Posted on August 3, 2022 Robert Jones IT Hardware
RFID, or radio frequency identification, is considered a type of wireless communication that utilizes the electromagnetic or electrostatic coupling of the electromagnetic spectrum for the means of identifying objects and living things. RFID can be conducted with an RFID system that is composed of a scanning antenna, transceiver, and transponder. The scanning antenna and transceiver are often grouped together, and this combination is known as the RFID reader. In this blog, we will discuss RFID systems and readers in more detail, allowing you to have a better understanding of their capabilities and common applications.
In general, two types of RFID readers are available, those of which are fixed and mobile variations. Whether portable or permanently affixed to something, all RFID readers are network-connected devices that utilize radio waves and signal transmission to activate a tag. When the tag is activated, a wave will be relayed back to the antenna, and the device will then translate the data to conduct a reading. In order for the tag to be activated, the transponder is situated within the tag itself. There are many things that may affect the capability of a tag to be read and the effective range of activation, those of which include factors such as the tag type, reader type, RFID frequency, and environmental interference. Nevertheless, the stronger the power source is for the tag, the longer read range it should have.
For the tag itself, such components are made up of an integrated circuit, antenna, and a substrate. One of the most important parts is the RFID inlay, that of which is where identifying data is encoded. There are two common types of RFID tags on the market, all either being active or passive. Active RFID tags will have their own power source like a battery, while passive RFID tags draw their power from a reading antenna that supplies current through electromagnetic waves. While these two options are the most prevalent, there are some semi-passive RFID tags where the battery supplies circuitry with power while the RFID reader powers networking and communication components.
For the RFID system itself, one may procure such devices in a few common types. Low-frequency RFID systems are those that operate on a frequency range of 30 KHz to 500 KHz, the average being around 125 KHz. These systems are known for having short transmission ranges, meaning that they are usable at a distance of a few inches to less than six feet. With a high-frequency RFID system, the frequency range sits between 3 MHz to 30 Hz. This allows for a standard range of transmission falling between a few inches to multiple feet. UHF RFID systems exhibit a range of 300 MHz to 960 MHz, and they conduct readings upwards of 25 feet away or more. The final type that is available is the microwave RFID option which operates with a frequency around 2.45 GHz. With this frequency, microwave RFIDs can conduct readings from distances exceeding 30 feet.
RFID systems have been used for many decades, and as overall prices of such technology have dropped, more widespread adoption has occurred. For their common applications, RFID systems find use in pet and livestock tracking, inventory management, asset tracking and recruitment tracking, inventory control, cargo and supply chain logistics, vehicle tracking, customer service, shipping, healthcare, manufacturing, retail sales, tap-and-go credit card payments, and so much more. Whether you are in need of an RFID reader and system for vehicle tracking, supply chain management, or any other application, we at ASAP 360 Unlimited can help you procure all the various parts and components that you need with ease.
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