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RFID
RFID – Radio Frequency Identification:
RFID is the acronym for Radio Frequency IDentification; it belongs to the family of automatic identification and data capture.
Infrastructure:
There are two main components in RFID:
Reader:
Readers are the electronic components that transmit and/or receive the radio frequency waves and communicate with the tags and transfer the contents of the tags to the computer.
Reader is mainly composed of these components:
- Transceiver
- Antenna
- Control unit
Tag :
It is a transponder, which responds to the Radio frequency signal from the reader and transfers the data present in its memory.
The tag is composed of two essential elements and one optional component:
- An integrated circuit,
- An antenna,
- Memory (optional)
Communication
The communication takes place in two stages:

- B/w Reader and tag:Communication between the RFID reader and tags occurs wirelessly and generall y
does not require a line of sight between the devices.
- B/w Reader and host PC:Communication between the RFID reader and the host computer takes place with the
Interfaces such as: RS485, Wiegand26, Wiegand34, PS2, USB, RS232, and WiFi.
| Applications: |
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| Library management |
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Current library management systems use barcode technology and magnetic strips. Using barcodes, a library management system can keep track of lending and shelving status of books. Magnetic strips on library items tag their movements.
The main problem these ancient libraries face are thefts, non-returns and mis-filed items.
Benefits of library management with RFID:
Security within the library
Higher customer satisfaction levels |
| Container & Pallet tracking |
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The containers and pallets which carry the goods to be transported within an industry can make use of RFID Tags.
RFID technology helps in tracking the goods whether they have reached the required destination or have been lost. |
| Parking Lot Control & Access Control |
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RFID tags can be affixed to automobiles for activating hands-free access to communities and parking lots RFID technology is rapidly gaining ground in the access control industry. Cars and other vehicles can be tagged with RFID tags. When a parking lot entrance is approached, a reader in that vicinity accesses the tag. If the vehicle is authorized, the gate opens and it is allowed to pass.
For parking lot control considered an example of a prepaid parking lot. |
| The RFID reader authorizes the car for entry, logs entry time, and transmits that data back to the server, then the gate mechanism is activated and the car enters. A similar exit point is configured, and when the car leaves the RFID reader logs exit time, releases the gate mechanism, and transmits the exit data back to the server. The customer's account is then debited for the time he spent in the parking lot. The advantages of this type of system include not only easy access for the customer, but the elimination of staffing at entry and exit points. |
| Smart Cards |
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The applications of smart cards include their use as credit or ATM cards, in a fuel card, authorization cards for pay television and access-control cards, and public transport . |
| Expos (Visitor Tags) & Access control |
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A quickly growing application is in digital identification cards. In this application, the cards are used for authentication of identity.
Information about employee access and attendance etc can be easily monitored.
Similarly we can implement this technology in EXPOS where the ID card issued to the visitors is a RFID Tag. |
| Inventory management |
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With Barcode
In a warehouse, sorting/picking activity is more time consuming and is prone to errors. For issuing the items from a store, a person has to find out whether the item is available in store or not by actually locating it. Issued item should be kept in a particular position (bar-code upward) in a pallet for scanning/billing purposes.
With RFID
RFID systems ease the sorting and picking operations, as it captures real-time, accurate information about product availability in host computer database. RFID tags are read via radio frequencies therefore it is not mandatory to place the items in a particular position to read it. This could be helpful for effective warehouse management. |
| Apparel Industry |
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This application could be useful for apparel industry or products exhibiting high levels of dynamism in trends.
Where the clothes can be tagged with the RFID tags and can be tracked within the store. Helps in theft control, easy management of inventory and obtaining higher level of customer satisfaction. |
| Toll Roads |
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Useful in electronic toll collection, and is lessening the delay incurred in toll collection, and may eliminate it entirely in
the future.
The electronic system determines whether a passing car is enrolled in the program, alerts trespassers if they are not. The accounts of registered cars are debited automatically without having the driver to stop the car.
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