RFID Chip（IC）
RFID Chip(IC) Definition
Integrated circuits (ICs), also called electronic circuits, microchips, or chips, are designed and manufactured by companies that make semiconductors.
ICs are the most important part of RFID tags. The type of RFID IC determines the carrier frequency, maximum read distance, memory size, function, coding scheme, security, and sometimes air interface.
RFID TAG products have been packaged in different forms. You can already use the environment, cost, required storage capacity, and choose the IC that suits you.
What’s the RFID Chip Frequency?
RFID chips can be put into three groups based on the frequency range they use to send data: low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), and ultra-high frequency (UHF). Usually, the lower the RFID system’s frequency, the shorter the reading range and the slower the data reading speed.
Comparing RFID tag types: UHF vs. HF vs. NFC vs. LF RFID
| Item | Low Frequency（LF） | High Frequency (HF) | Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequency Range | 30 to 300KHz | 3 to 30MHz | 300 MHz to 3GHz |
| Common Frequency | 125 KHz or 134 KHz | 13.56MHz (NFC) | 860 to 960 MHz(UHF Gen2) |
| Relative cost | $$ | $$-$$$ | $ |
| Read Range | ≤30 cm | ≤10 cm | ≤100 m |
| Benefits | Minimal infection by metals and liquids | High storage capacity and higher encryption security | Lower cost, fast reading over long distances, and group reading |
| Applications | Animal tracking,automobile inventorying,Access Control | Anti-counterfeiting, packaging and labeling, contactless payment, library management | Inventory control,item-level tracking,supply chain visibility and efficiency |
Types of RFID chips by Frequency
Low Frequency 125KHz（LF）
The maximum distance at which something can be read is 30 centimeters.
This is possible thanks to a special antenna and tags. The low-frequency (LF) range is the ITU designation for radio frequencies (RF) within the range of 30–300 kHz. Since the wavelengths of LF range from 10–1 km, respectively, it is also referred to as the kilometer band or kilometer wave.
| IC | Memory | Protocol | Read/Write | Datasheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TK4100 | 64bit | ISO7815 | Read-only | Download |
| EM4200 | 128bit | ISO7815 | Read-only | Download |
| EM4305 | 512bit | ISO11784/11785 | Read&Write; | Download |
| EM4450 | 1kbit | ISO11784/11785 | Read&Write; | Download |
| ATA5577 | 224bit | ISO11784/11785 | Read&Write; | Download |
| Hitag 1 | 2048bit | ISO11784/11785 | Read&Write; | Download |
| Hitag2 | 256bit | ISO11784/11785 | Read&Write; | Download |
High Frequency 13.56MHz(HF)
The maximum distance at which the signal can be read is 1.5 meters. This is possible thanks to the special antenna and tags.
The high-frequency 13.56 MHz RFID is commonly used for many things, such as payment, tickets, library books, ID cards, gaming chips, tracking assets, internal control, logistics and production lines, factory automation, the automotive industry, and security.
NXP MIFARE Classic
NXP MIFARE Ultralight
NXP MIFARE Plus
| IC | Memory | Protocol | Read/Write | Datasheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIFARE Plus EV2(2K) | 2K Byte | ISO14443A | Read&Write; | Download |
| MIFARE Plus EV2(4K) | 4K Bytes | ISO14443A | Read&Write; | Download |
| MIFARE Plus SE(2K) | 2K Byte | ISO14443A | Read&Write; | Download |
| MIFARE Plus SE(4K) | 4K Byte | ISO14443A | Read&Write; | Download |
| MIFARE Plus X(2K) | 2K Byte | ISO14443A | Read&Write; | Download |
| MIFARE Plus X(4K) | 4K Byte | ISO14443A | Read&Write; | Download |
NXP NTAG
| IC | Memory | Protocol | Read/Write | Datasheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NTAG 213 | 144 Bytes | ISO14443A | Read&Write; | Download |
| NTAG 215 | 504 Bytes | ISO14443A | Read&Write; | Download |
| NTAG 216 | 888 Bytes | ISO14443A | Read&Write; | Download |
| NTAG 213 Tag Temper | 144 Bytes | ISO14443A | Read&Write; | Download |
| NTAG 424 DNA | 416 Bytes | ISO14443A | Read&Write; | Download |
| NTAG 424 DNA Tag Tamper | 416 Bytes | ISO14443A | Read&Write; | Download |
NXP ICODE
| IC | Memory | Protocol | Read/Write | Datasheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICODE SLIX | 896 bits | ISO15693/ISO 18000-3M1 | Read&Write; | Download |
| ICODE SLIX 2 | 2528 bits | ISO15693/ISO 18000-3M1 | Read&Write; | Download |
| ICODE SLIX-L | 256 bits | ISO15693/ISO 18000-3M1 | Read&Write; | Download |
| ICODE SLIX-S | 1280 bits | ISO15693/ISO 18000-3M1 | Read&Write; | Download |
| ICODE DNA | 2016 bits | ISO15693/ISO 18000-3M1 | Read&Write; | Download |
Ultra-High Frequency 840-960MHz
The maximum reading range is 10 meters. This is because of the special antenna and chips. The range can be 15 meters or more.
Ultra-high frequency (UHF) is electromagnetic radiation. The frequency is between 300 MHz and 3 GHz (3,000 MHz). UHF has strong directionality and a small area because of its short wavelength.
IMPINJ MONZA
| IC | Memory | Protocol | Read/Write | Datasheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MONZA 4QT | 128 bit epc,512 bit user | EPC Class1 Gen2/ISO 18000 6C | Read&Write; | Download |
| Monza 5 | 128 bit epc,32 bit user | EPC Class1 Gen2/ISO 18000 6C | Read&Write; | Download |
| Monza R6 | 96bit epc | EPC Class1 Gen2/ISO 18000 6C | Read&Write; | Download |
| Monza R6-P | 96bit epc,32 bit user | EPC Class1 Gen2/ISO 18000 6C | Read&Write; | Download |
NXP UCODE
| IC | Memory | Protocol | Read/Write | Datasheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UCODE 7 | 128 bit epc | EPC Class1 Gen2/ISO 18000 6C | Read&Write; | Download |
| UCODE 7m | 128 bit epc | EPC Class1 Gen2/ISO 18000 6C | Read&Write; | Download |
| Ucode 8 | 128 bit epc | EPC Class1 Gen2/ISO 18000 6C | Read&Write; | Download |
| Ucode 8m | 96 bit epc,32 bit user | EPC Class1 Gen2/ISO 18000 6C | Read&Write; | Download |
| UCODE DNA | 224bit epc,3072 bit user | EPC Class1 Gen2/ISO 18000 6C | Read&Write; | Download |
What is RFID Chip?
An RFID chip is a very small computer chip that uses radio waves to send data to a reader. It is the smallest part of an RFID tag, but it is the most important. It stores all the information about the tag.
The chip is mostly located in the center of the tag. It is surrounded by a coiled wire, called an antenna. The antenna sends radio waves from the chip to the reader.When the tag is powered, it sends electromagnetic waves. These waves contain the required information.
RFID chips are used in many ways, such as for access control, security, library systems, time tracking, identification documents, and medical records.
RFID Chip History
In 1982, Harry Stockman had an idea. He thought that if every object had its own unique identifier, then it would be possible to identify and track specific items using radio waves. This idea would later change the way we manage and identify inventory. He shared his findings in a technical journal called IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques later that same year.
In 1994, MIT professors Sandy Pentland and David Brock created the Auto-ID Lab. Professor Pentland came up with the term “RFID” (radio frequency identification). The Auto-ID Lab developed EPCglobal, an organization that sets global standards for RFID technology. EPC stands for “electronic product code.” EPC tags were designed to replace barcodes altogether because they could do more and had better security features, such as encryption.By the end of 2000, companies such as Gillette, Procter & Gamble, Motorola, and UPS began testing RFID technology in their supply chain management setups.
By 2002, over 110 million items were tagged with RFID chips for inventory management. These chips sent data to electronic hand-held devices that workers carried around the warehouse floor.
How Does RFID Chip Work
There are two types of RFID chips (tags): active and passive.Active chips have their own power source, while passive chips get energy from the electromagnetic field of a reader.
Each chip has a unique integrated circuit that can be recognized by radio waves from a reader. Once powered, the RFID chip will send data back to the reader.A reader can send radio waves to the tag’s antenna up to 100m away.
RFID chips use certain standards that make them compatible with each other, so one device will read any standard-compliant tags nearby, no matter which company manufactured it.
RFID Chip Components
An RFID chip is like a small computer that can store information about an object. It is usually shaped like a small grain of rice or sand.
An RFID device has three parts:
- The tag (chip)
- The transponder
- The reader
The tag has information that is unique to each item. The transponder receives energy from the reader unit through electromagnetic induction and sends it back via radio waves.
The purpose of this electronic transaction between the reader and transponder is to identify objects quickly by providing their electronic product code (EPC) number along with other information stored on the tag’s memory chip.
RFID Chip Functionality
An RFID system has two units: one at each end of the communication link.
- The reader is connected to a database through an access point, usually a computer or a programmable logic controller (PLC).
- The chip acts as a transponder, providing information for the reader to store and/or forward as necessary.Communication between the reader and transponder goes both ways: it can be initiated by either side.
The reader and transponder use electromagnetic induction, which uses high-frequency radio signals, to communicate. These signals can pass through various materials, such as plastic, wood, and concrete, without getting weaker. The RFID tag uses the energy from the signal to power itself, which makes it send signals over longer distances.
Reader devices are part of a larger system that also includes the computer they are attached to. These devices are usually connected to other computers and databases using wireless networks. They can access the information they need to do their job in an access control network.
For example, a door reader can read a tag and identify and authenticate a user. It can also store their permissions and time signatures. This helps to monitor people going in and out of restricted areas. It also makes sure that visitors and staff members are responsible for what they’re doing.
Types of RFID Chips
There are two types of RFID chips on the market today:
- Silicon Chip: This has a microchip in a thin layer of epoxy resin, which is then put into a small plastic or glass tag.
- Printed Circuit Board (or PCB): This chip has no electrical parts. Instead, it has an etched copper antenna combined with an adjoining computer chip.
Sometimes, RFID chips can be used as either silicon or PCB technology, depending on how they will be used.
There are also different types of RFID readers, such as label printers, which print labels for identified items and can also have an antenna to transmit data, and pallet scanners, which are ceiling-mounted scanners that use long-range antennas to identify tags across wide areas at very high speeds.
What is the frequency of the RFID Chip?
We specialize in wireless technology, and RFID chips enable communication between items. There are a variety of operating frequencies to choose from, ranging from low frequency (LF) to ultra-high frequency (UHF), as well as microwave capabilities. This cutting-edge tech is changing the way we interact with our world.
- Low-frequency RFID chip: These chips operate within the range of 30 KHz to 500 KHz, with a typical frequency of 125 KHz. However, they have short transmission ranges, typically ranging from a few inches to less than six feet.
- High-frequency RFID chips: Typically operate within the range of 3 MHz to 30 MHz, with 13.56 MHz being the most common frequency used. The standard operating range for these chips varies from a few inches to several feet.
- UHF RFID Chip: UHF RFID chips operate within the frequency range of 300 MHz to 960 MHz, with a typical frequency of 433 MHz. They can be read from a distance of 25 feet or more.
- Microwave RFID Chip: These chips operate at a frequency of 2.45 GHz and can be read from a distance of 30 feet or more.
RFID Chip Identification
The main purpose of identification is to make sure that people and goods are who they say they are. This process must balance three things:
- Privacy: making sure that people cannot be identified unless they are allowed to access certain resources
- Security: making sure that unauthorized people cannot access things
- Convenience: making the identification process as simple and fast as possible
RFID chip identification is simple and efficient.Every person who is allowed to access something must have an RFID tag with all their information on the chip.
When someone tries to access something, an RFID reader scans the tag, receives data, and compares it with a database. If the information is the same, the person is allowed to access the item.
Each time, the tag’s unique serial number is sent to the reader, where it is decoded into its original data and translated into a form that humans can read. Then, the data is sent to a central database for storage. This process is the same no matter what type of reader is being used.
RFID Chip Security
When an electromagnetic signal is sent out, it moves through space like a wave. This idea is the foundation of all wireless communication systems, like cordless phones, FM radio, cell phones, and many other long- and short-range communication systems that we use every day.
The strength and direction of a signal can change depending on several things, such as:
- The power output of the antenna
- The distance between the sender and receiver
- Obstacles like walls or furniture
- Atmospheric conditions
- The presence of other RF transmitters
Since RFID signals have low power, they have trouble penetrating interference. For information to be sent, the reader and the RFID chip must be close together (usually up to 100 meters).
Additionally, the information stored in the RFID chip is encrypted. This means that cybercriminals can have access to the information unless they steal the specifically assigned RFID reader.
Applications of RFID Chip
RFID chips can be used in many different ways, such as:
– Automated customer identification
– Automated toll collection systems
– E-tickets/electronic boarding passes
– Access control systems
– Robotic guidance systems
– Supply chain management
– Article surveillance/security tagging
RFID works well in open spaces where there are few physical obstructions to interfere with signal transmission. It doesn’t work so well when it comes to passing through walls, floors, or even tightly packed goods. This is why RFID hasn’t replaced barcodes for items stacked on top of each other.
However, RFID is best for tagging large objects that won’t move much during transportation, like vehicles.They also have better storage than barcodes, which makes them ideal for items that need a lot of data for identification.
An RFID tag can store more information, like the last stock date, the last purchase, the manufacturing date, the batch number, and other important details. Barcodes, on the other hand, can be damaged by the environment and store less information.Because of these benefits, RFID technology is being used more and more instead of barcodes in many situations.