The Future of Information Tracking, RFID

When a company wants to identify products and objects and store the information in the hard disk of a computer the most effective tool to implement the process of automatic identification is RFID technology. The aim basically is cost economy, manpower economy and increased efficiency in value added items like the customer service. The technology is ordinarily implemented using an RFID reader.

RFID

Radio Frequency Identification technology uses radio waves to identify people or objects. The basic techniques include:

• Storing a specified serial number that would identify a man or an object on a microchip
• Storing other basic information for such identification on the same microchip
• Attaching the microchip to an antenna

The microchip and antenna together form the RFID tag, which may be an active RFID tag or a passive RFID tag. The chip is able to transmit radio waves through the antenna to a reader. The radio waves actually transmit identification information.

RFID Tag Types

The work of an RFID tag is to transmit identification information to the RFID reader. In the case of passive RFID tags, there is no internal power supply and the little current that the antenna receives from the incoming radio frequency signal makes the integrated circuits in the tag transmit a response. Passive tags ordinarily back scatter the carrier signal from the reader. The antenna is suitably deigned to collect power for both incoming and outgoing signals. The response provided is not just the ID number but can also contain non-volatile data.

A passive RFID tag is a small device and is currently available in the size of 0.15 square mm. The paper thin, low priced tags are favored by Wal-Mart, Tesco, Metro AG and many other notable international bodies. The microchip is a real chip and the cost is only 5 cents. Passive tags have practical read distances from 10 cm to a few meters. Passive RFID tags are simple and do not require batteries. They also have an unlimited life span. However, there are also semi-passive RFID tags that require some sort of power connection though just at low level.

Active RFID tags on the other hand have their own internal power source that powers ICs generating outgoing signal. Here, the errors are fewer compared to the passive RFID. In adverse environments, active tags work better than the passive tags. They have a practical range of hundreds of meters and a battery life span of up to ten years. At times, they use sensors for temperature logging and many other purposes. In terms of memory, active tags have an advantage of higher memory compared to the passive tags. Today, active tags the size of small coins are available in the market.

RFID vs. Bar Codes

It is a misnomer to compare RFID tags and bar codes since the two are completely different technologies. Bar codes may be designated as line of sight technology. So, you need a scanner to read the bar code. The bar code is to be oriented towards the scanner and it is difficult to identify bar codes at a glance. RFID does not require line of sight and can be read easily if it is within the specified range of the reader. However, bar codes are less expensive and still preferred. Hence, both RFID and bar codes are likely to remain for some more time.

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