RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology can be considered a normal part of life nowadays. We can encounter it, for example, in shopping centers in the form of electronic detection gates designed to protect goods from theft (the so-called EAS - Electronic Article Surveillance), in the form of identification elements of our animal "pets", in the form of electronic tolls, in the form of systems using contactless payment cards, in the form of various access systems, in manufacturing companies, in logistics warehouses, laboratories, hospitals, at sporting events (target "tape"), etc.
The principle of RFID systems is based on proven radar technology: the function of the radar is performed by an RFID reader or interrogator, the function of the tracked object is taken over by an RFID transponder or "tag". Compared to simple radar identification, RFID technology involves the transfer of information between the RFID interrogator and the RFID transponder.
The transmitted information can be the RFID transponder identifier, e.g. EPC (Electronic Product Code), or information entered by the user in the memory of the RFID transponder chip (e.g. monetary credit for using public transport). Since the RFID transponder/tag can contain electronics (chip), its power supply during communication with the RFID interrogator can be secured either from the energy of the electromagnetic wave that the transponder/tag received from the interrogator (the so-called passive RFID tag), or the transponder/tag is equipped with an electrical source energy (external source, battery, ...) and can send a signal without depending on the RFID interrogator. In this case, it is a so-called active RFID tag. You can also meet semi-passive RFID transponders that communicate only at the request of the interrogator (as passive transponders), but obtain electrical energy from an external source.
Although in principle the RFID tag covers the same, but different in terms of application possibilities, category of technology, which differentiates the frequency of the carrier radio signal.
To date, the following RFID technologies are commercially available:
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The carrier frequency is usually 125kHz. The RFID system is usually functional at a distance of up to 10 cm. Typical use - animal identification. |
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The carrier frequency is 13.56MHz. The RFID system is usually functional at a distance of max. 1m, however, the nature of deployment is usually at a much shorter distance (NFC - Near Field Communication). Typical use - smart chip cards. |
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The carrier frequency is 433MHz. Active RFID tags are usually used, so the reach is on the order of max. 100m. Typical use - tracking expensive components in the production process. |
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The carrier frequency can be selected in the range of 865-868MHz (for use in Europe), passive and semi-passive RFID tags are available. Reachability is about 10m max. Probably the widest use since reading at a very short distance (NFC), for recording the movement of goods in logistics centers. |
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The carrier frequency is 2.45GHz and more, the transponders are active with a range of up to 100m. |
Examples of use:
- location of persons or property,
- identification,
- protection of goods against theft,
- access systems, etc.
For our customers, we can offer solutions based on RFID UHF technology from manufacturers: Zebra, Confidex, Alien, Keonn.