Why is RFID desirable?

RFID makes it possible to hold relatively large amounts of data in very small, lightweight electronic read/write storage devices. Data is accessible through handheld and fixed-mount readers in real time, using RF signals to transfer data to and from tags, even in the absence of line-of-sight propagation.

	How does RFID work?

A basic RFID system consists of four components: An RFID device (transponder or RF tag) that is electronically programmed with unique information, an antenna or coil used to transmit the RF signals between the reader and the RFID device, an RF transceiver that generates the RF signals, and a reader that receives RF transmissions from an RFID device and passes the data to a host system for processing.

	What are the common applications for RFID?

• From Raw Materials to Distribution: From raw materials in bulk containers to finished products, many factories will install RFID labels (or tags), to trace goods or pallets of goods through the manufacturing process.
  
  

• Transportation Management: RFID solutions may be used for electronic toll and traffic management, rail car tracking, fleet management and vehicle parking/security access control.
  
  

• Retail: RFID tags are embedded in price tags to track items from the delivery dock to the sales counter for automatic inventory control, loyalty programs and anti-counterfeiting. These tags also store information to ensure that returns are handled properly and credited accurately.
  
  

• Healthcare: The healthcare industry is beginning to use RFID labels and tags to track supplies and pharmaceuticals, including their expirations dates, as well as portable diagnostic equipment shared between departments. This enables healthcare institutions to better control inventory and maximize their equipment to keep costs down, while delivering the highest level of patient care.
  
  

• Warehouse/Shipping-Receiving Validation: RFID technology can automate all kinds of shipping, receiving and warehousing tasks, such as dock management, shipping/document control, floor inventory, sorting, picking and special handling. The capability of RFID to support multiple, simultaneous item data collection can streamline processes and improve order turnaround times.
  
  

• Animal Identification: RFID technology is used to identify and track valuable breeding stock, laboratory animals involved in lengthy and expensive research projects, meat and dairy animalss, wildlife, and even prized companion animals. The RFID tag can be embedded under the animal's skin or attached to its ear, storing information such as owner, birth date, medical record and veterinary data that can be updated as the animal receives various forms of treatment. This RFID application eliminates lost identification tags and reduces the paperwork needed to store information about the animals.
  
  

• Security and Access Control: The movement and use of valuable equipment and personnel resources can be monitored through RFID tags attached to tools, computers, and so forth, or embedded in credit-card size security badges. This type of monitoring also provides and extra measure of security for personnel working in high risk areas in case of an emergency evacuation.

	What can result for businesses using RFID technology?

RFID tagging lets companies accomplish a variety of business goals. For example:

• ExxonMobil Corporation turned to RFID technology in its Speedpass system to build customer loyalty, reasoning that automating payment at the gas pump would increase fuel sales. The Speedpass system is easier and more secure than using a credit card. To use it, customers can simply wave the Speedpass 'wand/key tag' across the area of the pump or register that says "Place Speedpass Here." Speedpass automatically, and immediately communicates the customer's payment preferences. It knows which credit or check card they wish to use - it even knows whether or not they want a receipt! It is safe and secure, as the card information remains outside the Speedpass signal system to protect consumer information from unauthorized use.
  
  

• Sainsbury's groceries, in the UK, have tested RFID on pallets to track perishable commodities, thus immediately knowing the identification and sell-by date of every pallet, every time workers move it, thus providing an increase in freshness and decrease the amount of perishable food scrapped or sold at a discount.
  
  
  

• HMT Technologies, now Komag, Inc., uses RFID to track production processes in the firm's disk manufacturing plants. Disk platters are virtually impossible to tell apart during assembly, and high yields are essential. The manufacture of the Company's thin-film sputtered disks is a complex, multi-step process that converts polished aluminum substrates into finished data storage media ready for use in a hard disk drive. The process requires the deposition of extremely thin, uniform layers of metallic film onto a disk substrate. To achieve this end, the Company uses a vacuum deposition, or sputtering method, similar to that used to coat semiconductor wafers. The basic process consists of many interrelated steps which can be grouped into five major categories: Sizing and Grinding of the Substrate; Nickel Alloy Plating of the Substrate; Nickel Polishing; Sputtering and Lube; and Glide Test and Certification. Due to the complex nature of the manufacturing of these diss, RFID plays an essential role in tracking production processes.

The RFgen RFID Advantage

The RFgen development system treats RFID readers and writers as 'additional data connections' attached to the RFgen environment. An ODBC driver written for the 'Intellitag' line of tags and equipment allows this data connection concept to provide unmatched software development flexibility for Intellitag based RFID applications. ODBC drivers for 'Gemplus' and 'Texas Instruments' tags and equipment are planned for development during 2001.

RFgen's 'ODBC' concept for RFID application development is a new paradigm in RFID development ... allowing for the use of higher level languages such as 'Visual Basic' as the primary programming tool for projects. Using RFgen as your standard for data collection software development allows both RFID and RFDC applications to be integrated into one 'easy-to-support' system.

If you have needs in the area of RFID development ... contact us. Chances are that we can put you on the fast track to project success!