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Passive UHF RFID tags

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An RFID tag can be uniquely identified by a receiver which decodes a radio signal that the tag transmits. Passive RFID tags are not directly powered, but absorb energy radiated by the reader. The energy is stored until there is sufficient to enable the tag to transmit a short burst of radio energy that is encoded with the unique ID of the tag. There are currently three bands of signal most used by passive RFID Tags, which can be LF, HF or UHF (Ultra High Frequency).
UHF tags are the highest frequency of the three types.

Advantages of Passive RFID tags vs Active RFID tags

Benefits of passive (compared to active) RFID tags include small size and lower cost.
A typical tag is about four inches long, and inch wide, and less than a millimeter thick. Most of the area of the tag is taken up by the antennae, and these come in an array of shapes. The smarts of the tag are carried on a small chip, usually at the centre of the tag, and the size of the chip is generally less than 2mm square. The antennae is usually printed on clear plastic material. The tag is often part of an adhesive label and can easily be attached to a container, or any other item that needs to be tracked. But this is just the standard tag. Passive UHF tags are now available in a bewildering array of configurations, from small button format, to plastic encapsulated tags which can be six inches long and more than a quarter of an inch thick.

Depending on type, manufacturer and quantity, as a general guide assume that passive RFID tags are going to cost $1 to $3 for HF tags, and 50c to $6 for UHF tags. This compares to prices in the range $5 to $30 each for Active RFID tags. (Prices are changing rapidly, these are rough numbers as a general guide).

Advantages of UHF RFID tags vs HF and LF RFID tags

Advantages include lower cost and greater range. HF RFID Tags require a complete circuit, which means that they must be printed on both sides of the support material, much like a two sided printed circuit board. This puts the manufacturing cost and price up. The range of an HF tag is typically from a few inches up to a foot or so. The range of a UHF tag can be up to twenty feet, depending on tag type and reader capability.

Range

A Passive UHF RFID tag can typically be read at a range up to twenty feet. This compares well against LF and HF tags. For LF tags, range can be less than an inch. for HF tags, range can be to a twelve inches.
The longer range is not always a good thing. In systems where the tag is used as a locator, range can be deliberately reduced, and this is often done by reducing the gain of the reader.

Effect of surroundings and orientation

Surroundings

Perform this test. Take a naked UHF tag. Check the range. Place it on a metal filing cabinet. Try to read it. In most cases, it can't be read, even at three inches. Now lift the tag off the metal surface by a few millimeters, and the tag can be read quite happily. There are specialized tags available today which can be fixed to a metal surface without degradation of the read range. In some cases range can even be enhanced.

Orientation

All Passive RFID tags harvest their energy from ambient radio signals, usually transmitted by the reading device. (It goes transmit, stop, listen). So the degree of linkage between the antennae on the reader and the antennae on the tag is critical. This can be enhanced by ensuring that they are aligned correctly. So readers use one of two types of antennae, with circular or linear polarization. The trade off is between range and orientation.
With circular polarization, alignment is not critical, but range is reduced. A linear antennae in the reader will give greater range, but the receiver and tag antennae must be aligned. Twist the reader through ninety degrees, and the range drops dramatically.

Life

There is no practical limit to life of an passive RFID tag, in contrast to the life of an active tag, which is limited by the battery.

Temperature Range

Passive UHF Tags work well at normal temperatures. Performance can be degraded at more than twenty degrees below zero, but performance returns as soon as the tag is warmed to temperatures in the normal operating range.

Applications

Because Passive UHF Tags are small in size and low in cost they are ideal for a number of tracking and material management applications. They can be used to identify and track physical assets, to track files and documents, to track chemicals, and to provide a Geiger counter style of function suitable for locating lost items.

RFID tags

If you found this useful, you might also want to review:

- active RFID tags

- RFID read range

- RFID limitations

- RFID myths


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