NFC Patch Compatibility

[MohamedParticipant]

Hi there,
I just placed an order for an NFC patch kit and antenas as well.

I want to know are they compatible with any android NFC enabled device. I saw that it was mentioned that it is compatible with Nexus 7 (2013) but that is a bit too old (4 years !). Is it compatible with newer android versions (Samsusng Note 5, Nexus 9), (lolipop..)

Kindly advise to make sure my order is compatible with our current test project.

Thank you,

Dr. Watfa

[RichardKeymaster]

Hi Mohamed, the NFC Patch Kit is a passive solution and indeed is compatible with all NFC reader devices like that Nexus 7, Samsung Note 5, Note 9, etc. This products dimensions and tuning values are designed for the Nexus 7 (2013) but they work with any NFC reader device, some better than others but functional nonetheless. What makes for a great NFC user experience has a lot to do with the antenna geometries at play, from the reader as well as the target tag sides.

What is you application? Have you decided what tag geometries and chip set you will be using? What it the NFC tag read frequency and distance you are targeting? The solutions can be optimized for your deployment devices but we would need to know the make and model of the Android NFC device you intend to use as well the make and model of the target NFC tags.

best,
Richard

[MohamedParticipant]

Thanks for the prompt reply.
The nexus 9 would be used in our application.
The nfc tags of rubber wristbands that would be used in taking attendance as well as e payment from the cafeteria using a dedicated app.
So, we would be doing something similar to the video with 3 antennas attached to a contact area to allow for more contact points. Hence that is why we ordered 4 extra antennas in addition to the 2 patch kits for to POS locations.

[RichardKeymaster]

Understood. I’m concerned that you may not get the results you are aiming for. We don’t have Nexus 9 to test for you so let me explain what I mean so that you’re aware of the risks. The NFC Patch Kit extends the scan surface of Android NFC devices by way of “inductive coupling”. What this means is that the magnetic field generated by the Android NFC device is absorbed by the patch and transmitted over a cable to the attachable antenna that come with the kit. There is some power loss during this exchange, however. The power loss can be because of misaligned installation as well as imperfect tuning with the Nexus 9 (given the design is intended for the Nexus 7). While the first issue can be corrected by better centering the patch on the device scan surface, the second cannot. Furthermore, the placing of more than one antennas on the cable line also introduces losses.

We have built and tested the NFC Patch Kit for the Nexus 7 (2013) as I previously mentioned. The add on of 3 NFC antennas to one patch was also tested and proven out. Many customers that have purchased and deployed this solution have been happy with it. But again, you would be the first to try this with the Nexus 9. Also worth mentioning is that the kit connectors require modification to support more than one antenna. You can see more details of how this is done on this thread.

best,
Richard

[MohamedParticipant]

Ok. Hope all goes well. Let.me know when the order gets shipped.
For connecting 3 antennas, do I need any extra kits from your side or basic off the shelf components should suffice.

[RichardKeymaster]

You should have received an order confirmation. Your order will ship out today. Basic off the shelf components will allow you to construct the 3 in 1 setup. We use 32AWG wire, lead free solder and soldering iron. It’s a 10min job tops.

best,
Richard

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