NFC Production Quality
Assurance

NFC Xplorer Inline is a Test Tool for High Speed Quality Assurance and Encoding.

NFC Performance Testing During Production

The CISC NFC Xplorer Inline is a unit for high-speed quality assurance testing of NFC inlays and tags during the production process. It offers quality assurance during the production process from start to end which includes performance testing and encoding. NFC Xplorer Inline is available with a GUI but also allows full integration into assembly machines through serial interfaces, trigger lines, and API.

Encoding and locking

The NFC Xplorer Inline system excels with its ability to seamlessly encode, test, and lock data on NFC labels in one continuous process. This advanced feature guarantees that each NFC label is accurately encoded with the correct data, thoroughly tested for functionality, and securely locked to prevent any unauthorized changes. By integrating these steps, the system enhances production efficiency, reduces the likelihood of human error, and ensures the reliability and security of every NFC label. This makes it an indispensable tool for high-volume, precision-driven NFC label management.

Key Benefits

More flexibility in creating an own performance matrix
Better analysis while saving time and cost
Testing for performance on 13.56 MHz at high speed (> 100k UPH)
Improves overall quality of the product
Full quality assurance in production
Support of various NFC Tag types
Security, crypto support (SAM, TAM)

Key Features

Variable H-field strength
Provided a complete solution including antennas to support for class 1 – 6 tags
Read / Write mode for encoding and personalization
Test label operating field range
GPIO for external trigger
Serial interface for communication
Supported standards:
- ISO/IEC 14443A and B
- ISO/IEC 15693

NFC Xplorer inline is a quality assurance test tool that additionally allows encoding of NFC and HF RFID tags and labels. The device is setup to support the maximum speed allowed by the protocol and the tag chip.The device consists of 2 elements, the NFC Xplorer Inline itself and a test antenna (set). A Secure Access Module, the MIFARE SAM AV3, is provided optionally.

A set of 3 test antennas together with square and round shielding panels are provided covering all NFC tag type classes 1-6 to meet production testing requirements for any kind of NFC tags and labels.

The results table give full overview of the quality assurance testing including the possibility to save it as a report.

SOFTWARE Maintenance Service

Maintenance means the provisioning of regular Updates for the software of the Product. CISC Semiconductor provides Updates on a schedule of approx. six (6) months (typically two times in a year). These updates don’t add completely new features but focus on maintaining top performance, ensuring compatibility, provide continuous improvements in functionality of the Product, continuous usability enhancements and necessary security updates. Updates are made available online under www.cisc.at/support for the Licensee’s Technical Contact(s). Note: Upgrades are not part of the Maintenance.

Cost: Maintenance is optional. It is provided in the form of Updates of the software for the Product purchased by the Licensee. Maintenance must be purchased by Licensee in advance for an annual extension of 20% of the current license price of the at the date of order. Extensions of Maintenance may also be purchased for more than one year.
For every purchase of the product Maintenance is included for the first twelve (12) months after purchase (shipment date) for free.

Customer benefits per release

Year 2025

Release: Build_251010

The machine speed is now shown in real time, making operation easier to monitor.
A new tool helps you measure antenna and fail-marker offsets automatically.
The software runs smoother thanks to several performance improvements.
You can now encode variable data from a file for ISO 14443 A tags, allowing more flexible production.
Previous settings are now correctly remembered after restarting the software.

Release: Build_250515

The system avoids triggering the same tag twice.
High-speed encoder options make the system ready for faster production lines.
A warning appears if the same label is tested again.
NTAG21x write failures are now clearly reported.
Multi-lane systems work more reliably.
Result pulses can be customized through the API.
Good tags can trigger a result pulse automatically.
CIU firmware can be updated without a service cable.

Year 2024

Release: Build_240308

NTAG424 data is now read fully and correctly.
UART TTL and RS232 communication are supported.
Writing is faster because zero-data blocks are skipped.
A redesigned GUI makes the software much easier to use.
Windows 11 support is included.
Up to eight devices can be controlled from one GUI or one API.

Year 2023

Release: Build_230228

ISO ReadBinary now reads full content correctly.
Tag data can be compared automatically with expected values.
More CIU hardware functions can be controlled from the software.
GUI and API work more smoothly thanks to minor improvements.

Year 2022

Release: Build_221130

Faster and more stable performance with a 64-bit application.
New NTAG424 commands allow deeper and more complete testing.
Previous measurement graphs stay visible until you delete them.
API examples make NTAG424 configuration easier.

Release: Build_220331

ISO/IEC 15693 tags can now be fully tested (read/write/lock).
No license dongle is required — licenses can be stored on the device.
Up to four devices can be controlled from one GUI or one API.
Devices can be controlled via UART over GPIO pins.
Pass/fail results are shown separately for each device.
Reports include the device name for better documentation.
API can automatically save quality-assurance data to CSV.
New functions support multi-device control more easily.

Year 2021

Release: Build_211109

New NTAG424 commands support secure SAM AV3 authentication.
ICODE DNA tags can be written and authenticated with SAM AV3.
Higher communication speeds make configuration faster.
NTAG21x read/write issues are fixed.
Each label on a reel can be written with different data.
Tests can stop automatically when pass rates drop too low.
A new tool helps find the ideal power setting.
Reel2Reel movement and automation features are more stable.

Main Feature Overview

Year 2025

Release: Build_251010

GUI

Added display of machine speed (m/min) for standalone mode operation with CIU
Introduced a support tool for measuring the antenna and the fail marker offset
Various minor updates and performance improvements

New features

Added support for encoding variable data from a file for ISO 14443 A tags

Bug fixes

Fixed issue that prevented retaining previous settings on software startup

Release: Build_250515

General

Prevent multiple triggers for the same tag by filtering events closer than the specified pitch delay
High speed encoder selection
Show warning, when the same label is tested twice
NTAG21x Write Data Result on Fail

GUI

Improvements for multi-lane handling
Minor improvements and bug fixes

API

Option to define CIU result pulse offset as offset from trigger signal
Option to send result pulse on good tags
Update CIU FW via NFC Xplorer Inline – no service cable needed

Year 2024

Release: Build_240308

General

Bug fix NTAG424 Read Data command toread full data content.
Enable UART TTL and RS232 feature.
Skip zero data at write operation for improved test time.

GUI

Major GUI Redesign for improved usability.
Support of Windows 11.
Connect up to 8 devices to single GUI application.

API

Minor improvements.
Connect up to 8 devices to single API application.

Year 2023

Release: Build_230228

General

Bug fix ISOReadBinary command to read full data content.
ISOReadBinary command feature to compare data content of tag with expected data
content.
Controlling Xplorer CIU hardware functionality added.

GUI

Minor improvements.

API

Minor improvements and bug fixes.

Year 2022

Release: Build_221130

General

Updated to 64-bit application.
New NTAG 424 Commands supported:
- ISOReadBinary
- ISOUpdateBinary
- GetFileCounters

GUI

Keeping data in performance result graph for previous measurement until data gets deleted.
Minor improvements.

API

Update of NTAG424 Configuration example.
Minor improvements.

Release: Build_220331

General

Added ISO/IEC 15693 Read, Write and Lock Single Block commands.
License dongle free operation by saving license information on device.
Controlling up to four devices with single GUI or API.
Controlling of device via UART over GPIO connector pins.

GUI

Control of up to four devices.
Display of pass / fail distribution for all connected devices separately for quality assurance
tests.
License dongle free operation, if licenses are stored on device.
Measurement report including device name.
Minor improvements.

API

Example for control of up to four devices added.
Get and save quality assurance measurement result data automatically into a *.csv report.
Added functions for multiple Xplorer Inline control.
Additional *.dll for license dongle free operation, if licenses are stored on device.
Minor improvements.

Year 2021

Release: Build_211109

General

Added new NTAG424 configuration commands to be used with SAM AV3.
Added ICODE DNA command support to write key with SAM AV3 and perform mutual
authentication method.
Support additional data rate of 212 kBit/s and 424 kBit/s for NTAG424 configuration
commands.
Bug fix NTAG 21x read / write page limitation.

GUI

Writing different data on each label on reel, based on input *.txt file. This function is only
available when used with CISC Reel2Reel Desktop Tester.
Automatically stop measurement on low pass rates.
Performance Sweep Utility added to find power setting threshold.
Minor improvements.