|
Radio
Frequency Identification, or
RFID, is a
technology that uses radio frequency (RF) waves to conveniently
identify or track an object, person, or animal. This
system requires that an RFID tag or transponder is incorporated into or carried by
the object, person, or animal being identified or tracked.
The RFID tag carries the information needed for identification and
tracking, which are received as radio signals by an RFID reader. Today, RFID systems are widely used in tracking and managing large
inventories of materials and are usually incorporated in enterprise
supply management systems.
A typical
RFID tag has a microchip and an antenna. The microchip takes
care of the storage and processing of the information about the RFID
tag's carrier, modulation and demodulation of the RF signal, and
other special functions. The antenna is used to transmit and
receive RF signals to and from the RFID reader. Some RFID tags
can be read even if it is not within the line of sight of the reader
and a few meters away.
RFID tags can now be
greatly miniaturized to the extent that they are easily
concealed by or implanted into its carrier. As of this writing
(2009), the smallest RFID chip measures only 0.05mm x 0.05 mm.
RFID technology uses various RF frequencies such as 0.125-0.1342
MHz, 0.140-0.1485 MHz, 13.56 MHz, and 840-960 MHz).
Existing applications of
RFID technology include the following:
- identification
and tracking of properties and assets;
- RFID passports
that are easier to process;
- timing of
races, such as in marathons where there are thousands of
participants that are difficult to time individually;
- mobile payment
solutions such as contactless payment cards;
- inventory and
product tracking for manufacturing and distribution operations;
- transportation
logistics management;
- animal
identification wherein the RFID transponder is implanted into the
animal;
- tracking of
books, CD's, DVD's, etc. in libraries;
- identification
of students and their properties in schools and universities;
- monitoring of
visitors to museums; and
- social
retailing.
 |
|
Figure 1. Examples of an RFID tag (left) and an RFID
reader (right) |
See Also:
More
Industry Articles
|
