RFID Readers for Retail
An RFID reader assigns an electronic ID to a physical item. The reader communicates with the tag via a wireless signal transmitted by an antenna.
Fig. 2 shows the collected phase data of an FCC-compliant RFID reader that has 50 different channel indexes in a period of 30 s. This large variation of the captured phase data makes it difficult to detect the breathing pattern.
RFID Technology
RFID technology is an automatic identification system that uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify objects. It is used to store and track information in supply chains and manufacturing operations. By reducing management times and increasing data capture accuracy, RFID can improve operational efficiency.
A RFID tag contains a microchip that is energized by a radio frequency signal. The microchip responds with its own identification and other data, which the reader can decode and interpret. This information may include a product number, RFID Reader inventory location, production date or other relevant data. Using this information, the RFID system can improve its own processes, or provide feedback to operators when there are errors or discrepancies.
The RFID system has a base component, like the brain of the system, that sends signals to the antenna. This activates the antenna to emit radio frequency waves, which are picked up by the RFID tags and reflected back to the reader. The reader receives the signal and transforms it into data, which is then fed to an application.
One of the major benefits of RFID is that it doesn’t require a direct line of sight between the tag and the reader. This allows operators to move around the products while collecting data, which can improve productivity and reduce labor costs. Additionally, the RFID technology functions despite dust or dirt on the products, which can be common in places like warehouses.
RFID Tags
The RFID tag contains an internal chip that stores information. The chip receives the radio waves from the reader antenna and sends back a signal with the necessary data. Unlike bar code scanners, RFID tags do not require direct contact or line-of-sight to operate, and they can penetrate nonmetallic items. RFID systems can be passive or active with a battery (BAP) in the tag to increase the operating range.
The RF signals from the RFID reader antenna travel through an antenna cable to reach the RFID tags. The antenna cable’s connector type must match the RFID reader’s polarity. For example, if the RFID reader has a TNC connector, the antenna cable’s connector must be RP-TNC.
RFID tags detect incoming radio signals through a modulation of reflected and absorbed energy, which produces a pattern of symbols in the constellation map. The RFID system analyzes the constellation map and transmits a low-level signal to the connected computer systems for interpretation and action.
RFID technology enhances retail operations by ensuring inventory accuracy and helping reduce theft and other forms of product loss. It can identify products that have been picked up but not sold, and can help determine high-traffic areas in store so that staffers can focus on customer service. The technology also makes it easy to track customer activity, such as how many times a customer selects a style for try-on and where they go after that.
RFID Readers
The RFID reader (or transceiver) is the part of the system that sends radio waves to RFID tags to collect desfire ev1 information. The reader can either be fixed, handheld, or embedded into vehicles or other equipment. It can also be a hybrid reader, which can switch between passive and active modes to read both types of tags.
In the most basic configuration, an RFID reader transmits energy via its antenna to an RFID tag. The tag’s chip receives the transmission and responds by modulating the energy with its data. The modulated energy is then transmitted back to the antenna/reader combination. In passive systems, the antenna/reader also transmits its own energy that powers the RFID tag. This is why passive tags do not need batteries.
Unlike barcode scanning, where operators must position the handheld scanner within line of sight of the item to scan it, RFID does not require the antenna to be aligned with the tag or label. This makes it much easier to scan items, and also reduces the amount of time and effort it takes for operators.
In the case of RFID, the phase measurement can be used to determine an individual’s breathing pattern by observing changes in the RSSI data collected by the reader. This is because, as the body inhales, its proximity to the RFID reader’s antenna will increase and the signal strength will rise. Similarly, as the body exhales, the signal strength will decrease and the RSSI reading will drop.
Applications
As RFID systems evolve, retailers are finding new uses for them. For example, the technology can help with buy online, pickup in-store (BOPIS). This service reduces checkout times and gives customers control over their shopping experience by allowing them to scan their own items at the store.
In warehouses, RFID can make inventory management easier. Workers don’t need to scan each item, which saves time and allows them to concentrate on customer and sales-related tasks. The technology can also provide more accurate data on how much product a retailer has. It can also track products that aren’t sold so the company knows where to remarket or recycle them.
For companies that sell in multiple locations, RFID can improve efficiencies by automating the collection and uploading of data to the company’s ERP or financial system. This eliminates transcription errors and duplicated work. It also cuts down on paper forms and spreadsheets.
RFID readers come in a variety of types and sizes. Some are handheld, like a barcode scanner. Others are fixed, such as on a vehicle or a conveyor belt. The most common type is the fixed reader, which creates a tightly controlled reading zone and only reads tags within its range. Some can be configured to transmit a single radio frequency or to occupy several frequencies simultaneously, which increases the number of tags they can read.