What is RFID  Technology(radio frequency identification)?

RFID Technology (radio frequency identification) is a form of wireless communication that incorporates the use of electromagnetic or electrostatic coupling in the radio frequency portion of the electromagnetic spectrum to uniquely identify an object, animal, or person.

How does RFID Technology work?

Every RFID system consists of three components: a scanning antenna, a transceiver, and a transponder. Combining the scanning antenna and transceiver creates an RFID reader (or interrogator). RFID readers include two categories: fixed readers and mobile readers. The RFID reader is a network-connected device that can be portable or permanently attached. It uses radio waves to transmit signals that activate the tag. Upon activation, the tag transmits a signal to the antenna. The RFID reader receives this signal and converts it into digital data for further processing

The transponder is in the RFID tag itself. The read range for RFID tags varies based on factors including the type of tag, type of reader, RFID frequency, and interference in the surrounding environment or from other RFID tags and readers. Tags that have a stronger power source also have a longer read range.

What are RFID tags and smart labels?

An RFID tag combines an integrated circuit (IC), an antenna, and a substrate. Specifically, the RFID inlay — comprising the IC and antenna — actively encodes and transmits the tag’s unique identification data.

Generally, there are two main types of RFID tags:

1. Active RFID: An active RFID tag has its own power source, typically a battery, allowing continuous signal transmission.
2. Passive RFID: On the other hand, a passive RFID tag receives its power from the reading antenna, where the electromagnetic wave induces a current in the tag’s antenna.

Additionally, semi-passive RFID tags use a battery to operate their circuitry but still rely on an RFID reader for communication power.

Moreover, low-power embedded non-volatile memory plays a critical role in every RFID system. For instance, RFID tags typically store less than 2,000 KB of data, including a unique identifier or serial number. Depending on the design, tags can function as read-only or read-write devices, with the reader either adding data or overwriting existing information.

Furthermore, the read range for RFID tags varies significantly. This variation depends on factors such as the tag type, reader type, RFID frequency, and environmental interference (e.g., from other tags or readers). Notably, active RFID tags have a longer read range than passive tags due to their stronger power source.

In practical applications, smart labels serve as simplified RFID tags. These labels integrate an RFID tag into an adhesive label and include a barcode, enabling compatibility with both RFID and barcode readers. However, while users can print smart labels on-demand using desktop printers, traditional RFID tags require more advanced equipment for encoding and production.

What are the types of RFID Technology Systems?

There are three main types of RFID systems: low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), and ultra-high frequency (UHF). Microwave RFID is also available. Frequencies vary greatly by country and region.

• Low-frequency RFID systems. These range from 30 KHz to 500 KHz, though the typical frequency is 125 KHz. LF RFID has short transmission ranges, generally anywhere from a few inches to less than six feet.
• High-frequency RFID system These range from 3 MHz to 30 MHz, with the typical HF frequency being 13.56 MHz. The standard range is anywhere from a few inches to several feet.
• UHF RFID systems. These range from 860 MHz to 960 MHz, with the typical frequency of 433 MHz and can generally be read from 25-plus feet away.
• Microwave RFID systems. These run at 2.45 Ghz and can be read from 200m away.

The RFID application will determine the frequency used, and the actual distances obtained sometimes vary from the expected ones .

For example, when the U.S. State Department announced it would issue electronic passports enabled with an RFID chip, it said the chips would only be able to be read from approximately 4 inches away. However, the State Department soon received evidence that RFID readers could skim the information from the RFID tags from much farther than 4 inches — sometimes upward of 33 feet away.

Active RFID tags (powered by batteries) enable read ranges exceeding 300 feet when extended coverage is necessary

RFID applications and use cases

RFID dates back to the 1940s; however, it was used more frequently in the 1970s. For a long time, the high cost of the tags and readers prohibited widespread commercial use. As hardware costs have decreased, RFID adoption has also increased.

Some common uses for RFID applications include:

• pet and livestock tracking
• inventory management
• asset tracking and equipment tracking
• inventory control
• cargo and supply chain logistics
• vehicle tracking
• customer service and loss control
• improved visibility and distribution in the supply chain
• access control in security situations
• shipping
• healthcare
• manufacturing
• retail sales
• tap-and-go credit card payments

what’ s  differnet between  RFID & barcodes?

Using RFID as an alternative for barcodes is increasing in use. RFID and barcode technologies are used in similar ways to track inventory, but there are some important differences between them.

RFID vs. NFC

Near-field communication (NFC) enables data to be exchanged between devices by using short-range, high-frequency wireless communication technology. NFC combines the interface of a smart card and reader into a single device.

• Reader collision. An anti-collision protocol can prevent reader collision (which occurs when a signal from one RFID reader interferes with a second reader) by enabling RFID tags to take turns transmitting to their appropriate readers.
• Tag collision. Tag collision occurs when too many tags confuse an RFID reader by transmitting data at the same time. Choosing a reader that gathers tag info one at a time will prevent this issue.

Limitations of RFID Encryption
RFID tags lack sufficient computing power to support encryption, such as challenge-response authentication systems. However, one exception exists for RFID tags in passports, which use Basic Access Control (BAC). In this system, the chip possesses enough computing power to decode an encrypted token from the reader, verifying the reader’s validity.

How Passport Security Works
The reader scans information printed on the passport and uses it to derive a key. This process relies on three pieces of information: the passport number, the passport holder’s birth date, and the passport’s expiration date, along with a checksum digit for each. Researchers note that this method protects passports with a password that has significantly less entropy than those used in e-commerce. Additionally, the key remains static for the passport’s lifetime, meaning any entity with one-time access to the printed key information can read the passport without the bearer’s consent until the passport expires.

Mitigation Efforts
To address these risks, the U.S. State Department, which adopted the BAC system in 2007, added anti-skimming material to electronic passports. This measure helps prevent undetected attempts to steal users’ personal information.

Next-generation RFID use

RFID systems are becoming increasingly used to support internet of things deployments. Combining the technology with smart sensors and/or GPS technology enables sensor data including temperature, movement and location to be wirelessly transmitted.