ATL Security Labels - Customized Security Labels, Anti- Counterfeiting Solutions

RFID/ATL "Smart" Labels

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a semiconductor (microchip) in a label or tag that stores information. Data is read from (read only in early generation chips), or written to the label/ tag (advanced generation chips) when it is exposed to radio waves of the correct frequency and with the correct communications protocols. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of different RFID applications:

Passive RFID chips have no internal power supply. The small electrical current induced in the antenna by the incoming radio frequency signal provides just enough power for the chip's circuit (in the tag or label) to power up and transmit a response.

Active RFID chips, due to their on board power supply, transmit at higher power levels than passive chips, allowing them to be more robust in a "Radio Frequency challenged" environment with humidity and spray or with dampening targets (including humans/cattle, which contain mostly water), reflective targets from metal (shipping containers, vehicles), or at longer distances. In turn, active tags are generally bigger, caused by battery volume, and more expensive to manufacture, caused by battery price. However, their potential shelf life may be limited due to self discharge of batteries and corrosion of the printed circuits.

Semi-passive RFID chips are similar to active chips in that they have their own power source, but the battery only powers the microchip and does not power the broadcasting of a signal. The response is usually powered by means of backscattering the RF energy from the reader, where energy is reflected back to the reader as with passive tags. An additional application for the battery is to power data storage.

Extended capability RFID defines a category of RFID that goes beyond the basic capabilities of standard RFID as merely a bar-code replacement technology. Key attributes of extended capability RFID include, but are not limited to, the ability to read at longer distances and around challenging environments, to store large amounts of data on the tag, to integrate with sensors, and to communicate with external devices.

RFID is used around the world. Here are some examples: toll payments (Toronto); public transit payment (South Korea); bridge toll payments (Turkey); mass transit payments (Hong Kong, Moscow, Washington D.C.); and ski resort lift passes (French Alps). RFID is also used in cattle tracking, product tracking, lap scoring in races, and inventory systems.

Many mandates for RFID standards have come and gone. There is no global public body that governs the frequencies used for RFID. The frequencies used for RFID in the USA are currently incompatible with those of Europe or Japan. Furthermore, no emerging standard has yet become as universal as the barcode.

Your RFID needs are unique. Why not contact ATL for a free consultation on the RFID applications that best fit your needs.