RFID business unit
 

Radio Frequency identification (RFID) basics

RFID or Radio Frequency identification is a technology that enables the tracking or identification of objects using IC based tags with an RF circuit and antenna, and RF readers that "read" and in some case modify the information stored in the IC memory.

The RF tags could be divided in two major groups:

Passive, where the power to energize the tag�s circuitry is draw from the reader generated field.

Active, in this case the tag has an internal power source, in general a battery that could be replaceable or not, in some case this feature limited the tag lifetime, but for some applications this is not important, or the tag is designed to live more than the typical time needed.

The RF tags could be seen at first sight an "improvement" of the bar codes used today almost everywhere. But they provide several key advantages over the classical optical systems:

1- Do not require line of sight.
2- Could store far more information than a printed bar code.
3- In some case are writable, so they could store data during its lifecycle.
4- Could have additional electronic that could sense environmental factors as temperature, humidity, light, pressure, etc.

Automatic Identification

In recent years automatic identification procedures (Auto ID) have become very popular in many service industries, purchasing and distribution logistics, industry, manufacturing companies and material flow systems. Automatic identification procedures exist to provide information about people, animals, goods and products.

The omnipresent barcode labels that triggered a revolution in identification systems some considerable time ago, are being found to be inadequate in an increasing number of cases. Barcodes may be extremely cheap, but their stumbling block is their low storage capacity and the fact that they cannot be reprogrammed.

The technically optimal solution would be the storage of data in a silicon chip. The most common form of electronic data carrying device in use in everyday life is the chip card based upon a contact field (telephone chip card, bank cards). However, the mechanical contact used in the chip card is often impractical. A contactless transfer of data between the data carrying device and its reader is far more flexible. In the ideal case, the power required to operate the electronic data carrying device would also be transferred from the reader using contactless technology. Because of the procedures used for the transfer of power and data, contactless ID systems are called RFID systems (Radio Frequency Identification).

Radio Frequency Identification - RFID
 
An RFID system is always made up of two components:

• the transponder, which is located on the object to be identified,
• the detector or reader , which, depending upon design and the technology used, may be a read or write/read device.

 

Picture: The reader and the transponder are the main components of every RFID system

A reader typically contains a high frequency module (transmitter and receiver), a control unit and a coupling element to the transponder. In addition, many readers are fitted with an additional interface (RS 232, RS 485, ...) to enable it to forward the data received to another system (PC, robot control system, ...).

The transponder, which represents the actual data carrying device of an RFID system, normally consists of a coupling element and an electronic microchip. When the transponder, which does not usually possess its own voltage supply (battery), is not within the response range of a reader it is totally passive. The transponder is only activated when it is within the response range of a reader. The power required to activate the transponder is supplied to the transponder through the coupling unit (contactless) as is the timing pulse and data.

Uses of RFID technology

Access control

RFID could be used for access control of people, by using just a card (credit card size), a badge or any item that can be tagged. People can either use the card for contactless reading by a terminal or simply walk through a "gateway" for registration and authorisation. For access control of vehicles, active tags are most used, since they can be read, at longer distances.

Retail & service industry

By tagging retail and consumer products, a business can boost its efficiency and introduce new customer driven services throughout the manufacturing, distribution and point-of-sale process. Luxury goods or high risk/value products can also be tagged with a unique identifier, which is effective in preventing fraud and illegally copied versions. Customer loyalty programs and E-commerce can also be effectively integrated with RFID technology.

The service industry , especially hotels and hospitals , can also benefit through use of RFID technology to provide better customer service , when tags are use to identify, trace and store guests/patients information, track guest's/patient's laundries, provide guest/patient security e.t.c.

Transport & fleet management

Transportation and fleet management RFID solutions allows for automatic identification of both the vehicle and the goods they carry. Active and passive tags with both short and long reading distances are available for different kinds of applications. Close reading distances from a few centimetres up to 1 metre and long reading distances even up to 40 metres are possible.

RFID transport and fleet Management software together with suitable tags, antennas and readers allows vehicles and goods to be identified and tracked in/out of distribution areas for loading and unloading. Furthermore, together with our range of mobile data terminals, automatic vehicle location systems and GPS/GSM products, RFID can offer complete tracking of vehicles and security of goods even when the vehicles are travelling from one geographic area to another.

Anti-counterfeiting devices

In the pharmaceutical industry, RFID tags on drug bottles are being used as anti-counterfeiting devices.

Libraries

In libraries, books are being tagged for self-automated checkout, freeing up librarians to perform other tasks. This also allows a librarian to easily locate a book misplaced on the wrong shelf.

** Copyright: Above text is copied from http://www.rfidtutor.com and http://www.rfid-handbook.de