Interfacing ID20LA with Arduino

In this article, we explore the process of interfacing the ID20LA RFID reader module with an Arduino board. You will learn about the basic working principle of RFID technology, the features of the ID20LA module, and the step-by-step guide to connecting it with an Arduino. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced electronics enthusiast, this tutorial will help you understand the essentials of RFID interfacing with Arduino.

Disclaimer:

Handling electricity carries inherent risks. It’s essential to have the appropriate skills to manage it safely. Proceed at your own risk, as the author disclaims responsibility for any misuse, harm, or errors. All content on this website is unique and copyrighted; please avoid unauthorized copying. While most articles are open-source for your benefit, feel free to use the knowledge provided. If you find our resources helpful, consider purchasing available materials to support our work.

For assistance or guidance, leave a comment below; the author is committed to helping. Some articles may contain affiliate links that support the author with a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your understanding and support.

About ID20LA:

The ID20LA is an RFID module produced by SparkFun Electronics. RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification, and it is a technology that uses radio waves to wirelessly identify and track objects. The ID20LA module is designed to read passive RFID tags (i.e., tags that do not require a battery) operating at a frequency of 125 kHz.

The ID20LA module provides a simple interface for connecting to a microcontroller or computer, using a standard serial communication protocol. When an RFID tag is brought near the module’s antenna, the module reads the tag’s unique identifier and sends it over the serial interface to the connected device. This makes it easy to integrate RFID technology into a wide range of projects, such as access control systems, inventory management, and interactive installations.

Pinout:

Pin Function:

The format pin must be connected properly to get proper functions from this module.

Circuit diagram:

You can follow this circuit diagram for interfacing ID12LA or ID20LA with Arduino.

Code:

Here is some sample code to interface an ID12-LA RFID module with an Arduino using the SoftwareSerial library:

#include <SoftwareSerial.h>

SoftwareSerial rfidSerial(2, 3);  // Create a new software serial object on pins 2 and 3
String rfidData = "";            // String variable to hold the RFID data

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);           // Start the hardware serial communication
  rfidSerial.begin(9600);       // Start the software serial communication with the RFID module
}

void loop() {
  if (rfidSerial.available()) {  // Check if there is data available on the software serial
    char c = rfidSerial.read();  // Read the incoming character from the RFID module
    if (c == '\n') {             // Check if the incoming character is a newline character
      Serial.println(rfidData);  // Print the RFID data to the serial monitor
      rfidData = "";             // Clear the RFID data variable for the next read
    } else {
      rfidData += c;             // Add the incoming character to the RFID data variable
    }
  }
}

In this code, we use the SoftwareSerial library to create a new software serial object on pins 2 and 3. We then initialize the software serial communication with the RFID module at a baud rate of 9600. In the main loop, we check if there is data available on the software serial, and if so, we read the incoming character from the RFID module. We add each incoming character to the rfidData variable until we receive a newline character. Once we receive the newline character, we print the contents of the rfidData variable to the serial monitor using the hardware serial communication. Finally, we clear the rfidData variable for the next read.

Notes:

Make sure to connect the VCC pin to the 5V pin on the Arduino, not the 3.3V pin.

Once you have made the connections, you can upload the code to the Arduino and open the serial monitor. When you bring an RFID tag near the ID12-LA/ID20-LA module, the tag’s unique identifier will be printed on the serial monitor.

Note that this is a basic example to get you started with interfacing the ID12-LA module with an Arduino. Depending on your specific application, you may need to modify the code to suit your needs. For example, you may want to add error checking or filtering to ensure that only valid RFID tags are read.

Conclusion:

You can now embed this code in your project and make some good projects. Hope this helps you. See you soon.

Read more on:

• Digital Clock with Temperature & Humidity display
• How to interface the EM-18 RFID reader module with an Arduino
• How to interface a 16×2 LCD with an STM32
• How to interface ESP8266 with STM32
• How to interface ST7567 display with Arduino

For Professional Designs or Help: