How Do Passive RFID Tags Get Power Without Batteries?

We are living in an era of intelligent technology, and we are accustomed to devices that have to be charged on a regular basis. Never mind about a battery, but what about being able to track and manage, and keep assets without any worry? No magic--it is the power of passive RFID. By knowing the functioning of these systems, a new level of efficiency has been opened to your operations.

A basic passive RFID system consists of three basic elements:

1.      RFID Tag: The information transporter in your products.

2.      The Antenna: The broadcasting receiving part.

3.      The Brain: The brain that is running the show and makes sense of it all.

Understand the Invisible Handoff

A passive RFID tag, in itself, is passive. It consists of two parts: an in-built circuit (IC or microchip) with a unique identifier and some basic data, and a printed antenna. When the reader is put on, the magic starts. Always trust professionals to understand the details of the RFID automated inventory management system.

a)     RFID Reader

This is the RFID reader that is linked to its antenna and emits a strong radio wave signal.

b)     Energy Harvesting

This radio wave, in this case, strikes the antenna in the passive RFID tag. The antenna on the tag is specially made to pick up this energy, which generates enough electric current to awaken the microchip. This is the secret--all the operational power of the tag is taken directly from the signal of the reader.

c)     Modulation

The tag is now alive, and its chip modulates (bounces and distorts) the outgoing radio wave by which it writes its stored information on the radio wave. This is known as backscatter. It is similar to flashing a signal with the help of the sun using a mirror.

d)     Reading the Data

This reflected, altered signal is picked up by the antenna of the reader and decoded, and the unique identification data is sent to your software system.

How to Maximize the Power of The System?

The effectiveness of this power transfer is all. Failure of reads can be caused by a weak link anywhere. The following is how to make sure that your system works perfectly:

a)     Choosing the Right Tag Is Important

Not every tag is made the same. Our RFID Hard tag is Universal and is ideal for assets that are subjected to extreme conditions, and our Washable RFID Label is used in the textile and laundry department. The performance of a tag greatly depends upon the material on which the tag is mounted (metal, liquid, plastic), and therefore, it is very important to use a tag that is suited to your use.

b)     Select an Antenna

The ears and voice of your reader. We employed a high-performance circularly polarized antenna, such as our ALR-8698AC Antenna, in order to have a broader and more consistent read field. It aids in correcting the influence of the labeling of the tag, improving your reliability in reading. Once you install the RFID warehouse tracking system, it will surely help you manage your business.

c)     Placement is Important

The range and the angle between the reader and the antenna of the tag itself are very important. To assure maximum transfer of power, tags must be passed within the recommended read range, and as well as possible, oriented with respect to the antenna.

Find all our quality RFID Tags (Passive), our wide selection of high-gain Antennas, and our flexible Readers to create a solution that can make your business work, without batteries.