RFID Evaluation and Development Kits, Boards

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
M6E-M-DEVKIT ThingMagic, a JADAK Brand	KIT DEVELOPMENT M6E MICRO	8
0134213020 Woodhead - Molex	F800X2 READER KIT W/EMIS WR1	0
DLP-RFID2-EDK DLP Design, Inc.	KIT EVAL 13.56MHZ R/W DLP-RFID2	3
0134213005 Woodhead - Molex	F800X2 READER KIT W/EMIS ARG	0
OM27462CDKP NXP Semiconductors	NFC DEV KIT - PN7462	8
0134223011 Woodhead - Molex	F800 READER KIT URUG & PERU	0
0134226010 Woodhead - Molex	F800 DEVELOPER KIT REP. SO. AFRI	0
CLOUDST25TA02K-P STMicroelectronics	DEMO BOARD FOR ST25TA02K-P	3
0134223002 Woodhead - Molex	F800 READER KIT ARG	0
PNEV7462C NXP Semiconductors	NFC DEV BOARD - PN7462	7
DTE103 ifm Efector	RFID EVAL UNIT ETHERCAT	0
DK-M9-MH SkyeTek	KIT DEV M9 W/MH CF MODULE	2
OM5569/NT322ERM NXP Semiconductors	NTAG 12C PLUS EXPL KIT PLUS USB	27
ANT-1-6-ST25DV STMicroelectronics	75 MM X 45 MM AND 22.5 MM X 18.5	28
0134226005 Woodhead - Molex	F800 DEVELOPER KIT EMA	0
0134296001 Woodhead - Molex	9680 DEVELOPER KIT	0
0134236003 Woodhead - Molex	9650 DEVELOPER KIT KOREA2	0
0134223004 Woodhead - Molex	F800 READER KIT CHINA	0
DLP-RF430BP DLP Design, Inc.	BOOSTERPACK RF430CL330 ADD-ON BD	9
0134230004 Woodhead - Molex	9650 READER KIT REPUBLIC SO.AFRI	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)