Basic description: an RFID Tag is an aerial with a small microchip.
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The microchip can store a small amount of data, like a barcode, plus some other information related to the item or the owner of the item with the tag on it.
When the Tag receives a radio wave signal that signal briefly powers the microchip. The initiating device then receives the data from the tag. This all happens extremely quickly.
RFID Tagging is the placing of tags onto assets to enable those assets to be managed.
For RFID-enabled items like access cards or an Oyster card for example, the RFID tagging process is part of the manufacturing process. It would not be classed as RFID tagging.
For items that are ‘tagged at source’, again this would not really be what the industry classes as RFID Tagging. When something is manufactured, there are often many labels attached during the process, if that manufacturer puts an RFID tag on the item or packaging it is part of the overall process, classed as source tagging.
RFID Tagging really refers to the retrospective tagging of assets, many different types of assets.
Those assets could be library books, power tools, IT equipment, files, patient records, they are all classed as assets.
The process of RFID Tagging means that these assets have a tag placed on them, usually the tag has an adhesive back, then some reference to the item is programmed onto the RFID tags microchip.
Not all tags have adhesive on the back, it depends what they are meant to be attached to.
Once the asset has a tag attached it can be read by an ‘RFID Reader’. Usually there are some security features built in so only the desired RFID Reader can get data from the tags.
The range of RFID Tags is very wide, we’ll give you a link to RFID Tag Images. But, all RFID Tags have one thing in common, they are built with pretty much the same technology.
An RFID tag is a way of transferring information from an item to a reader and then to a database of some kind.
Library books are an easy way to explain what the RFID Tag, and overall RFID system, do.
Think of a Library book with a barcode on. When you want to issue or return the book you need to scan the barcode. Simple, but if there are a lot to do it takes time. The same thing with checking the stock in a library. If you’re only using a barcode then each book needs individually checking.
RFID Tags take away a big part of the labour and time involved in checking items. If the Tag only had the items barcode number in that would be enough to be beneficial. Rather than scanning a single barcode at a time you can read a lot of items very quickly.
Over the last few years the technology has advanced, and you are now able to RFID Tag metal items.
The tags are specifically designed to be placed on metal. They operate in the same way as other tags apart from the direction of the radio signal they give off. This is because the signal is pushed away from the metal item, metal and RFID signals don’t mix well.
First you need to know about different types of RFID Tags, not shapes and sizes but the different technology used within them.
The categories used widely are:
HF Tags – High Frequency
UHF Tags – Ultra High Frequency
Both types can be Passive or Active (Active has a battery passive does not)
High Frequency means that the radio wave used for these tags is on the High-Frequency scale, Ultra High Frequency operates on a Higher Frequency scale.
UHF can travel further than HF. The most basic HF systems using passive tags and small aerials can only be read 30-40 cm away. Whereas UHF with large aerials and Active (powered) tags can be read up to 100 meters away.
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The difference between passive and active tags is important. A passive tag does not have a battery in it, it is powered by the signal it receives from the RFID reader. An Active tag has a battery, which means it boosts the signal being sent out.
Think of the difference between an Oyster card, where you need to place it on a reader, this is HF Passive technology. Whereas a system which reads a tag in a car to confirm it has passed through a toll road is probably UHF Active. This is because that signal needs to travel further so UHF and Active are used to make this happen.
There are many other variables in read range depending on the system, but the minimum is around 30 cm and the maximum around 100 meters.
There is no definitive answer to this question. In theory a Passive Tag with no battery should, or could, last a lifetime. An Active Tag with a battery will last as long as the battery lasts. How long that is depends on how often the tag has to omit a signal.
The lifespan of an active tag depends on its uses and environment, somewhere between 1 year and 10 years.
A Passive Tag however is simpler and has no battery to rely on. In theory, it could last a lifetime, but that would depend where is was and how it was treated.
Like any electronic device it will be affected by temperature, humidity, handling and wear and tear.
Many Many Things, See Below:
1. If you know what you have you know what you need. Retail stores have shown an 8% sales growth (the figures vary, 8% is on the low side) from knowing what they have in real-time. Customers are fickle, if it’s there today they’ll get it because that’s what they came for, they may not come back if it’s not there. Using RFID technology for real-time stock analysis means popular items don’t run out of stock.
2. Using RFID to understand your equipment stock. We recently tagged equipment for a building firm, on completion the client had a quick look at the database. “Why the hell has Tony got 5 of those”. The immediate inference is that Tony, and possibly many more people within the company, liked to hog certain tools. By doing so, they are not deployed correctly and are replaced unnecessarily. The savings are difficult to assess so early in the process, but they are expected to be considerable.
3. Library books. Probably one of the simpler forms of RFID, replacing a barcode with an RFID tag that holds the barcode details in it. Quite apart from the fact that readers can issue and return multiple books in seconds, compared to queuing up at a counter or scanning each one separately. The technology allows a library of say 50,000 books, or a University with 350,000 books, to be stock checked in a tiny fraction of the time it would take with barcodes. It can also locate books which have been re-shelved incorrectly or scan a shelf and check the books are in the correct order. It can even find books hidden in various weird and wonderful places around the library.
Let's first explain the RFID basics. A RFID system basically uses 3 components: the tag, the antenna and the reader. The tag is normally attached with an object. It contains a unique identification. The antenna detects tag, via the magnetic fields it creates. The reader receives tag information and manipulates the information. The tag information could for example be an identification number. This article focuses on the RFID reader.
No, RFID and NFC are not the same. RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification. NFC is the short Near Field Communication. However, you can say that the NFC tag is a form of RFID.
Yes, you can use your as RFID tag. For Android or Windows phones you enable NFC. In case of an Apple you need to enable Bluetooth. Traditionally a RFID tag is a smart card, badge, ticket or drop. Nowadays, the smart can be used as RFID tag as well.
Examples of situations in which RFID readers can be used:
Although the term RFID reader is widely used, RFID readers can actually also write new information on a RFID tag. Of course there might be hindrances to it.
Of course this depends, but in general you can say that a RFID tag can be read from 8 meter distance, whereas a NFC tag can be read from max. 10 cm. The strength of the antenna is decisive for the, maximum reading range, as well of course the environment in which the RFID reader is installed.
Traditionally RFID readers are used for secure printing. However, the application scope is much broader:
Contactless authentication solution
Due to Covid companies are searching for more and more contactless solutions, especially if more people are using the same reader to authenticate.
Mobile credentials
More and more companies do no longer want to rely on only a smart card to give access to the company premise or facilities. Companies prefer to stop with key card systems and switch to mobile access. Smartphones are not easily forgotten are more secure and offer the possibility of adding an extra security layer, this called multifactor identification.
Multi factor identification
As hackers use ransomware to take companies hostage, the need to make the company network and computers attached to it safer, has largely increased. Adding a RFID card reader as an extra means of authentication to for example a PC, decreases the likelihood of a computer hack. Two factor identification is a form of multi factor identification and means 2 of the following factors are satisfied:
Other factors could be location or time.
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