UHF RFID Tags for Supply Chain Management
Ultra-high frequency RFID technology offers massive data in real time and is successfully used in retail to track inventory. This enables an exceptional anti-counterfeit and anti-shoplifting system.
Passive UHF RFID tags are sensitive to liquids and metal. They may also degrade in performance when attached to a material not recommended by the manufacturer.
Read Range
Long read range is one of the primary reasons that UHF RFID LF RFID Tag tags are used for many applications in supply chain management, and this is especially true when it comes to passive tags. However, read range is not the only factor to consider when selecting an RFID tag for your business process.
Tag size also plays a role, as the smaller a tag is, the less likely it will be to have an optimal read range. Additionally, the material on which the tag is mounted can impact its performance, as most tags are specifically designed to perform better or worse when attached to certain types of surface materials. Attaching a tag to an incompatible material may reduce its read range or cause the tag to not even register a reading at all.
Lastly, the orientation of the tag relative to the broadcasting antenna can affect its performance as well. If a tag is oriented in a way that produces a nonuniform direction response, it could have a much shorter read range than would be expected, particularly if the tag is oriented at an angle that is too steep with respect to the reader antenna.
Sensitivity
The sensitivity of UHF RFID tags is an important factor that determines the read range. The higher the sensitivity, the longer the tag can be read. Different manufacturers and chip designs have different levels of sensitivity. Choosing the right one for your application is critical. The sensitivity of the RFID tag is determined by its antenna and by the type of surface it is attached to. If you attach a tag to an object that is made of a material incompatible with the RFID signal, it can result in poor performance or no reading at all.
In passive backscatter operating mode, the tag RF signal is backscattered by the object’s reflected RF energy and returned to the reader. The system-level link budget requires that the reader receiver sensitivity be 65 dBm at the backscatter output point of the RF transceiver (SJC).
Active tags use an internal battery to provide power to their transmitter, which proactively beacons at predetermined intervals. This enables them to operate independent of passive backscatter and offer superior sensitivity over traditional UHF RFID tags. However, implementing the heterodyne receiver to achieve this sensitivity can increase the tag’s power consumption by several hundred microwatts and shorten its lifetime. An alternative is to use a direct envelope detector (ED-Rx) receiver to LF RFID Tag achieve similar sensitivity. This approach integrates the RF and mixed-signal components in a single chip. An integrated solution like the AD9361 offers high performance and a wide margin to meet the GB/T 29768-2013 and GB/T 35786-2017 requirements.
Ease of Installation
UHF RFID tags are much simpler to install than their LF counterparts. Most require just two connections – a power source and an antenna. They can be attached to items without damaging their surface, and they are often designed to withstand harsh environments like chemicals or water. This allows them to be nailed into pallets and trees, or hung from vehicles for easy identifier access by security guards and parking monitors.
The physical dimensions of a UHF tag vary from about 1/10th of an inch to several inches long and wide, depending on its special features and the size of the integrated circuit (IC). Most have a dipole antenna that is tuned to perform better on specific types of surfaces. For example, a tag designed for cardboard will not perform well on denim (heavier dielectric). The latest tags from Impinj and NXP feature autotune technologies that can compensate for some material variance.
Passive UHF RFID tags come in a wide variety of designs, making it possible to find the perfect tag for every application. These include RFID tags that can be nailed into wood for pallet tracking, and others that provide secure, waterproof connections to tools for use in professional applications like laundry management. Handheld RFID readers are also available for mobile applications, allowing workers to scan and identify assets with ease – even while wearing gloves or in wet environments.
Security
The RFID system uses a passive transponder to transmit a signal with a unique ID number. It can also contain a reserved memory which is protected by an Access and Kill password to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information. This allows users to safeguard data against hacking or cloning.
The reading range of UHF RFID Tags is determined by the electromagnetic field strength generated by the reader antenna. This is proportional to the inverse square of the distance between the antennas. The directional pattern of the reader antenna also affects the performance of the tag. A longer dipole antenna provides higher read ranges but may have a negative impact on the antenna radiation efficiency.
Some studies have found that long-term exposure to RF (radio-frequency) signals from RFID systems can cause health problems. This is mainly due to the fact that human eyes are particularly vulnerable to radio waves. Fortunately, most manufacturers take steps to mitigate these risks. For instance, some tags use a horizontally-polarized cross-dipole to increase the safety of workers by alerting them when the device is too close to heavy machinery.
Another security measure is to use a rugged tag that can withstand harsh environments and resist extreme temperatures. This Gen 2 UHF RFID nail tag is ideal for tracking wood and plastic products. The ATEX certified tag can withstand high temperatures and is resistant to acids and alcohol.
