Week 10: Segment 1: Using the MF522 RFID Reader with the ARduino

This segment focuses on understanding RFID technology and on using the SPI-bus based MF522/ RC522 RFID reader shields with MIFARE Classic RFID cards/tags.

Goals:
  • Understand the technology used in RFID cards and readers
  • Understand the basic hardware and software features of MIFARE Classic RFID cards
  • Learn to use the open source MF522.h library.
  • Learn to use SPI bus devices.

In-Class Project:
  • Use the RFID card to store data.
  • Use the LCD display to show the data stored on the card.

Materials for this segment:
  • Watch the videos on the right (the one on top discusses the RFID card reader and the one on the bottom is about the basics of the SPI bus, which is an alternative to the I2C bus).
  • Arduino sketches featured in the video.
  • MF522 RFID reader library for use with MIFARE cards.
  • MIFARE Classic 1k cards data sheet. This describes the functionality of the RFID card and tag that came with the Arduino kit.
  • The SPI bus page at Arduino.cc
Main Arduino sketch used in the tutorial:
rfid_tutorial_sketch.zip
File Size: 4 kb
File Type: zip
Download File
MF522 library (put in your library folder). This file was downloaded in 1/2014. Potentially newer versions can be downloaded here.
mfrc522_rfid_lib.zip
File Size: 22 kb
File Type: zip
Download File
'Memory Dump' sketch featured in the tutorial (downloaded in 1/2014. Potentially newer versions can be downloaded here)
dumpinfo.zip
File Size: 1 kb
File Type: zip
Download File