The Unique Features of ID, IC, NFC, and UHF Cards: A Detailed Overview

The Unique Features of ID, IC, NFC, and UHF Cards: A Detailed Overvie Are you familiar with RFID smart cards?   If you are still relatively unfamiliar, don’t worry, because today we will introduce you to all the knowledge of RFID smart cards in detail. RFID smart cards may sound a bit complicated, but if I mention IC cards or ID cards, you might have some understanding. This is because ID cards and IC cards are the two most common types of RFID smart cards. However, RFID smart cards are not limited to these two types, they also include some other types. Facebook LinkedIn WhatsApp Radio frequency communication standards are an important basis for tag chip design. At present, the communication standards related to RFID mainly include: ISO/IEC18000 standard (covering 125KHz, 134 KHz, 13.56MHz, 433MHz, 860-960MHz, 2.45GHz and other frequency bands, a total of 7 parts), ISO11785 (low frequency), ISO/IEC14443 standard (13.56MHz), ISO/IEC15693 standard (13.56MHz), EPC standards (including Class0, Class1 and GEN2 protocols, covering HF and UHF two frequency bands), and DSRC standards (European ETC standards, including 5.8GHz).   RFID is the general term for radio frequency technology systems, and RFID cards are radio frequency cards, which contain frequency sensing chips inside, which can be IC or ID chips. At present on the market, we can divide radio frequency cards into the following types according to frequency: low frequency cards (ID cards 125KHz), high frequency cards (IC cards 13.56MHz), and ultra high frequency cards (915MHz). In our daily life, most membership cards belong to IC cards, such as bus cards, meal cards, access control cards, etc., these cards can be IC cards, or they can be ID cards. The difference between IC cards and ID cards lies in the chips contained in the card, but from the outside, they are almost indistinguishable, IC chips belong to high frequency, and ID chips belong to low frequency. The difference is that the ID card only has an ID number, while the IC card has the functions of value storage and confidentiality, which the ID card does not have. ID badges and cards are early electronic tags, only have an ID number, cannot store any data, so they are called ID cards. Because ID cards have no algorithm and cannot write data, their ID is written once at the time of manufacture, and the user can only read the card number. Because ID cards are easy to copy, their security is low. Mainly used in access control systems and company badges.   IC badges and cards are the general term for smart cards, with readable and writable memory, also known as memory cards, logic encryption cards. The data reading and writing of IC cards require password authentication, data can be partitioned, different areas are used for different functions, can have different password protection. The content of the IC card can be repeatedly erased, divided into contact and non-contact IC cards. There are two types of RF IC cards—Type A and Type B. The main difference lies in the depth of carrier modulation and the coding method of binary numbers.   RFID card is a general term for non-contact electronic cards/tags, including ID cards, IC cards, and NFC cards, etc. The main difference between these cards is the working frequency band. RFID can be divided into low frequency, high frequency, and ultra-high frequency according to the working frequency band. According to the characteristics of different frequency bands, it is applied to different scenes, such as animal management, personnel identification, vehicle management, asset management, smart medical, etc. Different usage frequencies will produce differences in read-write distance, data exchange speed, and anti-interference.   NFC, the full name is Near Field Communication, essentially it is a two-way exchange of information. Both NFC and RFID are based on signal transmission between two objects close to each other, but NFC technology adds point-to-point (P2P) communication function, NFC devices can find each other and establish communication connections. Both RFID and NFC belong to close-range, non-contact wireless communication technology, but they actually have a relationship of inclusion and being included. RFID technology is a technology that transmits information using radio frequency signals, mainly identifying specific targets through radio signals, while NFC is near-field wireless communication technology, the chip has the ability to communicate with each other, and has computing power. NFC evolved from RFID technology, using the high-frequency (13.56MHz) standard of RFID, but it is a two-way process. NFC has high security.   RFID smart card is a very wide field, including various types of cards such as ID cards, IC cards, and NFC cards, etc. They each have their own characteristics and uses, but they all rely on radio frequency technology to achieve information transmission and storage. I． Low Frequency (LF) RFID Badges and Cards Protocol: ISO 11784, ISO11785, 18000-2. Frequency band: Low frequency RFID usually operates at 125 kHz or 134.2 kHz. Reading distance: The reading distance of low frequency RFID systems is short, usually a few centimeters to several tens of centimeters. Cost: relatively low. Data transmission rate: The data transmission rate is relatively slow. Features: Strong penetration ability for metal and liquid, not easily interfered, single reading. Usage scenarios: Suitable for animal identification, access control systems, car anti-theft, AGV and other short-distance applications. An ID card (Identification Card) is a contactless RFID tag, with a working frequency of 125kHz, only one ID number, and cannot store any data, therefore it is called an ID card. The ID card is powered by a card reader, and reads the “unique” number stored in the chip’s EEPROM. The card number is written once before the card is sealed, and cannot be changed after the card is sealed. Passive and contactless are 2 notable features of this chip, and the radio frequency interface circuit is the key core technology. It receives radio frequency energy from the card reader, generates power and clock for the chip, and implements wireless communication between the card and the card reader through technologies such as