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RFID Tag Systems Overview
An increasingly popular means of tagging
and tracking inventory and retail merchandise
is the use of RFID (radio frequency ID) tags.
These small plastic tags (less than one inch
long) can be affixed to or imbedded inside
product boxes, adhered to CD cases, and even
sewn into fabric. This technology promises
to be the next step forward in inventory
and tracking, and all companies -- whether
they are retailers, suppliers, or simply
need to track their own inventory -- need
to understand RFID and its role.
In a typical scenario, passive RFID tags (so called because they require no power)
are made of a thin semiconductor chip connected
to a separate or embedded antenna. When a
reader device is placed near the chip, the
reader's electromagnetic field is picked
up by the tag's antenna and the chip comes
to life. The chip is usually programmed to
reply with its predetermined number code,
similar in design to a bar code. The reader
receives the data from the RFID tag, and
the item is looked up and tracked by the
software application associated with the
reader.
Using RFID is easier than trying to read
a printed bar code, which must be visible
for the optical reader to see it, which means
it has to be on the outside of the packaging
and in a location that the scanner can find.
Since RFID tags use radio signals, the RFID reader only has to be near the tag, and so RFID
tags can even be read inside a box. Because
it allows for more automation, production
lines run smoother and tracking does not
always have to involve people.
Passive RFID tags (the most common and least expensive) cost
less than 50 cents apiece, dropping to under
10 cents for quantities in the millions.
The additional cost is still currently prohibitive
if you are manufacturing a product retailing
for less than a few dollars. But adding 50
cents to the cost of a high ticket item is
negligible, especially if it keeps shoplifting
down (with the RFID tag enclosed inside a
sealed product box, for example, it is difficult
to switch or alter the tag).
Newer model barcode printers are including
RFID encoders inside, which means that you can both print
a barcode label and prepare the RFID tag in one simple step. The combined tag and
label can then be affixed to the item.
Tags can also do more than just send back
a number. Some have memory onboard that can
store and remember things, like the number
of times it was read, the date it was put
on the shelf, the current environment (temperature
or humidity), or the portion of the product
used. If desired, this capability allows
others (perhaps even consumers) to access
this information without accessing your inventory
database. |
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