

Highly integrated PN7462 NXP IC interface provides reliable RF communication. The µFR Zero Online devices operate on HF 13.56 MHz and communicate with cards, labels, wristbands, and tags of ISO/IEC 15693, ISO/IEC 14443 A, and ISO/IEC 14443 B standards. With outstanding modulation and demodulation concepts, and many integrated 13.56 MHz contactless communication protocols, device implementation becomes reliable and simple for every RFID NFC solution developer. 

ESP32

The integration of the ESP32 module into µFR Zero Online devices adds enhanced functionality. This includes the ability to connect external NFC readers, control peripheral devices through GPIO pins, store event logs, set various operation modes, and many more.
ESP32 module also introduces additional connectivity options such as WiFi, BLE, and Ethernet. Supported network protocols include UDP, TCP, HTTP, HTTPS, WS, WSS, and MQTT.
Developers have the possibility to further personalize their µFR Zero Online devices by writing their own device firmware using either ESP-IDF or Arduino environment.

Enhanced Security

One of the significant upgrades compared to the previous generation of devices is the introduction of a secure element with an integrated cryptographic co-processor and accelerator. It integrates ECDH (Elliptic Curve Diffie Hellman) security protocol along with ECDSA (EllipticCurve Digital Signature Algorithm). Apart from secure key storage, this cryptographic accelerator provides secure and quick authentication in a wide range of applications such as digital wallets (Apple VAS and Google Smart Tap), contactless payment, IoT, home automation, access control, digital signing, and more.

Add-ons and upgrades

Thanks to its modular design, the functionality of the μFR  Online Series can be further expanded by adding various modules. Available modules include Access Control with integrated solid state relays, RGB LEDs, OLED displays, PIN pad, Wiegand interface, RS485 interface, SAM card slots, RTC (Real-Time Clock) and more. Custom development of µFR Zero Online modules is also possible upon customer request.

Supported technologies

µFR Zero Online hardware fully supports working with ICODE®, MIFARE®, NTAG® 21x, NTAG® 4xx DNA, and JCOP® family cards/tags:

• ICODE® (SLI, SLIX SLIX 2, SLIX-L, SLIX-S, DNA, ILT, ILT-M)
• MIFARE Mini®,
• MIFARE Classic® (1K, 4K, EV1),
• MIFARE Ultralight®,
• MIFARE Ultralight C®,
• MIFARE Plus® (2K, 4K, S, X, EV1),
• MIFARE DESFire® (Light, 2K, 4K, 8K, EV1, EV2),
• NXP NTAG® 21x (210, 213, 215, 216, Tag Tamper),
• NXP NTAG® 4xx DNA (413, 424),
• NXP JCOP® Java Card (J3A040, J3A081, J3H145, JC30M48CR).

Even though the supported technologies list is already wide, our development team constantly works on product improvements and upgrades, staying in line with this technology’s global trends. 

Connectivity options

Besides its network connectivity, µFR Zero Online hardware is available with the following power/data transfer connectivity options:

• USB (CDC, HID, NCP)
• UART TTL
• RS-232

ALL µFR ZERO ONLINE NFC READERS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AS OEM NFC MODULES (WITHOUT ENCLOSURE).

Firmware

Digital Logic proprietary interoperable firmware runs on all MCU platform-based µFR Series hardware. The reader and the host establish communication directly via the PN7462 CCID USB stack.

At the core, on the communication level, the device uses a Digital Logic unique proprietary communication protocol.
The µFR firmware contains many complex built-in functions available for calling via libraries explained in the API docs.

Most of the functions are developed to make „life easier” for developers and integrators by decreasing their development time, such as: 

• Anti-collision feature, for reading multiple NFC tags at once.
• Support for multiple RFID NFC readers on a single host.
• The whole set of commands for MIFARE Classic® manipulation according to the manufacturer’s specification
• Various addressing schemes (Block, BlockInSector)
• The key storage handling(one way, write only, no reading of stored keys)
• Various key applying modes (by index or scheme)
• Value block manipulation
• Using entire memory structure as linear space ( convenient for most card types)
• NFC tags handling, NDEF format parsing in firmware
• AES128 “on the fly” built-in hardware encryption, which is extremely important for working with complex DESFire security keys
• AES128 encryption of files and keys in DESFire cards
• MIFARE Plus support
• MIFARE Ultralight C support
• NTAG® and NTAG® DNA support
• APDU command structure support, where applicable (ISO 14443-4 layer)
• Asynchronous UID sending from reader to host COM port when a card is present – the feature is user-programmable.

Operation modes

Transparent mode – The device acts like a regular NFC reader and communicates with a host (PC, mobile…) via a USB cable

Slave mode – The device acts as a regular NFC reader but communicates with a host (PC, mobile…) via Wi-Fi or Ethernet

Master mode – Standalone mode. The device sends all scanned card information to a predefined server address via the HTTP POST method. It doesn’t require a host (PC, mobile…). It requires a stable network connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet)

2.4GHz Serial – The device acts as a regular NFC reader but, communicates with the host (PC, mobile, etc.) via the 2.4GHz low-power wireless protocol supported by ESP32

2.4GHz Low Energy – The device acts as a regular NFC reader but communicates with the host (PC, mobile, etc.) via the 2.4GHz low-power wireless protocol supported by ESP32

2.4GHz Low Energy HID – The device acts as a keyboard emulation device (for example a barcode reader). It sends card UID to a paired device’s text input field.

Log and Access Control – This premium feature allows logging card events and adds a whitelist and blacklist for basic access control.

The μFR Firmware key feature is the ability to call all its functions using our communication protocol.

Therefore, the μFR device implementation is possible on almost any platform with a physical and virtual serial interface by using the communication protocol.

Supported platforms include:

• PC – Windows, Linux, macOS, 
• Smartphones and tablets – Android and iOS
• Embedded systems
• Raspberry Pi and other compatible Single Board Computers
• Beagleboard 
• MIPS boards
• PLCs
• Arduino.

Frequent firmware updates include new features, improvements, and bug fixes while preserving backward compatibility with the previous versions. 

Accordingly, the project code and developed software are safe, so there is no need for any changes after a firmware upgrade.

All firmware updates and upgrades are FREE and available at the Digital Logic official GitLab repository.

Alternative firmware types

Developers have the possibility to further personalize their µFR Zero Online devices by writing their own device firmware using either ESP-IDF or Arduino environment.

Software Development Kit

This RFID NFC reader comes with a fully-featured Software Development Kit with external libraries, examples with source codes, documentation about API references, communication protocol, and many useful software tools.

Libraries are cross-compiled for various platforms and so far support:

• Windows x86/x64
• Windows ARM/UWP
• Linux x86/x64
• Linux ARM/ARM64/ARMHF
• macOS x64
• Android
• Arduino
• ESP32.

Software source code examples are available for all major development platforms and languages:

• Java
• Java Applet
• JavaScript (egg. NFC Reader Browser Extension)
• Node JS
• PHP
• Lazarus
• Borland Delphi
• C
• C++ Borland Builder
• C++ WxWidgets
• Microsoft® Visual .NET family: C++.NET, C#.NET,VB.NET
• Python
• Arduino IDE examples.

Besides, our team is ready to develop additional  SDK examples in other programming languages on client requests. The request processing time depends on our current project plans and eventual partnership agreement.

Package includes a set of very useful SDK source code software and executable apps. Some of these are:

• MIFARE Classic® (1k, 4k, EV1) cards and tags programming software
• MIFARE® DESFire® (Light, 2k, 4k, 8k, EV1, EV2) cards and tags programming software
• MIFARE PLUS® (2k, 4k) cards and tags programming software
• MIFARE Ultralight® (EV1) cards and tags programming software
• MIFARE Ultralight® C cards and tags programming software
• NTAG® (2xx, DNA, Tag Tamper) cards and tags programming software
• Application for common NDEF messages creating and writing into NFC tags
• Credit cards reding app (public data only)
• Formatter – software tool for card/tag formatting and programming
• uFR2FileSystem and uFR2File Lite – Keyboard simulation app, with a data reading, data parsing into several formats, and sending data to MySQL database via HTTP
• uFR Shell – Shell-like environment for easy testing and automation
• Browser extensions (add-ons) for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera
• Application for reading ePassports (Machine Readable Travel Documents)
• Digital Signing app
• APDU commands sending software
• JCOP cards programming software.

COMMON APPLICATIONS

• Electronic payment systems
• Identification systems
• Access control systems
• Subscription services
• Banking systems
• Digital content system
• Customer loyalty systems
• Vending machines
• Time & attendance
• Machine work attendance
• NFC card and tag programming
• NFC NDEF records management
• Network access control
• Inventory management
• Software login management
• Automatic fare collection
• Public transport terminals
• Cashless payment
• Parking systems
• Reception desk services
• Event visitors attendance
• Authentication and authorization
• Libraries, museums, stadium events

FEATURES

• Identity verification, data exchange & contactless transaction
• Useful for the binding device to software license
• Supporting multiple OS (Win, Linux, Android)
• USB compliant interface
• Operating Frequency: 13.56MHz
• Proximity read/write speed up to 424 kbps
• Built-in antenna for contactless tag access, with a reading distance of up to 60 mm
• Supports MIFARE® and other ISO 14443 Type A/B
• Supports ISO18092 NFC tags
• Built-in anti-collision feature
• RFID Reader locking by passwords and keys
• Application Programming Interface:
• Virtual COM through FTDI
• User controllable LEDs
• Upgradable (3-year or 5-year) warranty

SOFTWARE FEATURES

• NFC cards and tags reading/writing (programming) 
• NFC NDEF Record writing: MIME types, URI types, vCard, SMS, Phone, URL
• Card formatting
• Card linear space emulation
• Card block direct access
• Card sectors and blocks indirect access
• Card Keys and Access Bits management
• Block values management (increment/decrement)
• Asynchronously sending of Card UID to COM port (feature programmable)
• DES and 3DES Software Encryption
• Optional APDU structure (application protocol data unit) with examples of the Credit Card use in public data reading
• Shell-like environment for easy testing and automation
• Web browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera
• Digital Signing source code examples: contactless signing of digital documents with PKI (public key infrastructure) certificates

Downloads: API Documentation, µFR COM Protocol, Software source code examples with SDK

The documentation contains a detailed explanation of API and communication protocol references with actual byte-level examples for communication protocol implementation. Our API provides a very comfortable way of implementation, and we highly recommend it. When API implementation is not possible, a communication protocol is a very good alternative. We provide regular updates for all libraries, firmware, examples, tools, and documents. Updates are FREE and are available for download from the official Digital Logic GitLab repository. 

Our tech support team is available to assist with all inquiries you may have. After submitting a free technical support ticket, you should receive a response within two to fifteen days, depending on the intricacy of your inquiry. Please refer to our premium technical support plans for swift assistance.

We are open to custom development requirements based on specific customer needs. Feel free to contact us for any questions or further assistance regarding your projects and implementation.

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