RFID Tutorial - What is Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)?

What is RFID?

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a technology that allows automatic identification and / or tracking of people or goods. The data transmitted can provide identification information, details about the product tagged, or location. RFID also makes contactless electronic transactions possible. RFID increases security and safety, improves business processes and speeds transactions.

What is RFID used for?

There are many applications for RFID technology, including business, government, law enforcement, healthcare, education, entertainment, and transportation.

Specific applications include:

• Building access
• Cashless vending machines
• Public transport
• Road tolls
• Inventory management
• Libraries
• Prisons to control prisoner movement
• Amusement parks to identify lost children
• Hospitals protect newborn babies from kidnapping or accidental switching
• Drug manufacturers protect consumers from counterfeit drugs
• Livestock identification
• Pallet and container tracking
• Car rental

How does RFID work?

RFID systems are made of:

• A tag or transponder which contains information and can be attached to a person or included in a product. This is generally a microchip embedded in a card.
• A reader which scans the transponder and access the information it contains.
• A database to check the information provided by the reader.

Most RFID tags currently avaiable are made of silicon. A number of companies are developing polymer tags that will be roll printable and much less expensive than silicon-based tags.

Active and passive RFID systems

• Passive RFID tags do not have their own power source but require energy from the reader to power up. Practically, this means that a passive RFID tag can only transmit when it comes within range of an RFID reader - up to a few meters depending on the operating frequency. Since they do not require a power source, passive RFID systems can be very small: less than 0.15 mm and thinner than a piece of paper.
• An active RFID tag contains a battery and therefore can send data without being powered by the reader. There are 2 main types of active RFID tags: beacon tags will broadcast their ID are regular intervals. Response tags will only respond to a request from a RFID reader. Active RFID tags have ranges in tens of meters, and a battery life of several 5 years

RFID operating frequencies

• Low frequency: 125/134 kHz. This is suited for read-only applications that uses a unique, random serial number, such as access control.
• High frequency: 13.56 MHz. This technology uses a unique, random serial number but users may write data to the card. This read / write technology is used for mass transit and cashless vending.
• Ultra-high frequency: 2.5 GHz. Applications include road tolls or warehousing, e.g. pallet or container tracking.