About RFIDtechnology
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology allows for remote data retrieval and backup. The data is recorded on chips or RFID tags. This system works on the same principle as a barcode or a magnetic strip. As its name indicates, the RFID mechanism reacts to radio waves.
A little history…
RFID technology has been used since the Second World War to identify aircraft in the airspace, but it is only since the 2000s that it has really appeared on the public market.
Applications
This technology can be applied in different fields:
- Access control
- Passports
- Contactless bank cards
- Cards for public transport
- Electronic tolls
- Libraries
- Product identification
Other fields of application exist but are less widespread.
How RFIDtags work
Today, there are three types of operation for RFID tags:
Passive tags
A so-called passive radio tag draws its power from the RFID reader using the electromagnetic system for energy transfer. The manufacture of the product is therefore simplified and the cost reduced. Passive tags are the most commonly used.
Active tags
An active radio tag has a battery built into its system. Its signal can therefore be transmitted over a longer distance & more data can be stored. These are the least used tags because they are expensive and have a shorter life span than passive tags.
Semi-active tags
The operation is similar to that of a passive radio tag but it also has a small battery built into its system in order to record a certain amount of data
Frequencies
Different frequencies exist for RFID tags:
Low frequency
Low frequency is useful for reading tags in all environments but must respect a certain distance limit, and its transfer rate is slower. Its weight and size are generally reduced. By its characteristics, low-frequency tags are ideal for integration in materials such as plastic or textile, as well as the tracking of animals (livestock, pets …).
High frequency
The high frequency system allows a longer transmission distance and a faster transfer rate, but it is not usable in all environments because it is more sensitive to metals and liquids. The application of high frequency is generally found in electronic tolls, passports, transport badges, access control solutions… An RFID tag is generally associated with an NFC application.
