I need an NFC device, connected to a phone or computer though Bluetooth or possibly cable, with enough transmit power to drive a wireless sensor node during commissioning. I know this to be possible, though I don’t have any exact numbers yet. So I am basically asking how the power levels compare to similar devices, such as an Android phone, and which of your devices have the highest power?
Hi Jacob, NFC isn’t an ideal interface for energy harvesting but certain applications it can work. NFC controllers on the market range in the amount of power they can put out but the actual power transfer efficiency will depend on several factors. Things like antenna geometries, tuning, and alignment between transmitter and receiver coils.
Even though the EMV drives double the power than the Plus, we find that the power measured from them is roughly the same on an ISO7810 size coil (credit card size). Below is a comparison each reader against a NFC-enabled Android phone, the Samsung Galaxy Zoom:
As you can see the Android phone measures less than 1A/m magnetic flux whereas the FloBLE Plus measures between 1.5-2A/m and the FloBLE EMV a solid 2A/m. So my recommendation would be to go with the FloBLE EMV if you intend to be tethered to external power. Otherwise, the FloBLE Plus is the better option since it is more efficient and flexible from a power conservation perspective.
