UHF RFID Tag
A UHF RFID Tag is a small electronic tag that can be placed on objects to identify and track them throughout their lifecycle. Its small size makes it well-suited for attachment to items such as Nerf darts, or even to the tip of a pen to signal if someone has stolen it.
High Read Range
Unlike LF and HF tags, UHF tags can transmit data at a much higher frequency, meaning they have more reach. Combined with directional antennas, this allows for a more targeted read zone on the asset and increased reliability of the tag signal.
The size of the tag is another key factor in read range, as the larger the tag is, the greater the read distance. The read range is also dependent on the material that it is mounted to, as some materials interfere with the tag signal. For example, metals and liquids attenuate the signals, reducing the read range of the tag.
A passive UHF RFID tag’s read range is determined by its antenna size, the sensitivity of the chip inside, and its mounting location on the item. In addition to reading distance, users must consider factors such as pitch, yaw, and roll, which refer to the direction of the item’s axis when mounted to the item.
It’s important to note that the tag spec sheets listed on most websites state a read range that is tested under very favorable conditions in a lab. This is often not the case in real world applications. UHF RFID Tag For this reason, it is crucial to test a UHF RFID tag’s read range in the actual application environment and to mount it to an item that will give it the best performance.
Low Power Consumption
UHF RFID Tags have a lower power consumption than other types of RFID technology, particularly LF and HF tags. This is largely because the RFID readers that read them use lower RF frequencies, requiring less power. They are also more sensitive to environmental interference than other RFID products, but designers of antennas and readers have found ways to compensate for this by optimizing their performance in a variety of environments.
The power consumed by UHF RFID Tags depends on several factors, including the size of their IC chip and their antenna. A larger IC requires more energy to operate, and the tag’s antenna determines how much the signal is attenuated by metal or liquids. The read range of a UHF tag is also affected by the RF transmission power of its reader, and the reading time of an individual tag can vary widely.
Researchers in the Auto-ID Lab at MIT are turning UHF RFID into sensors that monitor a variety of environmental conditions, such as soil moisture and temperature. They are even using it to track the growth cycle of crops, storing the data in their electrically erasable read only memory (EEPROM). The data can then be used by farmers and others to make informed decisions about planting, fertilizing, harvesting, etc. This is a powerful example of how UHF RFID systems can help improve supply chain management and increase operational efficiency.
Low Cost
Compared to barcodes, RFID tags are typically less expensive. They also have a longer read range, are more durable, and can be placed in locations where a barcode cannot. Moreover, RFID tags require less power than barcodes and are less likely to be damaged by dirt or dust. Additionally, they can be used to track items over long distances and without a direct line of sight, making them a useful tool for warehouse applications.
For example, UHF RFID tags can be mounted in gantries on motorways to identify vehicles at high speeds and collect data unobtrusively. This helps prevent congestion and maintain road infrastructure. Likewise, RFID tags can be incorporated into garments to automatically record and store a customer’s order history. This can be helpful for retail companies to optimize stock management and improve customer service.
Another benefit of UHF RFID tags is that they do not need to be energized by a reader’s passive backscatter signal. Instead, they use a small internal battery to generate their own radio waves, which are detected by a reader. UHF RFID Tag This can save money on batteries and maintenance. Additionally, the Kapton polyimide substrate and open complementary split ring resonator (OCSRR) on this tag allow for good impedance matching between the NXP G2XM IC-chip and the antenna, which increases read range. This makes it a good choice for blood bag traceability and patient safety in healthcare systems.
High Security
RFID is an automatic wireless communication technology that uses electromagnetic waves to transmit data between the tags and readers. Tags have a chip that contains all the information they need to communicate with the reader, and an RF antenna that sends signals over long distances. When an object comes within range of the reader, the signal is transmitted and the data is read. Passive RFID tags harvest the energy transmitted by the reader to power themselves, meaning they do not require batteries or maintenance.
Because of their high read range and low cost, UHF RFID tags were primarily developed to track goods in the supply chain and as a potential replacement for product barcodes. However, the same advantages make these tags a good fit for other applications such as parking and access control. Cloning is a serious concern for both these kinds of applications and it is important that security measures are taken to prevent this.
Nedap offers a range of secure RFID windshield tags that use the EPC Gen 2 V2 standard for authentication, and provide 128-bit AES encryption between the tag and reader communication to prevent cloning. The tag’s secure credentials can be stored in the memory and accessed by a password. This way, a stolen or counterfeit badge can’t be used at a venue, and patrons can safely enter restricted zones.