RFID and Digital ID Technology Glossary
RFID transceiver/receiver unit is operational.
The transceiver contains a battery or other electrical power source that provides the energy needed to transmit and receive information.
Antenna
A conductive element allows the transponder to send and receive data. Passive, low-frequency (135 kHz) and high-frequency (13.56 MHz) transponders typically have a coil antenna that combines with the reader's coil antenna to create a magnetic field. UHF transponder antennas can come in many different shapes. The reader also has an antenna used to emit radio waves. The electromagnetic energy from the reader's antenna is "harvested" by the transponder and used to power the microchip, which then transmits its own signals.
Asset tracking
Placing RFID transmitters on or within high-value assets and returnable shipping containers allows companies to quickly collect data on their location with little or no manual intervention. Asset tagging enables companies to increase asset utilization, identify end-users of assets, automate maintenance processes, and reduce lost items.
Authentication
Verifying the identity of an object or person. RFID and NFC technologies can be used to authenticate products as a way to mitigate counterfeiting.
Circular polarized antenna
UHF transceiver antennas emit radio waves in a circular pattern. These antennas are used in situations where the transponder's orientation toward the transceiver is different. Because the waves move in a circular path, they have a greater chance of hitting the antenna.
Cold chain
Temperature-controlled supply chains are used for temperature-sensitive goods such as certain pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and food products. Goods in the cold chain must maintain a specific temperature range to prevent spoilage. Temperature tolerances vary depending on the actual item being shipped.
Digital ID
A digital representation of an item, including the item's unique code (Digital Identifier), but also a complete log of events and attributes associated with the physical item.
Dipole antenna:
In radio and telecommunications, dipole antennas are the most widely used type of antenna. A dipole antenna typically consists of two identical conductive elements. In an RFID transceiver, these two elements are connected to a microchip.
Encoding:
Data scrambling involves scrambling data in such a way that it cannot be scrambling itself and can only be read by those it is intended for. In RFID systems, encryption is used to protect information stored on the transponder's microchip or to prevent interception of communication between the tag and the reader.
European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI)
An independent, non-profit organization tasked with producing telecommunications standards for Europe. Based in Sophia Antipolis, France, ETSI is officially responsible for standardizing Information and Communication Technology, including telecommunications, broadcasting, and related fields such as intelligent transport, medical electronics, and RFID.
Notch
One of the technologies used to manufacture transponder antennas is by etching the antenna from aluminum or other metals using a chemical solution.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
The Federal Communications Commission regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the territories of the United States. An independent U.S. government agency overseen by Congress, the Commission is the federal agency responsible for implementing and enforcing U.S. communications regulations and laws.
Fixed reader:
An RFID transceiver is attached to a wall, doorway, gate, table, shelf, or other fixed or immovable structure, allowing an IT system to read the unique ID number and other information from the RFID transceiver.
Empty space
A term used to describe the reading range performance of RFID tags that are not attached to anything.
Frequency:
The number of repetitions of a complete waveform in one second. 1 Hz equals one complete waveform in one second. 1 kHz equals 1,000 waves in one second. RFID tags typically use low, high, or ultra-high frequencies. Each frequency has advantages and disadvantages that make it more suitable for certain applications than others.
High frequency (HF):
The frequency of electromagnetic waves used to transmit data from the transponder to the reader in an RFID system. Standard transmission frequencies for RFID systems are: low frequency (LF, 125–148.5 kHz); high frequency (HF, 13.56 MHz); and ultra-high frequency (UHF, 400 MHz to 1 GHz). Distinguishing characteristics include the manufacturing cost of individual components, data transmission speed, and effective range.
Inductive coupling:
In RFID systems using inductive coupling, each reader antenna and transponder antenna has a coil, and together they create a magnetic field. The transponder draws energy from this magnetic field. A microchip uses this energy to change the electrical load on the transponder antenna. These changes are detected by the reader antenna and converted into a data stream containing the transponder's unique serial number.
Inlay:
An RFID chip is attached to the antenna and mounted on a base. The overlays are essentially unfinished RFID tags. They are typically sold to tag converters, who transform them into smart tags. They are also sometimes referred to as air inlets.
Internet of Things (IoT):
The Internet of Things is a network of physical devices, vehicles, buildings, and other objects embedded with electronics, software, sensors, actuators, or passive RFID tags and networked to allow these objects to collect and exchange data.
ISO 14443 a/b
International industry standards for RFID transponders operate (i.e., can read or write) at distances under 10 cm (4 inches) (applies to short-range transponders).
ISO 15693
This standard applies to long-range transponders providing a maximum reading range of 1 to 1.5 meters.
Label:
The form factor of RFID technology is used for inventory tracking and supply chain management. For example, major suppliers attach labels that include RFID chips and antennas to their products to enable retailers to manage their complex supply chains in real time.
Linear polarized antenna
An antenna transmits radio waves from the reader in one direction or one polarity. This increases the possible reading distance and can provide greater penetration through dense materials. Transponders designed for use with linearly polarized reader antennas must be aligned in the direction of the reader antenna being read. (See also circularly polarized antennas.)
Low frequency (LF)
The frequency of electromagnetic waves used to transmit data from the transponder to the reader in an RFID system. Standard transmission frequencies for RFID systems are: low frequency (LF, 125–148.5 kHz); high frequency (HF, 13.56 MHz); and ultra-high frequency (UHF, 400 MHz to 1 GHz). Distinguishing characteristics include the manufacturing cost of individual components, data transmission speed, and effective range.
Memory chip:
Integrated circuits are used as data storage devices.
Microcontroller chip:
Integrated circuits consist of a microcontroller, which is a highly integrated computer chip containing all the components including a controller. Because they can include sophisticated encryption functions and allow advanced data manipulation, microcontrollers are often used in applications requiring data security and integrity.
Middleware:
This term is commonly used to refer to the software located on a server between the RFID reader and the IT system. Middleware is used to filter data and only transmit useful information to business applications. Some middleware can also be used to remotely control and manage the reader devices over the network.
Mobile reader:
RFID transponders can be worn or transported on people, vehicles, or equipment, allowing IT systems to read the unique ID numbers and other contents of the RFID transponder.
Near-field communication (NFC):
Near Field Communication (NFC) is a high-frequency, short-range wireless RFID communication technology. NFC offers the promise of connecting physical and virtual environments. NFC technology primarily adheres to the ISO 14443 proximity standard (but also supports ISO 15693).
NFC provides wireless communication between smart NFC devices, such as smartphones, and NFC-enabled objects or other NFC-enabled receiving devices such as payment terminals or identification readers.
Passive transponder
The transponder harnesses energy emitted from the electromagnetic field of the reader to power the chip and communicate signals. Because they don't require batteries, these types of transponders are generally maintenance-free.
Portal:
RFID reader setups are commonly used in manufacturing or warehouse gate installations. Forklifts or other methods are used to transport tagged items through the gate reader to collect RFID transponder data.
Precision laser cutting:
One of several technologies used to manufacture RFID transceiver antennas involves laser-cutting the antenna from aluminum or other metals, avoiding the chemicals typically associated with antenna corrosion. Any excess aluminum is recovered.
Radio frequency:
The frequency of electromagnetic waves used to transmit data from the transponder to the reader in an RFID system. Standard transmission frequencies for RFID systems are: low frequency (LF, 125–148.5 kHz); high frequency (HF, 13.56 MHz); and ultra-high frequency (UHF, 400 MHz to 1 GHz). Distinguishing characteristics include the manufacturing cost of individual components, data transmission speed, and effective range.
Reading device:
A read/write device for wirelessly reading data on a chip within a transceiver.
Read correctly:
This term usually refers to the percentage of cards that are successfully read. If there are 1000 cards in the field and 985 are successfully read, the reading accuracy is 98.5 percent.
Real-time positioning system (RTLS):
A system for automatically identifying and tracking the location of objects or people in real time, typically within a building or other area. Wireless RTLS tags are attached to objects or worn on people, and in most RTLS systems, fixed reference points receive wireless signals from the tags to determine their location using triangulation. Examples of real-time positioning systems include tracking cars along an assembly line, locating pallets of goods in a warehouse, or finding medical equipment in a hospital.
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)
Wireless technology for transmitting data between a transponder and a reader via radio waves.
RFID printers:
A label printing device with an embedded RFID transponder encodes information in a chip inside the transponder.
RFID system:
An RFID system consists of a transponder and a reader. When the transponder is within the reader's operating range, it transmits data to the reader via radio waves.
Received Signal Strength Index (RSSI):
RSSI is a measurement of the strength of a received radio signal. In RFID, RSSI is used to determine the distance of the transponder, as a stronger signal from a transponder closer to the reader's antenna is more accurate.
Shielding:
Using the principle of a Faraday cage, a metal plate, metal foil, or metal barrier is used to prevent radio interference from disrupting the communication channel between the RFID reader and the transponder.
Substrate
Carrier materials, such as plastic films, form part of the finished product (e.g., RFID labels).
Supply Chain Management (SCM)
Supply chain management is a typical application area of RFID and encompasses the design, planning, implementation, control, and monitoring of supply chain activities with the goal of creating net value, building competitive infrastructure, leveraging global logistics, synchronizing supply with demand, and measuring performance.
Label:
A general designation for a passive transponder with a custom housing. Most RFID tags contain at least two parts. One is an integrated circuit (IC, microchip) for storing and processing information, modulating and demodulating radio frequency (RF) signals, and other specialized functions. The second is an antenna for receiving and transmitting signals.
Counterfeit cards:
The RFID transponder communicates with the reader when the box, package, or container has been opened.
Monitor:
The process of tracking individual items, boxes, pallets, or containers as they move through a logistics system.
Transponder:
A transponder is a data carrier in the form of an overlay, label, or tag. It is a microelectronic circuit consisting of a microchip connected to an antenna on a carrier substrate.
Ultra High Frequency (UHF)
The frequency of electromagnetic waves used to transmit data from the transponder to the reader in an RFID system. Standard transmission frequencies for RFID systems are: low frequency (LF, 125–148.5 kHz); high frequency (HF, 13.56 MHz); and ultra-high frequency (UHF, 400 MHz to 1 GHz). Distinguishing characteristics include the manufacturing cost of individual components, data transmission speed, and effective range.
Unique identifier
A serial number stored on a chip uniquely identifies a transponder.
A transponder is a data carrier in the form of an overlay, label, or tag. It is a microelectronic circuit consisting of a microchip connected to an antenna on a carrier substrate.
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