Commercial & Home Security Device

RFID tags are small electronic devices that can store, transmit, and receive information using radio waves. RFID stands for “radio frequency identification,” meaning that the tags communicate using radio frequency technology. The flow of data goes from the tag to a reader, to an RFID computer program.

RFID tags communicate with readers and computer programs using an antenna and a microchip written with whatever information is designated to be transmitted. All that is needed for an RFID system to operate is the tag, an antenna, a scanner or reader, and a digital database. Once the system is established, the process happens in four steps:

1. Desired data is put into the tag and attached to an item
2. A nearby antenna picks up the signal and identifies it
3. A reader connects to the antenna and receives the data being transmitted
4. The reader sends the information to the database

RFID tags are very versatile and have many useful applications. Some of the most common uses include:

• Inventory management: Tracking products through a supply chain is commonly done using RFID tags.
• Access control: RFID tags can manage security and track the movement of personnel in or out of an area, such as an office building or parking garage.
• Animal tracking: Animals are often tagged with RFIDs for research or farming purposes.
• Payment systems: Some contactless payment systems use RFID tags to facilitate transactions.
• Theft prevention: Valuable assets can be marked with RFID tags to track their movement and location.

Active RFID tags, or battery-operated tags, have an onboard battery within them that they draw their power from. They have long range readability and large memory and storage capacity, but they are more expensive and require replacing once their battery runs out.

Passive RFID tags use electromagnetic energy transmitted from an RFID reader. They are more affordable and have a longer lifespan, but their readable range is limited to 5 meters.

There are four main types of RFID tags, two active and two passive. The active RFID types are:

• Beacons: These RFID tags have a signal that can be read from several hundred feet away, however their battery tends to deplete faster due to the frequency of the pings they send out.
• Transponders: These RFID tags require a reader to first send a signal, which the transponder will then respond to with an information ping containing the requested information. Their battery life lasts much longer because they only activate when they are signaled by a reader.

The passive RFID types are:

• Inlays: The cheapest option for an RFID system, most of these tags attach to items with a simple adhesive.
• Hard tags: As the name suggests, these tags are made from more durable materials like plastic or metal.