Technology

Radiofrequency identification, commonly named RFID, is a technology that uses radio waves to reliably and uniquely identify a person, an animal or an object.

The frequencies of operation

Three frequency ranges are given over to RFID application:

Low frequency – LF: < 135 kHz
Frequency used for Access control / Animal ID / Item tracking / Car alarms

High frequency - HF: 13.56 MHz
Frequency currently used for: Access control / Logistics /

Ultra high frequency – UHF: 860 to 960 MHz
Frequency currently used for: Container/ pallet / baggage tracking

In the last few years, technological developments and more recently, industry standardization, have concentrated on High Frequency (13.56 MHz) and Ultra High Frequency (868-915 MHz) systems development.

The 13.56 MHz frequency is available worldwide so RFID solutions using a high frequency spectrum can be deployed.

However, the United States has specified 915 MHz; the European Union has specified 868 MHz for RFID applications; in Asia 923 MHz is specified, and 960 MHz is specified in Japan. This diversity of frequencies and standards requires local customisation of reader infrastructures and inlays.

IER has a strong expertise and capabilities in both HF and UHF.

RFID standards

The growth of traceability and identification applications based on the use of RFID has been reinforced by the definition of standards for tags, readers and communication protocols between them.
Two main organizations are actively committed to defining those standards:
ISO – the International Organization for Standardization, which created standards related to frequency spectrum allocation, physical formats for identification cards, animal auto ID and item management
EPCglobal leads the development of industry-driven standards for the Electronic Product Code (EPC) to support the use of radio frequency identification (RFID).
Standard organizations, such as EPCglobal, are working with governments to attempt to harmonize global UHF frequencies, since this is not currently the case.

IER designs and provides RFID solutions which are compatible with key RFID standards such as EPC Gen 2 and IPX standards as well as ISO 14443 A & B and ISO 15693.
IER is a member of EPC Global.