Understanding RFID Technology and Its Applications
1. RFID
• RFID = Radio Frequency Identification
• Electronic labeling and wireless identification of
objects using radio frequency
• Tag carries with its information
– a serial number
– Model number
– Color or any other imaginable data
• When these tags pass through a field generated
by a compatible reader, they transmit this
information back to the reader, thereby
identifying the object
2. RFID components
• A basic RFID system consists of these
components:
– A programmable RFID tag/inlay for storing item data;
• Consisting of an RFID chip for data storage
• an antenna to facilitate communication with the RFID chip
• A reader/antenna system to interrogate the RFID
inlay
• Application software and a host computer system
3. RFID Tag
• The RFID tag consists of an integrated circuit (IC)
embedded in a thin film medium.
• Information stored in the memory of the RFID
chip is transmitted by the antenna circuit
embedded in the RFID inlay via radio frequencies,
to an RFID reader
• 3 types
– Passive
– Semi-passive
– Active
4. Types of RFID Tags
Active Tags
•Use a battery
•communicate
over distances
of several
meters
Semi-passive
Tags
•Contain built-
in batteries to
power the
chip’s
circuitry, resist
interference
and
circumvent a
lack of power
from the
reader signal
due to long
distance.
•They are
different from
active tags in
that they only
transmit data
at the time a
response is
received
Passive Tags
•Derive their
power from
the field
generated by
the reader
•without
having an
active
transmitter to
transfer the
information
stored
5. Applications
Frequency Appx. Read
Range
Data Speed Cost of
Tags
Application
Low Frequency
(125kHz)
<5cm
(passive)
Low High • Animal Identification
• Access Control
High Frequency
(13.56 Mhz)
10 cm – 1m
(passive)
Low to Moderate Medium
to Low
• Smart Cards
• Payment (paywave)
Ultra High
Frequency (433,
868-928 Mhz)
3m -7m
(passive)
Moderate to High Low • Logistics and Supply Chain
• Baggage Tracking
Microwave (2.45 &
5.8 Ghz)
10m -15m
(passive)
20m – 40m
(active)
High High • Electronic toll collection
(Autotoll)
• Container Tracking
13. Conclusion
• Positive
– RFID is a contactless reading technology and can read
through other materials
– Hold more data than barcode does
– RFID tags data can be changed or added
– More effective, bring lots of convenience to us
• Negative
– Cost is relatively remain high (compare to barcode)
– RFID signals may have problems with some materials
– RFID standards are still being developed
