What is the RFID?
Radio frequency identification, or RFID, is a generic term for technologies that use radio waves to automatically identify people or objects. There are several methods of identification, but the most common is to store a serial number that identifies a person or object, and perhaps other information, on a microchip that is attached to an antenna (the chip and the antenna together are called an RFID transponder or an RFID tag). Antenna enables the chip to transmit the identification information to a reader. Readers changing the radio waves reflected back from the RFID tag into digital information that can then be passed on to computers that can use it.
Is RFID better than using bar codes (BARCODE)?
RFID is not necessarily "better" than bar codes. Both are different technologies and have different applications, which sometimes overlap. The big difference between the two is the bar code is
line-of-sight technology. That is, the scanner must "see" the bar code to read it, which means people usually have to steer towards the barcode scanner to read the code. Radio frequency identification (RFID), by contrast, does not require line of sight to read the tag. RFID tags can be read as long as they are within range of the reader. Bar codes have other shortcomings as well. If the label is torn or soiled or has a disability, there is no way to scan items, and standard bar codes identify only the manufacturer and product, not the unique item. Bar code on one milk carton is the same as every other, making it impossible to identify which one might pass its expiration date first.
RFID will replace bar codes?
It's highly unlikely. Bar codes are inexpensive and effective for certain tasks, but RFID and barcode will coexist for many years.
Is the new RFID?
RFID is a proven technology that has been around at least since the 1970s. Until now, relatively expensive and too limited to be practical for many commercial applications. But if the tag can be made cheap enough, they can solve many problems associated with the bar code. The radio waves travel through most non-metallic materials, so that they can be embedded in packaging or encased in protective plastic to leak and greater durability. And tags have microchips that can store a unique serial number for every product manufactured around the world.
What is the purpose of the RFID?
RFID allows data to be transmitted by products containing RFID microchip tag, which is read by the RFID reader. Transmitted data may provide identification or location information about the products, or specify information such as the date of purchase or price.
What are the advantages of using RFID technology?
No contact or line-of-sight is required to read data from a product that contains an RFID tag. This means no more scanners cashier at the grocery store, there are more unpack the shipping box, and the key to getting no more out of your pocket to start your car. RFID technology can also work in the rain, snow and other environments where bar code or optical scanning technology will be in vain.
Is there a standard for RFID?
Yes. International standards have been adopted for some very specific applications, such as for animal tracking and for smart cards, which require encryption to keep data secure. Many other standards initiatives currently underway. International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is working on a standard for tracking goods in the supply chain using a high-frequency tags (ISO 18000-3) and ultra-high frequency tags (ISO 18000-6). EPC global, a joint venture company established to commercialize Electronic Product Code technology, has its own process standard, which is used to create bar code standards. EPC Global has filed a second generation EPC UHF protocols to ISO, and have been approved as ISO 18000-6C, an international standard.
Any type of RFID standards?
ISO 15693-Smart Label
Contactless ISO 14443-payment
ISO 11784-Livestock
EPC-Retail
ISO 18000-frequency range, a wide range of applications
What type of RFID application?
- Tracking for Livestock
- Automotive immobilizer
- Contactless payment
- Anti-theft
- Application Library
- Toll Ticket fast-
- Access Control
- Production / Inventory Tracking
- Retail
- Asset Management
What is the difference between the low (LF), high (HF) and ultra-high frequency (UHF)?
Just as radio tune to a different frequency to hear different channels, RFID tags and readers have to be tuned to the same frequency to communicate. RFID systems use different frequencies, but generally the most common are low frequency (about 125 KHz), high frequency (13.56 MHz) and ultra-high-frequency or UHF (860-960 MHz). Microwave (2.45 GHz) is also used in some applications. Radio waves behave differently at different frequencies, so you have to choose the right frequency for the right application
Applications for different frequencies:
Applications LF (125kHz): access control, livestock, race time, pallet tracking, automotive immobilizers, animal identification pets
Applications HF (13.56MHz): Supply chain, wireless commerce, ticketing, product authentication, identification clothes, library books identification, smart cards
Applications UHF (860-960MHz): Supply chain, Tags Tool, RTLS, EPC Case and Pallet
What are the characteristics transponder?
RFID tags are small microchips with memory and an antenna coil, thinner than paper and a few mm. RFID tags listening to radio signals sent by the RFID reader. When the RFID tag receives a query, it responds by sending a unique ID code and other data back to the reader. Basically there are three types of tags Passive-Active, Passive and Semi.
What is the difference between RFID passive, semi-passive and active?
Active RFID uses an internal power source, such as a battery, the tag to continuously power-tag and its RF communication circuitry. Active RFID enables extremely low level RF signal to be received by the tag (as the reader / interrogator not authorized tags), and tags can produce a high level signal back to the reader / interrogator. Active RFID tags continue to be supported, both in the field of reader / interrogator or not, and is typically used when a longer reading distance desired tag.
Passive RFID relies on RF energy transferred from the reader / interrogator to the tag to power the tag. Passive RFID tags reflect energy from the reader / interrogator or receive and temporarily store a small amount of energy from the signal reader / interrogator to generate a tag response. Passive RFID requires a strong RF signal from the reader / interrogator, and the strength of the RF signal returned from the tag is limited to very low levels by limited energy. Passive RFID tags are best used when tags and interrogators will be close to one another.
Semi-passive RFID use internal resources to monitor the environmental conditions, but require RF energy transferred from the reader / interrogator similar to a passive tag to power the tag's response. Semi-passive RFID tags use the process to produce a response similar to the passive tags tags. Semi-passive tags differ from passive to semi-passive tags have an internal power source (battery) for this tag circuit which allows the tag to complete other functions such as monitoring environmental conditions (temperature, shock) and that can extend the reach of the tag signal.
What is the difference between read-only and read / write tag?
Chips in RF tags can be read-write or read-only. With read-write chips, you can add information to the tag or write over existing information when the tag is within range of the reader, or interrogator. Read-write tags are useful in some specific applications, but because they are more expensive than read-only chip, they are not practical for tracking inexpensive item. Some read-only microchips have information stored in it during the manufacturing process. The information on the chip can not be changed. A more flexible option is to use something called electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, or EEPROM. With EEPROM, data can be overwritten by using a special electronic process.
How much information can be stored by the RFID tag?
Tags are available with a storage capacity of 512 bytes to 4KB. It really depends on the vendor and whether the tag is passive or active. The data stored in the tag will be determined by the application of appropriate systems and standards. For example, the tag could provide identification for manufactured items, goods in transit, or even short distances location and identity of vehicles, animals, or people. This baseline data is often referred to as "code plate," is similar to the information stored in the bar code label. When connected to a database, additional information can be accessed through the reader such as the number of stock items, current location, status, selling price, and batch code. Alternatively, an RFID tag can carry specific information or instructions immediately available after the reading, without the need of a reference database to determine the meaning of the code. For example, the desired color of paint on a car entering the assembly area paint on the production line, or manifest to accompany the shipment.
Transponders, smart labels, tags. What is the difference?
Initially, in the technical field, the transponder is a term used to refer to an electronic module that is able to Transmit information and respond to information. More recently, different areas in which Radio Frequency Identification is prevalent have developed new jargon to refer to the same thing, such as Smart Label or Tag. "Smart labels" is a highly innovative form of RFID tag and operate in much the same way. However, smart label consists of an adhesive label that is embedded with "inlay" ultra-thin RFID tag (the tag IC plus printed antenna). Smart labels combine a variety of reading and unattended processing capability of RFID with the convenience and flexibility of on-demand label printing. Smart labels can also be pre-printed and pre-coded for use. In the on-demand applications, inlay tags can be encoded with fixed data or variable and tested before the label is printed, while labels can contain all the bar codes, text, and images used in applications that are built. Smart labels are called "smart" because of the flexible capabilities provided by the silicon chip embedded in the tag inlay. A label reading / writing intelligent can also be programmed and reprogrammed to use, following the initial coding during the label production process.
Can I mark metal objects? Can I mark an item that has a high moisture content?
Yes. Radio waves bounce off metal and are absorbed by the air at higher frequencies. While that can make tracking metal objects or people with high water content problematic, planned system design and engineering can solve this problem.
What RFID reader?
The reader is basically a radio frequency transmitter and receiver, controlled by a microprocessor or digital signal processor. Reader, using an antenna attached, capture data from tags then passes the data to a computer for processing. Such as tags, readers come in various sizes and offer different features. Readers can be affixed in a stationary position (for example, in addition to a conveyor belt in a factory door or dock at a warehouse), portable (integrated into mobile computers that also can be used to scan bar codes), or even embedded in electronic equipment such as print-on- demand label printers
Whether the characteristics of the reader?
• Stationary or mobile (different RFID Reader Module)
• Hold the weather or industry standards
• Typical read range varies from a few centimeters to several meters
• Read range depends on:
o Broadcast signal strength
o The size of the transmitting antenna
o The size of the transponder antenna
o Environmental factors: metals, Liquid
• Reader with Multi-frequency capability
Read-only RFID reader device can only request or read information from the RFID tag nearby. The readers are found in fixed, stationary applications as well as portable and handheld varieties.
Read-write RFID reader Also known as encoders, these devices read and write (change) information in an RFID tag. Such as RFID encoders can be used to program information into an RFID tag empty. A typical application is to combine as RFID readers with barcode printers to print smart labels. Smart labels contain UPC bar code on the front with an RFID tag embedded in the rear.
What kind of antenna characteristics?
- Send and receive RF signals
- Usually made of copper or aluminum, new technologies for printed antenna
- Stationary or mobile
- Weather-proof / Industrialized
What considerations RFID system?
Read the terms of the distance
- Reading of various length
- Short Range read
Frequency
- All the frequencies have their pros and cons
ISO standard
- Proprietary or standards-based
Government regulations
- Varies from country to country
Some Tag Reading the Same Field.
- Can be overcome by Anti-collision
Sensitivity to Orientation
- A single orientation or Omni-directional
Hardware Set-up
- The environment can affect the performance
