NFC / RFID
NFC (Near Field Communication) RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chips are used in many devices, such as contactless payment cards, electronic passports, inventory tags and access control systems. We offer them on our metal business card ranges in a thickness of 0.8 mm. NFC RFID chips offer convenient, secure wireless connectivity for a variety of applications.
They enable fast, reliable data exchange between the chip and the reader. This opens up a wide range of possible uses for your business card as a company membership card or access card.
Examples of applications with cell phone terminals
- Share a complete VCARD contact sheet
- Opening a URL: web page or access to a dynamic VCARD stored on a server
- Prompt to send an e-mail
- Send a text message
- Share a phone number
- Share an address, a geolocation
- Open an application on an Android or Apple catalog
- Sharing a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi key
- Share text or data.
Examples of applications with an access terminal
- Activating – deactivating an alarm
- Opening an access door
- Data sharing
Further information
Basic structure: an NFC RFID chip consists of an antenna and a microchip. The antenna consists of a spirally wound metal wire to receive and transmit radio frequency signals. The microchip contains an integrated circuit that stores data and manages communications.
Power supply: NFC RFID chips can be either passive or active. In our case, the passive chips have no internal battery and are powered by the energy of the electromagnetic field generated by the NFC reader.
Communication: when an NFC RFID chip is in proximity to an NFC reader, an electromagnetic field is created between the reader’s antenna and that of the chip. The reader emits a radio-frequency signal that powers the chip (in the case of passive chips) and initiates communication.
Communication protocols: NFC RFID chips use different communication protocols. The most common are the ISO/IEC 14443 protocol (for contactless payment cards and access cards) and the ISO/IEC 15693 protocol (for inventory tags and smart objects).
Data exchange: once communication has been established, the NFC reader sends commands to the RFID chip, which responds by sending back data stored in its memory. Data can be unique identifiers, account information, inventory data, etc.
Security: NFC RFID chips can be equipped with security mechanisms such as encryption keys and authentication protocols to protect the data exchanged. This secures transactions and prevents identity theft.
Reading distance: NFC RFID chips have a limited range, generally less than a few centimetres. This means that to read or write on an NFC RFID chip, the reader must be very close to the chip.
Data encoder
Following your order, we can supply you with a data encoder for NFC-RFID chips, so you can program your business cards, access cards or membership cards freely and independently. The encoder is a device used to program and record information. The encoder is connected to a computer (PC or Mac) where the information (URL, Vcard, data…) is selected and formatted according to the required specifications. Next, the encoder emits signals to interact with the NFC RFID chip, transferring data to the chip. This transfer can include operations such as writing data, reading existing data or configuring specific chip parameters.
