RFID technology can be split into three basic groups according to the type of a frequency used:
We specialize in the production of low and high frequency transponders
– two technologies with the highest market share at the moment.
Main differences between particular technologies:
| Transponder | Low Frequency (LF) | High Frequency (HF) |
Ultra High Frequecny (UHF) |
| Resonance frequency | 125 kHz 134.2 kHz (animal standard) |
13.56 MHz | 400 MHz to 1 GHz |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data transmission | 4 kbit/s | 26–106 kbit/s | 25 kbit/s |
| Operating distance | 30 cm to 1 m | 10 cm (ISO 14443) 50 cm to 1 m (ISO 15693) |
up to 25 m |
| ISO standard | 11784/5 | 14443 15693 |
18000 |
| Application areas | Animal ID, goods indentification, industrial application and access control | Access control, eID banking cards, logistics and good control | Warehousing, logistics |
Low Frequency 125 kHz
Low-frequency transponders are used mainly in applications that require the transmission of low volumes of data over relatively long distances.
Low frequency technology, also sometimes called 125 kHz, was one of the first RFID technologies developed. One of the major advantages is a minimum requirement in terms of the design of the transponders, which are used in contactless cards, labels and tags. LUX-IDent’s low-frequency products are used by our customers in access control systems, industrial process control, inventory management and the identification of animals. 125kHz technology is certified in accordance with the existing ISO standards.
High Frequency 13.56 MHz
High frequency technology, sometimes called 13.56 MHz, is suitable for applications where high data transfer is needed.
HF is used mainly in contactless smart cards, access control systems and applications that require high security standards, such as e-payment applications, health cards and eID documents.
Ultra High Frequency 400 MHz–1 GHz
One of the significant benefits of the UHF is that tags can be read from a further distance.
Passive UHF allows objects to be read across a room. Ultra High Frequency technology in passive RFID (400 MHz–1 GHz) is used for asset management, baggage tracking, work in progress tracking, container tracking, etc.
Near Field Communication
Near Field Communication (NFC) is a short-range high frequency wireless communication technology which enables the exchange of data between devices over about a 10 centimeter distance.
The technology is a simple extension of the ISO 14443 RFID proximity-card standard that combines the interface of a smartcard and a reader into a single device. An NFC device can communicate with both existing ISO 14443 smartcards and readers, as well as with other NFC devices, and is thereby compatible with existing contactless infrastructure already in use for public transportation, access control and payment applications.
Using NFC in mobile phones creates great possibilities for a number of applications like mobile ticketing, smart poster, etc. More information about NFC can be found on www.nfc-forum.org.
NFC Label Starter Kit
Get started with developing your NFC applications using our NFC Label Starter Kit.
Mobile phone equipped with NFC technology can work as a chip card and an RFID reader at the same time.
Mobile phone equipped with NFC technology can work as a chip card and an RFID reader at the same time.
FAQ
What is RFID?
Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology uses wireless radio communications to uniquely identify objects or people, and is one of the fastest growing automatic data collection (ADC) technologies.
RFID creates an automatic way to collect information about a product, place, time or transaction quickly, easily and without human error. It provides a contactless data link, without need for line of sight, for example articles inside a cardboard box, or concerns about harsh or dirty environments that restrict other auto ID technologies such as bar codes.
In addition, RFID is more than just an ID code, it can be used as a data carrier, with information being written and updated to the tag on the fly.
What are the advantages of RFID?
The primary benefits of RFID are:
- Elimination of clerical errors in recording data
- Faster data collection
- Reduction in labor and paperwork required to process data
The advantages of RFID over other ID technologies (such as barcode and magnetic stripe) include:
- Reliable operation in a harsh environment (in wet, dusty, dirty conditions, corrosive environment and in applications where vibrations and shocks take place)
- Contactless operation
- Freedom from line-of-sight constraints (transponders can be read irrespective of orientation, through paint, even through non-ferrous solids)
How can RFID benefit my company?
- Making it easier to automate the process
- Improving the management of tracked objects and ultimately customer satisfaction
- Lowering operation cost through the use of automation with smart RFID technology
- Determining the location of tagged objects in real time.
- Enabling the introduction of new customer services.
- Authenticating your products, protecting your brand name and know-how
- Improving security systems and preventing from theft through the use of RFID access/security application
- Promoting enterprise-wide innovation
- Demonstrating industry leadership
What does complete RFID system consist of?
The RFID system consists of a number of components including tags, handheld or stationary readers, antennas, and system software. A reader comprises a transmitter, receiver, control module and communication interfaces.
The transponders or tags are used to identify objects (items, people, animals) and can be uniquely programmed with information about the objects. The antenna of the reader is used to transmit and receive the radio frequency signal. Each reader is accompanied with PC compatible software that allows the user to connect the reader to a controlling PC and read and program the tags.