Frequently asked questions for RF430CL33xH devices

This guide contains a compilation of frequently asked questions concerning the RF430CL33xH series of devices. It serves as a central resource for anyone evaluating or designing with the RF430CL33xH devices. This guide includes links to recommended evaluation modules, reference designs, firmware examples, and other collateral that is relevant for the RF430CL33xH family.

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1 General Questions

1.1 What protocols do the RF430CL33xH devices support?

ISO/IEC 14443 Type B and NFC Forum Type 4B

1.2 Are the RF430CL33xH devices NFC Forum compliant?

Yes, the RF430CL33xH devices are designed to use NFC Forum standards, including the NDEF record standards.

1.3 What is the NDEF message format?

NFC tags use the NFC Data Exchange Format (NDEF) to store data within tags according to the NDEF standards. This allows any NFC-enabled devices to read the data from any NFC tag and interpret it. Most applications on NFC-enabled smartphones use NDEF when reading or writing data to NFC tags.

1.4 What evaluation hardware should i get to evaluate the RF430CL33xH Devices?

1.4.1 RF430CL330H evaluation hardware

The recommended hardware for evaluation is the Dynamic Dual Interface NFC Transponder BoosterPack™ Plug-in Module.

1.4.2 RF430CL331H evaluation hardware

No BoosterPack plug-in module with the RF430CL331H is available from TI as of this writing, but there are two methods to get the RF430CL331H on a BoosterPack plug-in module:

Purchase the RF430CL331H BoosterPack plug-in module by DLP Design Inc. from Digi-Key, part number DLP‑RF430CL331BP.
Purchase a Dynamic Dual Interface NFC Transponder BoosterPack Plug-in Module from the TI store, sample an RF430CL331H device, and replace the RF430CL330H device in the DLP-RF430BP with the RF430CL331H device. These devices are fully pin compatible, so no other changes need to be made.

1.5 What TI NFC reader/writer hardware and software is required to communicate with the RF430CL33xH?

Use the TI NFCLink Standalone software solution:

Purchase hardware in TI store.
Download firmware.
For details, see NFC/HF RFID Reader/Writer Using the TRF7970A.

1.6 How do i read data from the RF430CL33xH?

See TI example firmware projects in Section 4 and program the device with a firmware example that includes a predefined NDEF Text RTD message.

1.7 How do I format or change data that is stored on the RF430CL33xH?

TI example firmware projects contain examples of different NDEF record types. For a general reference that can be applied for the RF430CL33xH devices, see the NFCLink Standalone firmware for card emulation. The NFC card emulation using the TRF7970A application report includes a link to the firmware. The header file containing the NDEF record examples is located at [installed path]/nfclink/source/headers/ndef_image.h.

For technical details or information about message types not demonstrated in TI example firmware, see the following NFC Forum specifications: Type 4 Tag Operation, NFC Data Exchange Format (NDEF), and Record Type Definition (RTD) for details about how format the capability container and payload data per the NFC Forum standards.