| An RFID label or tag is basically an RFID (radio | | | | Inductive RFID tags are powered by the magnetic |
| frequency identification) transponder that is | | | | field produced by a reader. The tag's antenna picks |
| embedded with an IC (integrated circuit) and an | | | | up magnetic energy, and the tag interacts with the |
| antenna. The IC is encrypted with a unique electronic | | | | reader. The tag then adjusts the magnetic field for |
| product code (EPC) that is equivalent to an electronic | | | | retrieving and transmitting data back to the reader, |
| lineage, setting apart the tagged item from any other | | | | and the reader directs that data to the host |
| in the world. When a tag goes comes within the | | | | computer. |
| range of an RFID reader, proprietary information is | | | | Capacitively coupled RFID tags have been |
| passed on through an antenna to the reader, which | | | | manufactured in order to reduce the cost of |
| then feeds the data to a central computer for | | | | radio-tag systems. These tags get rid of metal coil |
| processing. | | | | and utilize a little quantity of silicon to accomplish the |
| There are two types of RFID labels, namely | | | | same function as that of an inductively coupled tag. |
| inductively coupled RFID tags, and capacitively | | | | A capacitively coupled tag also has three |
| coupled RFID tags. Inductively coupled RFID tags | | | | components, namely silicon microprocessor, |
| have been used for years to track cows, railroad | | | | conductive carbon ink, and paper. As far as silicon |
| cars, airline luggage, and freeway tolls. There are | | | | microprocessor is concerned, Motorola's BiStatix RFID |
| three parts of a usual inductively coupled RFID tag, | | | | tags utilize a silicon chip that is only 3 millimeter |
| namely silicon microprocessor, metal coil, and | | | | square in area. A capacitively coupled tag can store |
| encapsulating material. Silicon microprocessor chips | | | | 96 bits of information that would allow for billions of |
| differ in size, depending on their purpose. Metal coil is | | | | distinct numbers, and these numbers can be assigned |
| made of copper or aluminum wire, wound into a | | | | to goods. Conductive carbon ink is a special ink that |
| circular pattern on a transponder, and it acts as a | | | | acts as the tag's antenna. This ink is applied to the |
| tag's antenna. The tag sends out signals to a reader, | | | | paper substrate by using usual printing techniques. A |
| with read distance decided by the size of the coil | | | | silicon chip is affixed to printed carbon-ink electrodes |
| antenna, and these coil antennas can operate at 13.56 | | | | on the back of a paper label, to create an |
| MHz. Encapsulating material is glass or some polymer | | | | inexpensive, disposable tag that can be integrated on |
| material that wraps around the chip and coil. | | | | conventional product labels. |