NFC Behind TFT
Integrating NFC (Near Field Communication) behind a TFT display enables contactless communication without compromising design aesthetics or functionality. This approach allows seamless payment, authentication, and data transfer while maintaining a sleek, uninterrupted front surface. It’s ideal for smart devices, automotive systems, and industrial applications where space efficiency and user experience are critical.
Everyday NFC Use Cases
- Time clocks & tool lockers: NFC enables tap-and-go transactions using smartphones or contactless cards.
- Digital ticketing & boarding: Used for public transport, airlines, and events—NFC simplifies access by eliminating paper tickets.
- Smart advertising & posters: Interactive NFC tags in posters or packaging deliver digital content or promotions when tapped by a phone.
- Access control & authentication: From hotel key cards to secure building entry, NFC supports smart badges and encrypted identity verification.
Our offer: Hardware + Software Support
Hardware: Different sizes of display stacks with TFT, PCAP, and integrated NFC antenna, e.g., XXX
You need: Renesas NFC reader PTX130R on your embedded board
Support: We provide software support to transfer data from the PTX chip to your Linux platform.
How NFC Works
Proximity-based data exchange
NFC enables two devices to communicate wirelessly when within a 10 cm range, using electromagnetic induction to transmit data via radio waves.
Three operational modes
NFC operates in Reader/Writer, Peer-to-Peer, and Card Emulation modes—allowing versatile use cases from payments to device pairing.
No pairing required
Unlike Bluetooth, NFC requires no prior device pairing, making it ideal for quick, low-effort interactions such as tapping a poster for info or making a payment.
Energy-efficient
With low power consumption and passive operation support, NFC is suitable for wearables, key fobs, and contactless cards.
Why Place the NFC Antenna Inside the TFT
Strategic integration between metal frame and backlight
Saves critical internal space
Embedding the antenna within the TFT structure frees up space for components like batteries, processors, or heatsinks—vital for compact designs.
Cleaner and thinner product design
Avoids bulky external antenna modules, enabling sleek, seamless device profiles—ideal for smartphones, kiosks, and wearables.
Enhanced security & usability
Touching the screen to pay or validate feels natural; integration into the display improves alignment, signal integrity, and tap accuracy.
Perfect for all kinds of terminals
Allows NFC placement directly where user interaction occurs—on-screen—without compromise to form or RF performance.
Sine Wave Architecture
- Generating Sine Wave directly on chip
- Does not require external filtering, easing many design challenges
- Direct Antenna Connection delivers highest power and best sensitivity
- Ultra precise wave shaping ensures certification, improves margin and reduces R&D effort
- Significant reduction in BoM reduces complexity, cost and size (estimated around 10 cents$ @ > 1Mu)
- Simplifies and improves NFC integration
- Reduce BoM and antenna size
- Better RF performance enabling NFC behind display
- Allows added value NFC applications
- Long Range reader capability in challenging environment with EMVCo support
- Card mode support with Active Load Modulation
- Fully compatible with legacy NFC ecosystem
- Offer better interoperability and performance than conventional NFCC
- Faster certification vs Industrial or International standards (EMVCo, NFC Forum, FCC, etc.)
PTX130R – NFC READER
High performance NFC reader for Android based device
Features
- Best in class RF performance: Output power, Sensitivity and ultra precise modulation shaping
- Android SW Stack (NCI 2.x based) with Soft POS (EMVCo), VAS/ECP functionality and traditional NFC Forum application
- Support most types of NFC protocols (ISO14443 A/B, ISO18092, ISO15693, FeliCa and others)
Benefits
- Behind display antenna integration
- Cost reduction: BoM cost reduction thanks for external component removal (EMI filter less)
- Seamless switch between EMVCo and NFC Forum operation into Android
PTX NFC
Can enable EMVCo 3.x PCD in PDAs, Smartphones and PC
| Challenge for OEM | Impact on NFC | Impact on EMVCo | PTX Solution |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFC behind touch screen, Larger Battery & thinner body | Shielding effect, Noise from display | Power Transfer adjustment challenges, Weak Load Modulation Amplitude | 2W power on ANT, -80dBc Receiver Sensitivity |
| EMVCo 3 tests with Multiple PICC | Coupling effect, Detuning | Waveshape distortion (overshoot/undershoot) | Accurate digital wave shaping |
