What is Radio Frequency Identification Technology?
An RFID system consists of three components: a tag (or multiple tags), a reader or interrogator and the necessary supporting infrastructure (both hardware and software). An RFID reader, or interrogator, is a device to communicate with the RFID tag. It broadcasts a radio signal, which is received by the tag. The tag then transmits its information back to the reader. Readers can either be portable handheld terminals or fixed devices that can be positioned in strategic places such as loading bays in shipping and receiving facilities, or the doors in transport trucks. RFID tags, also known as transponders, are usually small pieces of material, typically comprising three components: an antenna, a microchip unit containing memory storage and an encapsulating material. Tags can be either read-only or read-write tags. These terms refer to whether or not the information stored on the tag can be changed or erased. A Read-only Tag is a form of RFID tag that has an identification code (more specif
