The RFID Technology
RFID is a promising technology for objects identification using radio-frequency communication techniques.
Nowadays there are different types of RFID systems in the market. They have differences in the frequency used, modulation scheme, and other parameters.
The concept is similar for every RFID system: each system consists of a reader, an antenna and a population of one or more tags. A tag is like a small memory module which can communicate with the reader and can be attached to objects for tracking purposes. The reader can search for a tag that is within its range by sending out a predefined RF signal, the tag that receives this signal responds back with its unique ID that has been pre-programmed in its memory.
The EPCglobal Generation-2 standard
EPC RFID is a popular RFID technology. EPCglobal is a neutral, non-profit standards organisation, entrusted by industry to establish and support the global standard for real-time, automatic identification of information in the supply chain of any company, anywhere in the world.
EPCglobal's most recent standard is the Electronic Product Code (EPC) Class 1 Generation 2 protocol, for RFID applications using UHF frequencies. This specification defines the physical and logical requirements for a Radio-frequency Identification (RFID) system operating in the 860 MHz - 960 MHz frequency range. The system comprises Interrogators, also known as Readers, and Tags, also known as Labels.
AT4 wireless has participated actively in the development of the Conformance Test Specification for this standard and has developed and provided the official Conformance Test System for the Certification of RFID devices based on the EPC Generation-2 standard.
The Mobile RFID Technology
The integration of RFID capabilities into mobile devices is extending the use of RFID technology beyond the supply chain applications, etc. into areas like customer services, marketing, payment services, control access, etc. By means of placing an RFID reader device into a Mobile Phone and using the information stored on RFID tags will help to create an environment of "smart objects". Beyond that, RFID chips in mobile phones could also be used in payment solutions by means of storing personal information that is necessary for the payment process.
It is expected huge market opportunities in the combination of RFID and Mobile Communications and some first steps have been taken with the Near Field Communication (NFC) Technology, the Mobile RFID Standard in Korea, etc.
RFID Test Solution: RIDER
