Letter: Smart cards can also be RFID cards

In regard to "DHS exploring integration of ID card standards," technical hurdles in integrating both ISO 14443 (smart card) with the longer-range radio frequency identification cards (ISO 15693) in the same card can be overcome relatively easily. We have proven that the same card antenna, when properly tuned, can support both chips and function together without interference. The same applies to the readers. For the shorter range, the same reader can be used. The longer reading of ISO 15693 RFID card at distance of 3 feet will require different readers.

There is also no fundamental difficulty in integrating the UHF RFID into a card with ISO 14443 as long as we are satisfied with a read distance of 6 feet -- holding the card rather than wearing them -- for the longer-range UHF chip on the same card structure with ISO 14443 chip. Of course, you need to integrate two different readers into one case.

Anonymous