The application of RFID tags is mainly to meet one or more of the following requirements:
(1) the requirement for tracking and traceability of item information;
(2) the requirement for high accuracy and security;
(3) the requirement for unique identification, which can't be counterfeited;
(4) the requirement for the speediness of handling a large number of items. demand;
(5) the demand for real-time monitoring of items.?
See, the application market is not limited to as mentioned above, as long as the system has the above aspects of the requirements, the electronic label can be applied.
So how to choose a suitable RFID tag? Let's talk about it.
Why the need for customization
RFID radio frequency identification technology as one of the main means of automatic data collection, electronic tags are an integral part of the RFID system, but in most cases, the generality of the electronic tags is not strong, but can be based on the scene requirements to choose different RFID tags. For example, from the frequency band, can be divided into LF, HF, UHF, 2.4G and 5.8G, etc., the different frequency bands have their own advantages and shortcomings - low-frequency products have good penetration, but the data transmission rate is limited, it can be applied to the animal management; high-frequency (HF) because of its reading distance and the protocol limitations are often applicable to the Payment and a variety of identification; passive ultra-high frequency (UHF) can be read over long distances, the most important feature is a one-time batch reading, but is susceptible to environmental interference, especially metals and liquids, mainly used in apparel retailing and logistics warehousing; 2.4G and 5.8G active products with stable signals, data transmission, reading distance is very far, but poor battery durability and high price is the shortcomings of the application.
The same band of products, because of the use of different environments, its packaging form, the installation method is also a huge difference, HF, for example, for payment and identity management, often in the form of PVC cards; for anti-counterfeiting and traceability, you can choose fragile paper or coated paper way. The same application of the same band of products, because of the specificity of the problems encountered by the customer, also presents a certain degree of variability. For example, HF Fragile Label is used for the traceability of milk powder, if the surface of milk powder cans is made of plastic, it can be directly glued, if it is made of metal, it is also necessary to consider adding a layer of wave-absorbing materials.
Overall, RFID tags band characteristics, application scenarios, performance indicators and installation of different requirements, affecting the standardization of RFID, so RFID tags customized development is to determine the success of RFID system applications can be a key factor.
RFID working principle
How to customize RFID tags
RFID tags customized development is a systematic project to the author's experience roughly need to go through six phases: demand assessment, preliminary selection, cost assessment, sample development, scene testing, selection optimization, the time consumed according to the complexity of the project needs vary! The time taken varies depending on the complexity of the project requirements, with the shorter ones taking as little as half a month and the longer ones taking more than three months.
1 demand assessment
Demand assessment is the most critical step, we need to assess the user's application scenarios based on whether the need for RFID radio frequency identification technology. Not all applications are suitable for the use of RFID radio frequency identification technology, such as many primary agricultural and industrial product traceability - cabbage, grapefruit, steel, pipe fittings, etc., such products because of their value is not high, the cost is not affordable, in the process of the application of the items will also be due to the interference of the application of the effect of the impact of the application. Therefore, often choose a lower cost bar code technology to solve the problem.
So when to choose RFID radio frequency identification technology? Airport baggage sorting, for example, first of all, the cost of the aviation industry, large volume, high value of services, the requirements of efficiency is very high, while the cost of efficiency of accommodation is also high; secondly, the technology, the baggage bar code markers can not be fixed in position, if you use the bar code technology, it is difficult to carry out batch reading and processing, one-on-one reading is often also required to manual assistance, low efficiency and high cost. This creates a strong demand for RFID radio frequency identification technology - UHF technology can be used at a relatively low cost to greatly improve the speed of luggage sorting, while ensuring accuracy. That is, the needs assessment is based on the user's application scenarios to confirm that RFID can meet the requirements of the two major indicators of technology and cost, if it can meet, then the use of this technology.
RFID tags for baggage sorting
2 preliminary selection
In the clear use of RFID radio frequency identification technology can solve the demand for the "pain points", then the next key is the selection of RFID tags. According to the results of the needs assessment, the selected tag frequency band, product size, chip type, package form and installation methods.
We take the selection of a fragile tag as an example to introduce the process: A customer needs a tag for the outer carton of high-grade consumer products, the purpose is to prevent counterfeiting and traceability. In order to facilitate consumer verification, we recommend the use of high-frequency 14443A protocol; carton is square, the folding position has a certain elasticity, we recommend the use of both anti-tear effect, but also very flexible coated paper material package. For easy installation, we use adhesive backing.
In the chip selection, the customer proposed the use of a chip they provide, for this reason, according to the chip data we re-developed a line; taking into account the need for a slightly longer label at the fold position, the size of the large increase in cost, we recommend to the customer a suitable size of the rectangular label.
3 cost assessment
After the initial selection to meet customer requirements, according to its results, the cost assessment. Factors affecting the cost is mainly the chip type, package form, product size and data requirements, first of all, the chip, according to the different needs of imported or domestic chips can be selected, in general, the price of imported chips will be higher, the larger the storage capacity of the chip the higher the price, the more features of the chip the higher the price of the chip, such as encryption, TD functionality, dual-frequency functionality, and so on. Next is the package, the more complex the structure of the package, the greater the difficulty of the package, the higher the cost. Size is also an influencing factor, generally the larger the size of the higher price, but in the field of micro-labeling, due to the processing difficulty becomes larger, but the smaller the size of the higher price. Data requirements mainly involves surface coding, writing data, data extraction and data correlation, etc., each of which will increase the cost. Because of these factors, we usually provide 3~4 sets of solutions for customer's reference, from which we will choose the optimal solution for sample development.
4 Sample Development
The most important thing in the process of sample development is not the amount of R&D cost, but the length of the R&D cycle. The shorter the time spent on this part of the work, the more room for strain in the later stages of the project, and the higher the success rate of the project. Sample R&D requires several necessary steps, including antenna design, material fabrication, antenna etching, hand fabrication, and real-world verification.
We still take customer A as an example, antenna design takes 5-10 working days, and fabrication and verification takes 10 working days. Here we need to emphasize, if the conventional package form and process technology has been confirmed, the main development time in the antenna design; if you encounter a new package form need to try different process technology, in the research and development process of the uncertainty will be more, can not guarantee the success of a one-time, need to spend a longer time. Sample development speed is the test of a RFID tag enterprise customization ability of the key indicators.
5 Scenario testing
Sample development out, if the conditions need to simulate the application of the scene for testing, and do the relevant reliability tests. After the customer receives the sample, the scene will be tested to evaluate the effect and put forward optimization suggestions, including whether the performance is up to standard, whether the size is adjusted, whether the printing and data changes, etc..
6 Selection Optimization
If the initial sample fails to meet the project requirements, it is necessary to analyze the data fed back from the customer's test, and it is even necessary to go to the site for on-site field research to summarize all kinds of information, to confirm the optimization plan, and to carry out the second sampling and real testing. As a result, a complete sample development cycle can take up to about a month at the earliest.
Summary
As mentioned above, it is not difficult to see, RFID system solutions for customization of electronic tags need time to explore and select, the process of the many factors need to be confirmed one by one, a qualified sales staff in the early stages of receiving customer inquiries, the need to provide customers with valuable demand analysis and product program evaluation, rather than just confused offer, which is not responsible for the This is an irresponsible practice. But in actual working practice, customers often ignore the essence of the demand, rush to ask the supplier to quote, once the price is often reported results are not settled. Any product only allows customers to achieve success in business value is truly valuable, RFID is no exception, so to customize a cost-effective RFID tags, the need for supply chain upstream and downstream mutual trust, *** with the participation of, interoperability.
Related knowledge:
Electronic label is radio frequency identification (RFID) common name, RFID is radio frequency identification technology in English (RadioFrequencyIdentification) abbreviation, radio frequency identification technology is a use of radio frequency signals through the spatial coupling (alternating magnetic or electromagnetic field) to achieve the non-contact information transmission and through the information transmitted to achieve the purpose of automatic diagnosis. Transmitted information to achieve the automatic diagnosis purpose technology. The electronic label (RFID) technology is in the last century 90's rapidly develops the item automatic diagnosis technology. When each piece of product manufacture completes gives it to the electronic label which the unique information, causes it no matter the circulation to where, the people all can through the recognizer (or called the read-write) obtains this product the related information at any time. The electronic label is nowadays most advanced non-contact induction technology, since 1998, the United States Texas Instruments (TI) and the Netherlands Philips company (Philips) announced developed a kind of inexpensive non-contact induction chip, to the year 2000, the international standardization organization has written this kind of non-contact induction chip into the international standard ISO15693. because of the unique characteristic and the advantage, is now being Widely used in various industries and fields.
RFID tags in various fields is how to apply it?
1, logistics: logistics process of goods tracking, information automatic collection, warehousing applications, port applications, express delivery.
2, retail: goods sales data real-time statistics, replenishment, anti-theft .
3, manufacturing: real-time monitoring of production data, quality tracking, automated production.
4, apparel industry: automated production, warehouse management, brand management, single product management, channel management .
5, medical: medical device management, patient identification, baby anti-theft.
6, identification: electronic passports, identity cards, student ID cards and other electronic documents.
7, anti-counterfeiting: anti-counterfeiting of valuables (cigarettes, alcohol, medicines), anti-counterfeiting of tickets and other.
8, asset management: all kinds of assets (valuable or large number of high similarity or dangerous goods, etc.).
9, transportation: high-speed non-stop, cab management, bus hub management, railroad locomotive identification, etc. .
10, food: fruit, vegetables, fresh, food and other freshness management.
11, animal identification: training animals, livestock, pets and other identification management.
12, library: bookstores, libraries, publishers and other applications.
13, automobile: manufacturing, anti-theft, positioning, car keys.
14, aviation: manufacturing, passenger tickets, baggage package tracking .
15, military: ammunition, guns, supplies, personnel, trucks and other identification and tracking.