ISO/IEC 15693-2:2019

Overview

ISO/IEC 15693-2:2019 - part of the ISO/IEC 15693 series - defines the air interface and initialization for contactless vicinity objects (vicinity cards). It specifies the electrical and signalling characteristics used for power transfer and two‑way communications between a vicinity coupling device (VCD) and a vicinity integrated circuit card (VICC). The standard is intended to be used together with other parts of ISO/IEC 15693 (physical characteristics, anticollision and protocol, test methods) and does not preclude integrating other compatible technologies on the card.

Keywords: ISO/IEC 15693-2:2019, contactless vicinity objects, air interface, vicinity cards, 13.56 MHz, VCD, VICC, RFID standard.

Key Topics and Requirements

• Power transfer: RF power coupling via antenna; operating carrier frequency is 13.56 MHz ± 7 kHz. The VICC must operate between specified minimum and maximum magnetic field strengths (e.g., minimum ~150 mA/m rms and maximum ~5 A/m rms) and the VCD must respect manufacturer operating volumes and limits.
• Initialization and dialogue: Defined sequence for activation and exchange - RF activation, silent waiting, VCD command transmission, VICC response - with protocol behavior governed by ISO/IEC 15693-3.
• Modulation and signalling (VCD → VICC): Uses ASK (Amplitude Shift Keying) with two modulation indexes (10% and 100%). Timing parameters for frame pauses, start/end of frame (SOF/EOF), and modulation depth are specified.
• Data coding and frames: Multiple data coding modes (e.g., 1‑out‑of‑256, 1‑out‑of‑4) and frame formats are defined to meet regulatory and application requirements.
• VICC → VCD communications: Load modulation and subcarrier schemes, multiple data rates including low/high and newly added fast response data rates, bit encoding for single/two subcarrier modes, and frame delimiters.
• Compatibility: Annex A covers standards compatibility; normative references include ISO/IEC 15693-1, 15693-3, and ISO/IEC 10373-7 test methods.

Applications and Who Uses It

ISO/IEC 15693-2:2019 is used by:

• Card and secure device manufacturers designing vicinity (longer-range) contactless smart cards and tokens.
• RFID system integrators and access-control solution providers needing standardized air-interface behavior.
• Payment, ID and credentialing system architects where interoperability and regulatory compliance at 13.56 MHz are required.
• Test laboratories and compliance engineers implementing ISO/IEC 10373-7 test methods.
• RF engineers and firmware developers implementing modulation, bit coding, and initialization sequences.

Practical uses include library cards, asset tracking tags, ID badges, campus and transit credentials, and other applications that benefit from vicinity-range contactless identification.

Related Standards

• ISO/IEC 15693-1 - Physical characteristics (cards)
• ISO/IEC 15693-3 - Anticollision and transmission protocol
• ISO/IEC 10373-7 - Test methods for contactless vicinity objects
• (Context) ISO/IEC 14443, ISO/IEC 10536 - related contactless card families (proximity/close-coupled)

For implementers, ISO/IEC 15693-2:2019 provides the detailed electrical and signalling rules necessary to achieve interoperable, compliant vicinity RFID and contactless card systems.