RFID Evaluation and Development Kits, Boards

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
NHS3100THADADKUL NXP Semiconductors	NHS3100 THERAPY ADK	0
20910000004 HARTING	RFID PROMOTION KIT	0
PLT-RFID-EL6E-USB-DEVKIT ThingMagic, a JADAK Brand	EL6E RFID DEVELOPMENT KIT	5
SPSDEVK1-PET-GEVK Sanyo Semiconductor/ON Semiconductor	SMART PASSIVE SENSOR SYST	0
RFID DEVELOPMENT KIT - PCWH Custom Computer Services	KIT DEV RFID PCWH	0
OM26630FDK NXP Semiconductors	EVAL BOARD FOR CLRC663	0
AS3953-TAGS-KIT ams	AS3953-TAGS-KIT	0
ATARFID-EK2 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	KIT BOARD 2 RFID IDIC GIS 134KHZ	0
STARTKIT-M24LR-A STMicroelectronics	STARTER KIT M24LR-64-R	0
DVK90129 Melexis	DEVELOPMENT KIT MLX90129	0
DATALOG-M24LR-A STMicroelectronics	DATALOGGER REF FOR M24LR64-R	0
TRF7970AEVM Texas Instruments	EVAL MODULE FOR TRF7970A	0
ACTIVE TAG EXPANSION KIT ams	KIT ACTIVE TAG EXPSN AS3933/40	0
AS3991-DK MICRO ams	BOARD DEMO MICRO AS3991	0
EVAL-ST95HF STMicroelectronics	EVALUATION BOARD FOR ST95HF	0
MFEV630B,699 NXP Semiconductors	EVAL READER BLUEBOARD MFRC630	0
AS3910-DB ams	BOARD DEMO AS3910	0
ATA2270-EK2 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	KIT EVAL LF RFID READER	0
ACTIVE TAG REFERENCE DESIGN KIT ams	KIT REFERENCE DESIGN AS3933/40	0
PNEV512,699 NXP Semiconductors	BOARD EVAL NFC PN512	0

RFID Evaluation and Development Kits, Boards

1. Overview

RF/IF (Radio Frequency/Intermediate Frequency) and RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) evaluation and development kits are essential tools for designing, testing, and optimizing wireless communication systems. These kits enable engineers to prototype hardware, validate protocols, and ensure compliance with industry standards. RFID systems utilize electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects, while RF/IF components handle signal processing between antennas and baseband systems. These technologies are critical in IoT, supply chain management, automotive systems, and healthcare.

2. Main Types and Functional Classification

Type	Functional Features	Application Examples
RFID Reader Kits	Support ISO/IEC 14443, NFC, UHF protocols; include antennas and SDKs	Contactless payment terminals, access control systems
RFID Tag Emulators	Simulate passive/active tags for protocol testing	Inventory management, logistics tracking
RF/IF Transceiver Boards	Cover 300 MHz 6 GHz; integrate frequency synthesizers and ADCs	5G prototyping, software-defined radios
Development Boards with MCUs	Embedded ARM/FPGA processors for algorithm implementation	Smart metering, industrial automation

3. Structure and Components

A typical kit includes:

RF front-end modules (amplifiers, filters, mixers)
Baseband processors with ADC/DAC interfaces
Programmable antennas (dipole, loop, patch types)
Onboard memory (Flash, EEPROM) for tag data storage
Debug interfaces (UART, SPI, USB 2.0/3.0)
Power management units for battery or USB-powered operation

4. Key Technical Specifications

Parameter	Description	Importance
Frequency Range	125 kHz 900 MHz (LF/HF/UHF) or 2.4 GHz ISM band	Determines application compatibility (e.g., 13.56 MHz for NFC)
Read/Write Distance	0 15 cm (HF) or 0 15 m (UHF)	Impacts deployment scenarios
Data Transfer Rate	106 kbps 848 kbps (ISO/IEC 14443)	Affects system throughput
Output Power	0 30 dBm adjustable	Regulatory compliance (FCC, ETSI)
Protocol Support	EPCglobal Gen2, ISO 15693, LoRaWAN	Interoperability assurance

5. Application Areas

Major industries include:

Retail: Inventory tracking (e.g., Amazon Go stores)
Healthcare: Patient monitoring and medication management
Automotive: Tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS)
Logistics: Package tracking with UHF RFID portals
Industrial IoT: Predictive maintenance sensors

6. Leading Manufacturers and Products

Vendor	Key Product	Features
NXP Semiconductors	Mifare SDK Starter Kit	Supports 13.56 MHz, includes JavaCard development tools
TI (Texas Instruments)	RF430FRL152HEVM	Low-power HF RFID sensor tag development
STMicroelectronics	ST25R3911B-DISCO	Multi-protocol reader with NFC and FeliCa support
Impinj	Impinj Speedway R420	UHF Gen2 reader for supply chain applications

7. Selection Guidelines

Key considerations:

Frequency compatibility with target environment
Regulatory certifications (FCC, CE, RoHS)
Integration with existing development ecosystems (e.g., Arduino, STM32Cube)
Debugging capabilities (JTAG/SWD support)
Cost-to-performance ratio for volume production

8. Industry Trends

Future directions include:

Integration with AI for adaptive frequency hopping
Advancements in sub-6 GHz 5G RF front-ends
Energy-harvesting RFID tags for battery-free IoT
Increased adoption of RISC-V-based programmable transceivers
Expansion of RFID into medical implant tracking (ISO 18000-7 compliant)