RFID is a technology that uses radio waves to automatically identify objects or people. An RFID tag attached to an item can be scanned by an RFID reader to retrieve information about that item without needing direct line-of-sight like a barcode. RFID readers can scan multiple tags simultaneously and are not affected by environmental factors like dirt or damage like barcodes. RFID systems are used for applications like tracking animals, preventing theft, handling luggage, managing blood banks, and ensuring printer cartridges are compatible.

1. SEMINAR : RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION
What is RFID?
1. It is a method to automatically identify objects, animals or people by means of
radio waves.
2. This means RFID devices (spy-chips) are attached to the object that we wish to
identify.
3. In case of objects the RFID device is glued on it.
4. In case of animals the tag is injected.
5. In case of humans the wrist-band that a person wears contains RFID device.
Is this only automatic identification technology?
1. Certainly not, the most commonly used identification technology that all of us
know, is the barcode.
2. This is set of funny thick and thin lines that we see on all items, be they computer
parts or shampoo bottles.
3. What do they do? They help identify what the item is, who made it and such kind
of information.
4. For example, consider your library ID card number that is represented by barcode.
The barcode scanner scans this barcode and hence the number. The scanner is
connected to a database and this number points to the rest of information which
includes name-of-person, date-of-birth, residence etc.
But you must be thinking, even a barcode reader can do same function as RFID
reader, so what is the point?
1. Well a barcode reader can read a barcode one at a time.
One RFID reader can identify hundreds of tags in its range within a fraction
of a second.
2. Barcode reader requires clear line of sight. Barcodes get dirty and damaged.
In case of RFID line of sight is not required, even in case of dirtying they are
still visible to the reader.
Components of a RFID System:
1. A transponder or tag consisting of a microchip and an antenna. Information to be
processed is written in microchip. The antenna is used to emit/receive radio
signals.
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2. 2. An transceiver or reader consisting of a transceiver, decoder, and antenna. The
transceiver is used to receive radio signals which are decoded to byte stream by
decoder. The antenna is used to emit/receive radio signals.
How does a RFID system work?
1. The object to be tracked is affixed with a RFID tag or transponder. A RFID tag
can store up to 2000 bits of information
2. The reader is kept at some distance
3. When the object containing RFID tag comes within the range of radio signals
emitted by the reader, the tag is activated and it starts sending the information
stored in it in the form of radio signals.
4. The reader captures the radio signals, decodes it to a byte stream, and sends the
information for further processing to the host system connected to it.
So what is the use of RFID?
These are not the only applications. By studying these applications you can come up with
your own application.
Animal Identification.
1. Injectable RFID tags are used for animals today. The number of RFID tag is
unique and cannot be altered.
2. These tags were easily read from the distance, with a hand held reader.
3. The reader is connected to a remote database which correlates the unique RFID
tag number on the animal with other data like.
 Distinguishing features of the animal.
 Last vaccination done.
 or whether it is a pet animal or wild tiger or endangered species.
Anti – Theft System.
1. In past the only anti-theft systems were CCTV ( Closed Circuit TV ) cameras and
watchful security guards.
2. Ofcourse cameras are useful. But mostly they are useful only after a theft has
taken place.
3. And what if the security guard in the jewelry Shop picks small item (say a
diamond ring).
4. RFID technology is used to trigger the alarm when somebody tries to walk off
through the door antenna with an item without paying for it.
Luggage Handling
1. Lost or misplaced luggage takes up large chunk of an airlines headache list.
2. Ofcourse airline luggage is fixed with barcode tags at the time of luggage check-
in.
3. Unfortunately, the reader cannot read all barcode tags because, barcode reader
requires a clear line of sight, and the luggage article may get bunched together
because the careless loading of the staff. This makes barcode labels not only
unreadable and damaged but labels themselves are lost.
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3. 4. Instead of ordinary barcode labels we can use RFID tags. The RFID readers have
several advantages over over barcode readers like:
 Many bags can read at one time.
 No problem of misaligned and dirty.
Blood Banks
1. In typical hospital emergency room, the patient himself is asleep or unconscious,
unable to talk or communicate or talk.
2. Typically patient is not known personally to nurse.
3. The nurse gets confused and hence transfuses the wrong blood or contaminated
blood. What happens, patient will sleep forever (in other words get killed).
4. The RFID solution is to embed a tag into the blood bag.
5. The nurse who transfuses the blood can scan the bag before transferring;
6. the patient has also wrist-band RFID tag which identifies him uniquely.
7. In case of wrong blood a reader can throw warning.
8. The patient will be grateful to the technology, if he knew what was about to
happen with him.
Office printers and cartridges.
1. Have you faced a problem when your printer gave you an ink low alarm, and you
spent a lot of time searching which new print cartridge could be compatible with
your “out of ink” printer.
2. The RFID solution is to embed RFID tags inside both print cartridges and the
printers.
3. Before opening the seal, the printers RFID reader senses the cartridges RFID tag
and displays the message on PC which is attached to the printer. The message
could be a warning like “STOP This Cartridge is not suitable for me”
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