What is RFID?

Radio Frequency Identification or RFID, is a tiny chip that makes it possible to read objects remotely using radio signals. An RFID tag can be seen as an advanced successor to the barcode. The biggest advantages that a tag has are:

Understanding RFID

RFID is a wireless system that uses radio waves to identify and track objects. The system comprises:

1. Tags: These are attached to items and contain a microchip and antenna.
2. Readers: Devices that communicate with tags to extract data.
3. Software: Manages and interprets the collected data.

How RFID Works

1. An RFID reader sends out a radio signal.
2. The tag receives the signal and transmits data back to the reader.
3. The reader processes the data and sends it to the management software.

Applications Across Industries

1. Retail: Inventory tracking and loss prevention.
2. Healthcare: Patient tracking and equipment management.
3. Logistics: Real-time shipment tracking.
4. Events: Contactless access and attendee management.

Differences between active, semi-active, and passive

An RFID tag can be active, semi-active, or passive. In the case of an NFC chip, it can be active or passive, depending on where it is located. But what does this mean?

Active tag

An active tag uses a battery and can be read and/or written with a reader, which sends and receives radio waves with an antenna. They can transmit a signal over a longer distance (from 100 meters to a few kilometers).

Semi-active tag

Like an active tag, a semi-active tag also uses a battery, but this tag can only receive a response when it receives a signal.

Passive tag

A passive tag uses the electromagnetic field coming from a reader, the received current is induced in a coil, which then powers the chip. For this reason, the response signal cannot travel large distances (from a few centimeters to about five meters).