RAIN RFID tag with cryptographic security & long read range

15th April 2015

Siobhan O'Gorman

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The world’s first UHF RAIN RFID tag IC to combine long-range read performance with cryptographic authentication has been released by NXP Semiconductors. With the UCODE DNA developers no longer have to choose between contactless performance and the need for security in their applications as the tag IC enables them to have access to both.

The device is suitable for use in a wide variety of applications, such as electronic road tolling, EV registration, license plate authentication, access control, asset tracking, brand protection, parking and fast visitor processing and special service offering at large scale venues, sports stadiums or entertainment parks.

Cryptographic authentication provides dynamic security with each transmission being different from the one before therefore minimising the ability for data to be emulated. The UCODE DNA provides ISO/IEC 29167-10 standardised cryptographic security using 128-bit key based on AES algorithms and is also designed in accordance with GS1 EPC Gen 2 V2 air interface standard, which supports cryptographic authentication in RFID systems operating in the UHF range (860 to 960MHz).

The tag IC offers developers a service for Trust Provisioning, which generates and inserts the cryptographic keys into the UCODE DNA tag IC during the manufacturing process. This not only speeds up the time to deploy an RAIN RFID system but also enables developers with no prior experience with cryptography to get a head start on new applications. As well as offering RAIN RFID system developers unprecedented cryptographic protection, the device also provides a large user memory (up to 3Kb) with BlockPermalock functionality, up to 448-bit electronic product code, and -19dBm read sensitivity.

“UCODE DNA will transform the RAIN RFID tag market, making decisions on security versus read range, a thing of the past. NXP is a trusted provider of secure contactless solutions with our technology already being used in many sensitive applications, such as ePassports, contactless banking cards, event ticketing and electronic identification cards,” said Matthias Poppel, General Manager, Secure Mobility & Retail, NXP Semiconductors. “By combining cryptographic security with long read range the possibilities for new markets, new use cases and new applications are enormous and it will be exciting to see this develop.”

NXP will present the UCODE DNA at RFID Journal Live, which takes place from 15^th to 17^th April in San Diego, California. Demonstrations the of the RAIN RFID tag will be showcased at the NXP booth, number 312.