Multi-Protocol NFC Readers / Writers – µFR Zero Series

ISO15693, ISO14443 A/B, USB CCID, UART

The µFR Zero NFC readers are compact, versatile, and modular solutions for NFC development. These multi-ISO NFC devices operate at a 13.56MHz frequency and support ISO15693 and ISO14443 A/B standards. µFR Zero NFC readers are the result of 19 years of dedicated experience in NFC technology, incorporating valuable feedback from our customers and the latest advancements in NFC modules.

Designed with IT companies and individual developers in mind, µFR Zero 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 NFC devices ensure seamless NFC software integration.

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

µFR Zero NFC devices are available with USB CCID, UART (TTL), or RS232 connectivity options. They 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 devices exemplary tools for any RFID NFC project development.

Thanks to their modular design, the functionality of the µFR Zero 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 the PIN pad. Custom development of µFR Zero modules is also possible upon customer request.

COM Protocol

SDK & Libraries

Software Tools

Video Tutorial

Catalog

Who is it for?

µFR Zero Series RFID NFC Readers are primarily intended for development companies and individuals (professionals and hobbyists) to develop further applications and turnkey solutions. For this reason, uFR Zero 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 Models

Hardware

NFC RFID readers’ RF communication is based on its robust, highly integrated PN7462 NXP IC interface. The uFR Zero devices operate on HF 13.56 MHz and communicate with cards, labels, wristbands, and ISO/IEC 15693, ISO/IEC 14443 A, and ISO/IEC 14443 B tags standard. 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.

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

Add-ons and upgrades

Thanks to its modular design, the functionality of the μFR Zero 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 modules is also possible upon customer request.

Supported technologies

Both hardware and software have been fully featured and successfully implemented with MIFARE®, NTAG21x, NTAG 4xx DNA, and JCOP family cards/tags:

• 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).

Besides, this tool supports all other tags compatible with the listed above.

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

The OEM board is available in three versions:

• USB CCID
• UART TT
• RS-232 

ALL µFR ZERO NFC READERS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AS OEM NFC MODULES.

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.

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

Finally, many functions implementation examples have been developed to make life easier for developers and integrators by reducing development time.
For instance, the following projects:

• 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 the 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
• 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.

Specifically, the μFR Firmware key feature is the ability to call all its functions using our communication protocol.
For this reason, it is possible to implement the μFR device on almost any platform with a serial interface.

Frequent firmware updates include new features, improvements, and bug fixes while maintaining compatibility with previous versions.
Accordingly, the project code and developed software are secure, so there is no need to make any changes after the firmware upgrade.

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

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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