RFID Technology Essay

658 Words3 Pages
RFID Technology Imagine a technology that can identify an item, retrieve information about the item and enter the information into a computer without a person having to do anything. This technology is called automatic identification, Auto ID for short. Auto ID systems generally increase efficiency and reduce errors. There are many kinds of auto id technologies on the market. Some of the more common ones are bar codes, smart cards, biometric recognition and radio frequency identification. Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a technology using radio waves to identify people or objects. Usually this involves storing a serial number on a device consisting of a microchip and an antenna, called an RFID tag. This RFID tag is only half of the system. It is coupled with an RFID reader. An RFID reader is a radio receiver that translates the signal from the tag back into the stored serial number, which can then be used by the computer system. There are three main categories of RFID, separated by frequency range. Different frequency ranges have different capabilities. Low frequency RFID tags (125 kHz to 134 kHz) uses less power and is better able to penetrate non-metal substances, but have a read range of about one foot. High frequency RFID tags (13.56 MHz) work better on metal objects but are still useful around objects with high water content. Their read range is usually around 3 feet. Ultra-high Frequency RFID tags (860 MHz to 960 MHz) have a better range and transfer data faster. However, they use more power and can pass through fewer materials. Their read range is usually less than 20 feet. RFID is used for a variety of tracking applications today. Pet identification, tracking livestock, automated payment systems, access control and asset tracking are a few. Asset tracking is the most widely used technology. A shipment of product can be tagged with an RFID tag

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