A smart label, also called a smart tag, is an extremely flat configured transponder under a conventional print-coded label, which includes chip, antenna and bonding wires as a so-called inlay.[1][2][3] The labels, made of paper, fabric or plastics, are prepared as a paper roll with the inlays laminated between the rolled carrier and the label media for use in specially-designed printer units.
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In many processes in logistics and transportation, the barcode, or the 2D-barcode, is well established as the key means for identification in short distance. Whereas the automation of such optical coding is limited in appropriate distance for reading success and usually requires manual operation for finding the code or scanner gates that scan all the surface of a coded object, the RFID-inlay allows for better tolerance in fully automated reading from a certain specified distance. However, the mechanical vulnerability of the RFID-inlay is higher than the ordinary label, which has its weaknesses in its resistance to scratch.
Thus, the smartness of the smart label is earned in compensation of typical weaknesses with the combination of the technologies of plain text, optical character recognition and radio code.
Processing
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The processing of these labels is basically as with ordinary labels in all stages of production and application, except the inlay is inserted in an automated processing step to ensure identical positioning for each label and careful processing to prevent any damage to the bonding.
The printing is processed in two steps, including
- normal ink-jet printing, except the space with the bonded chip, with clearly intelligible text and
- either barcode or 2D barcode for later semi-automatic reading with handheld readers or fix-mount scanners
- writing coherently concatenated information to the RFID-chip
- reading the written information on the RFID-chip subsequently in the printer for control purpose (read after write)
Classification
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RFID label for a calculator.
Chip labels
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Customisation of smart labels is available with chip cards. Also combinations of magnetic stripes with RFID chips are used,[4] especially for credit cards.
Printable labels
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Replacing silicon processors, smart tags that are printed collect information themselves and process it. The result of decades of research and development by ThinFilm Electronics are &#;printed transistors, the multilayer tags combine a year&#;s worth of battery power, sensors and a small display, and will initially be used to show a temperature record of perishable food and medications. Roughly 3 x 1.5 inches in size and consisting of five layers sandwiched in a roll-to-roll production process, the ThinFilm labels use the company&#;s own ferroelectric polymer technology for storing information. Chains of non-toxic polymers can be flipped between two orientations &#; representing binary &#;0&#; and &#;1&#; &#; to store non-volatile data.&#; [5]
Electronic labels
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While price increases when labels are electronic, the very small percentage of labels that are electric is increasing. Electronic labels have features that supersede non-electronic labels. Electronic versions can signal what is happening in real-time and most can store a digital record.[6]
Application
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Smart labels are applied directly to packages or to pallets or other shipping containers. The application directly to the product is still of neglectible importance
- due to the cost of the labels, which may be justified easier for agglomerations of more than one product
- because all metallic, liquid or otherwise electrically not transparent products reflect or reduce the radio waves
- due to the handling, which normally addresses the package and lesser the unpacked product.
Use
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RoyalRay supply professional and honest service.
The technologies with the smart labels are all mature and well standardised. After the first wave of technology hype with RFID, current consolidation in the market shows hard competitive Darwinism. With increasing sales quantities, the inlays are still annually redesigned and appear in releases with new extensions to performance. However, the integration of RFID to handling processes requires sound engineering to ensure the balance of benefit and effort.
In , ThinFilm and Polyera announced their partnership to produce high volumes of smart labels. The collaboration brings printed integrated systems, such as smart sensor tags, closer to commercial availability.[7]
See also
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Reference
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Use of RFID in Industry
Radio-frequency identification (RFID) has an enormous variety of uses, ranging from public transportation to animal identification to product tracking. In industrial environments, RFID tags are used to track parts or assets, useful for automation and/or logistics purposes.
Three frequency groups make up virtually all RFID tags: low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), and ultra high frequency (UHF). Each frequency group has their own typical uses because of their inherent advantages.
Types of RFID Tags
There are three types of RFID tags: Active, Semi-Active (or Battery-Assisted Passive) and Passive. Active tags are tags that consistently emit radio signals in order to be picked up by a reader. These tags are accompanied by a battery or an other continuous power source, and an antenna to transmit and receive radio signals. Depending on the size, active tags can hold various amounts of data, typically not more than a few thousand bytes. Data can be both written on or received from an active RFID tag for purposes such as logging or documentation.
Semi-Active tags, or Battery-Assisted Passive tags (BAP), use a battery to power the tag&#;s integrated circuitry without sending signals, while the signal power comes directly from the RFID reader. Both active and semi-active RFID tags operate over longer ranges than passive tags.
Passive tags are powered solely by the reader&#;s magnetic field emissions, which induce a current in a passive tag&#;s antenna. In turn, active and semi-active tags cost more, making them only ideal for higher-value assets.
Low Frequency RFID
Low Frequency RFID has the shortest read distance, about 10 centimeters between the reader and the tag. The read time is also slower, however, the low frequency has the least amount of radio interference. Low frequency covers ranges from 30 to 300 KHz. Low frequency is also not considered globally compatible due to differing frequency and power levels worldwide. Common uses for LF RFID include animal tracking and access control.
High Frequency RFID is very common, and operates in a frequency range from 3 to 30 MHz. The read distance ranges from 10 centimeters to 1 meter. The majority of HF RFID devices function at 13.56 MHz, with moderate radio interference sensitivity.
Several uses of HF RFID involve Near Field Communication (NFC), which focuses around data transfer between two devices. This is often seen in smart payment cards and other proximity-activated devices. Other industries that use HF RFID for payment, cataloging, and/or tracking purposes include marketing, waste management, automation, health and medical, and manufacturing
HF RFID tags can come in many shapes and sizes to suit numerous specific purposes. They can accommodate read-only, write-only, and rewritable RFID tags. Ranging memory capacity from 64 bytes to 8 KB, readers can handle up to 20 HF tags at one time.
Ultra-High Frequency RFID
Ultra-High Frequency RFID tags have the fastest reading speed and the longest read range. While near-range UHF tags are an option, compared to HF tags, near-range UHF tags have a shorter and narrower read range. However, near-range UHF tags are less susceptible to interference, providing a performance advantage.
Far-range UHF RFID tags can read at ranges as far as 12 meters with a passive RFID tag, whereas active tags can achieve ranges of 100 meters or more. The operating frequency of UHF RFID tags ranges from 300 MHz to 3 GHz, and UHF tags are the most vulnerable to interference. To counteract signal interference, UHF tag producers often manufacture readers and antennas that maintain reliability in troublesome environments.
UHF tags are cheaper to make than HF tags (~5-15¢ labels compared to 50¢-$2) , causing them to appear in a wide variety of applications including inventory management, anti-theft management, and wireless device configuration.
RFID technology is a growing market, and UHF tags are becoming increasingly popular due to their lower cost and equivalent effectiveness to LF and HF tags. If you are searching for a new tagging or tracking system that will improve your business model, RFID may be a valuable option to consider.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of UHF Rfid Reader Modules. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.