ISO 15693
Standards & ProtocolsVicinity coupling HF RFID standard at 13.56 MHz allowing read distances up to 1 meter, widely used in libraries.
ISO 15693
coupling RFID standard." data-category="Standards & Protocols">ISO 15693, commonly known as the "vicinity coupling" standard, defines HF RFID communication at 13.56 MHz for read distances up to approximately 1 metre. It is one of the two major HF RFID standards alongside ISO 14443 (proximity coupling), and is predominantly used in library systems, asset tracking, and industrial automation.
Technical Parameters
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 13.56 MHz (ISM band) |
| Coupling | Near-field inductive |
| Read range | 0.1 - 1.5 m |
| Data rate | 1.6 - 26.5 kbps |
| UID length | 64 bits (globally unique, factory-programmed) |
| Memory | 256 - 8192 bits (EEPROM, varies by IC) |
| Anti-collision | Deterministic (slot-based) |
| Modulation (reader-to-tag) | ASK 10% or 100% |
| Modulation (tag-to-reader) | Load modulation, subcarrier |
Protocol Structure
ISO 15693 defines two main interaction modes:
- Inventory -- the reader broadcasts a time-slot anti-collision request. Tags respond in assigned slots with their 64-bit UID. The reader identifies all tags in the field within a few hundred milliseconds.
- Addressed commands -- once a tag's UID is known, the reader can issue read, write, lock, and custom commands addressed to that specific tag.
Tags can also operate in "selected" mode, where only one previously selected tag responds, useful for encoding stations.
Library and Asset Tracking
ISO 15693's dominant application is library management, where tags are embedded in books and media. The longer read range (vs. ISO 14443's 10 cm) enables book-return chutes, self-checkout stations, and shelf-inventory robots. An estimated 500+ million ISO 15693 tags are deployed in library systems worldwide.
Relationship to NFC
NFC (ISO 21481) incorporates ISO 15693 as one of its communication modes. Modern NFC-enabled smartphones can read ISO 15693 tags, though support varies by device. Tags using the NDEF data format on ISO 15693 can deliver URLs, text, and structured data to NFC readers.
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