ISO 15693
The international standard for vicinity coupling smart cards operating at 13.56 MHz with a typical read range of 1-1.5 meters. Used by NFC Forum Type 5 tags (ICODE, ST25TV) for library and logistics applications.
ISO 15693
ISO/IEC 15693 is the international standard for vicinity contactless smart cards operating at 13.56 MHz with read ranges extending to 1-1.5 meters — significantly longer than the 4-10 cm typical of ISO 14443 proximity cards. This extended range makes ISO 15693ISO 15693Standard for vicinity-range smart cards, 1+ meter read rangeView full → the standard of choice for library book tracking, logistics, and inventory management where users should not need to precisely position items near a reader.
Technical Characteristics
ISO 15693 trades data rate for range and multi-tag capability:
| Parameter | ISO 15693 | ISO 14443ISO 14443Standard for contactless smart cards at 13.56 MHz (Types A and B)View full → (comparison) |
|---|---|---|
| Read rangeRead rangeMaximum communication distance between reader and tagView full → | Up to 1.5 m | Up to 10 cm |
| Data rate | 1.66-26.48 kbps | 106-848 kbps |
| Anti-collisionAnti-collisionProtocol for selecting individual tags from multiple in RF fieldView full → | 16-slot or 1-slot | Bit-level (A) / Slotted ALOHA (B) |
| UID length | 8 bytes (64-bit) | 4 or 7 bytes |
| Modulation | ASK (10% or 100%) | ASK (100% Type A, 10% Type B) |
| Subcarrier | Single (423.75 kHz) or dual | 847.5 kHz |
The lower data rate is acceptable because ISO 15693 applications typically transfer small amounts of data — an item identifier, a status flag, or a short URL — rather than the larger payloads common in payment or authenticationauthenticationIdentity verification of NFC tags/readers via passwords or cryptographyView full → scenarios.
NFC Forum Type 5 Tags
The NFC Forum designated ISO 15693 as the basis for Type 5 tags, mapped to the NFC-V communication technology. This means modern NFC-enabled devices can read ISO 15693 tags at short range (within NFC operating distance), even though the tags themselves support much longer read ranges when used with dedicated ISO 15693 readers.
Popular Type 5 chips include the ICODE SLIX2 (NXP) and ST25TV (STMicroelectronics), offering memory capacities from 256 bytes to over 64 KB.
Common Applications
ISO 15693 dominates in environments where hands-free or batch reading is required:
- Library systems: Books tagged with ISO 15693 labels pass over a reader pad at checkout. Anti-theft gates detect tags from a distance.
- Laundry and textile management: Durable tags sewn into uniforms survive industrial washing and are read in bulk on conveyor systems.
- Asset tracking: Tools, equipment, and containers carry ISO 15693 tags read at access points without requiring precise alignment.
Related Terms
Related Guides
常见问题
The NFC glossary is a comprehensive reference of technical terms, acronyms, and concepts used in Near Field Communication technology. It is designed for developers, product managers, and engineers who work with NFC and need clear definitions of terms like NDEF, APDU, anti-collision, and ISO 14443.
Each glossary term is cross-referenced with related NFC chips, standards, and other terms. For example, the term 'AES-128' links to chips that support AES encryption (NTAG 424 DNA, DESFire EV2/EV3), and the term 'ISO 14443' links to all chips compliant with that standard.
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