RFID Components

An RFID system comprises a tag, an interrogator (the reader) and a host system. The host computer manages the information flow, sending and receiving to and from the reader and tag. The data flow between the reader and tag occurs over the air interface, or radio frequency (RF) link.

The reader contains a radio frequency module, a signal processing and microcontroller unit, a coupling element and the interface to a host system. There are many different kinds of readers on the market, such as desktop, hand-held, tunnel or gate/gantry style readers. The host system controls the data flow between the readers and tags. It can be as simple as a personal computer connected to the reader by an RS-232 serial cable.

A RFID label is an emerging label technology consisting of a label that carries information in a chip instead of in printed form. The finished label consists of a unique layer — the inlay — inserted into a traditional label construction. The inlay contains an antenna and microchip, that stores data. The RFID label communicates via radio frequency (RF) rather than optical scanning (no line-of-sight required).