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RFID

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RFID, or radio frequency identification, identifies things by incorporating the use of electromagnetic or electrostatic coupling in the radio frequency portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. It is being used more and more in industry as an alternative to the bar code and is advantageous because it does not require line-of-sight scanning or direct contact.

RDIF is made up of three components: the antennae, the transceiver, and the transponder, or the tag. The antennae uses radio waves to transmit a signal to the transponder. When the transponder is activated, it transmits the data back to the antennae. The data is then used to tell a programmable logic controller to perform an action, such as raise an access gate or interface with a database to perform a financial transaction. Often times, the antennae and the transceiver are packaged together to become a reader. These readers can be hand-held or fixed-mounted and can emit radio waves anywhere from one inch to 100 feet or more. The higher the frequency level, the longer the transmission range. These high-frequency systems are more expensive than low-frequency ones.

RFID tags come in all shapes and sizes. They can be as small as pencil lead, such as the ones used in animal tracking tags, or heavy-duty, such as the ones used to track heavy machinery, trucks, and railroad cars for maintenance. They can be shaped like screws to identify trees or wooden items, or shaped like credit cards for use in access applications.

The most important advantage of RFID systems over barcodes is their noncontact technology. This makes them useful in all types of environmental conditions, including snow, fog, ice, paint, crusted grime, and other situations where barcodes could not be read. They can also read very quickly, often in less than 100 milliseconds. Though it is a more expensive system, it has proved extremely useful in collecting automated data.

References
www.dataid.com/aboutcr.htm
http://whatis.techtarget.com
http://en.wikipedia.org
www.aimglobal.org
www.geindustrial.com

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