What is RFID Technology?
RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification, a technology with its roots in World War II. Today, Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) RFID is emerging as a premier technology for automating the identification and tracking of merchandise and collecting valuable information on their whereabouts, contents, physical state and more. Organizations in Retail, Defense, Transportation, Healthcare and other industries are increasingly employing RFID technology to bring new efficiencies to supply chains, track assets, ensure product quality and consumer safety, protect the integrity of their brands, promote security and more.
What are the Benefits of RFID Technology?
Companies can benefit from RFID technology in several ways. For one, the technology allows for increased supply chain visibility at all stages of the process. This increased visibility can lead to greater speed and efficiency in transporting products as well as reducing loss that leads to unnecessary costly expenditures and waste. RFID technology provides a more precise assessment of the amount of product actually electronically inventoried, as opposed to the actual number of units in-store or onsite. The more accurately you can model your supply chain process, the more accurately you can respond with solutions that maximize your profits and your customer experience.
How RFID Technology Works?
A RFID system has several components including chips, tags, readers and antennas. In its simplest form, a small silicon chip is attached to a small flexible antenna to create a tag. The chip is used to record and store information. When a RFID tag is to be read, the RFID reader (which also uses an antenna) sends it a radio signal. The RFID tag absorbs some of the RF energy from the reader signal and reflects it back as a return signal delivering information from the tag's memory.
How many types of RFID are available?
Among RFID devices, there are three types – passive, active and Semi-Active.
A passive RFID device is one that does not use an internal power supply to communicate with the scanning antenna. Instead, during the process of being scanned, the radio waves from the scanning antenna itself provide power and activate the RFID tag so that the information encoded on it can be transmitted.
- Smaller, lighter
- NOT equipped with an internal energy source - draw their power from RF
- Shorter range (<3m)
- Lower cost
An active RFID device has a power supply of its own. As such, these devices have a greater capacity and range than passive RFID tags. They can transmit their signals over greater distances and in more adverse conditions than passive RFID tags. For example, active RFID devices can transmit signals more easily through water and other liquids, as well as through metal containers.
- Active battery on board
- Larger, heavier
- Longer range (up to 100m)
- Larger data storage
There is also a third type of RFID device known as semi-active, or semi-passive. This type of tag receives power from the scanning antenna when scanned, but also has an internal power supply, like an active RFID tag. This additional on-board power supply grants the semi-passive/semi-active tag a greater scanning range than a normal passive RFID tag.
- Battery on board that “wakes up”
- Smaller form factor than active
- Longer read range than passive – up to 30m
- In the middle on pricing