Frequency of RFID?

In RFID technology, the information is exchanged between Tag and Reader/Writer.

There is the rule for such information exchange (called as specification or communication protocol). Semiconductors device that has the rules for exchange of signals is called RFID chip.

LF Band, medium wave band;120-13-kHz, HF Band, short wave band; 13.56MHz, UHF Band, decimeter band; 900MHz, and Microwave Band: 2.45GHz are mainly used in Japan.

LH Band, medium wave band, uses under 135KHz frequency and the electromagnetic induction type for communication.
LH Band is used for one-to-one wireless communication or authentication, such as keyless entry to vehicles. However, the number of usable occasions is decreasing every year because it is very difficult to make it smaller or thinner due to more windings, and also the communication range is limited to about 10cm.

HF Band, short wave band, uses 13.56MHz frequency and the electromagnetic induction type for communication.
It can be smaller and thinner compared to LF band, and its communication range is shorter, about 10 cm, so it is good for close contact applications. One of the HF band applications is NFC, Near Field Communication, and it is used for prepaid transportation cards and electronic money.
It has less effects from water but has effects from metal objects around it.

UHF Band, decimeter band, uses 860-920MHz and the radio waves type for communication.
It has a longer communication range, a few meters, and it can read data at once so that it is used for inventory systems with RFID. It can be seen as a self-checkout at major apparel shops in Japan.
It can be affected by water and metal objects, so it needs careful attention to the communication environment.

SHF Band, microwave band, uses 2.45GHz and the radio waves type for communication.
It is used for microwave ovens, satellite broadcasting, wireless LAN, and many other applications, but it can be easily affected by water, metal, and blockage. There is an issue that radio waves interference can be easily occur to Bluetooth devices, wireless LAN, and etc. In addition, the communication range is shorter, 3 meters, and the frequency is not widely used for RFID.
LF band, medium wave band, HF band, short wave band, and Microwave band are almost the same standard globally, but need to be aware that UHF band, decimeter band, is different standard by different countries.

Related Topic Our reader/writers and antennas