RFID technology market outlook and detailed explanation of its application in packaging anti-counterfeiting
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RFIDRadio Frequency IdenTIficaTIon refers to the application of radio frequency identification signals to identify objects. It is a type of non-contact automatic identification technology. It automatically recognizes the target object through radio frequency signals and obtains relevant data. The identification work does not require manual intervention and can work in a variety of harsh conditions. environment.
The RFID radio frequency identification system is regarded as one of the top ten most important technologies of this century, but this technology has existed for a long time. As early as the Second World War, the military used to distinguish the enemy from its own aircraft. This RFID technology has been used; since the 1970s, the U.S. federal government began to attach such tags to nuclear materials in order to track their whereabouts; in the 1980s, some commercial companies’ warehouses also began to use them. It determines the location of the container; as time goes by and the cost of RFID decreases, it was not until 1997 that RFID technology really began to get rid of its traditional role and was widely adopted by more industries. But it wasn’t until Wal-Mart required its top 100 suppliers to fully affix RFID electronic tags on their products, that an RFID storm started.
1 Principles and characteristics of RFID
The simplest RFID system consists of three parts: the reader and the antenna Antenna. In practical applications, it also needs the support of other hardware and software. Its working principle is not complicated: after the tag enters the magnetic field, it receives the radio frequency from the reader. The signal, by virtue of the energy obtained by the induced current, sends out the product information stored in the chip, or actively sends a signal of a certain frequency; the reader reads the information and decodes it, and then sends it to the central information system for relevant data processing.
① Electronic label Tag, namely radio frequency card
It is the real carrier of the RFID system? It is installed on the identified object and stores electronic data in a certain format, that is, detailed information about the object. Each label has a unique electronic code, which is equivalent to the barcode in barcode technology. Symbol, but the difference is that it must be able to automatically or semi-automatically transmit the stored information? The electronic tag is composed of a tag antenna and a tag chip. The tag chip is a single-chip system S0C with wireless transceiver and storage functions, and the agreed format is stored in it. The encoded data is used to uniquely identify the attached object? It is the data carrier of the radio frequency identification system, with the ability of intelligent reading and writing and encrypted communication.
②Reader
The reader is a device responsible for reading or writing tag information. It can automatically read the electronic data stored in the electronic tag in a contactless manner. It is the information control and processing center of the RFID system. There is a communication protocol between the reader and the electronic tag, which can transmit information to each other. Whenever an object attached with an electronic tag passes its reading range, it emits radio waves to the tag, and then the tag sends back its stored object information. The whole process is non-contact. A typical reader includes a control module, radio frequency module, interface module and reader antenna. In addition, many readers have additional interfaces RS232? RS485 Ethernet interface, etc., in order to transmit the obtained data to the application system or receive commands from the application system.
③ Antenna
The antenna transmits the radio frequency signal between the electronic tag and the reader. The antenna connected to the reader is generally in the form of a door frame and placed at the entrance and exit of the measured item. On the one hand, it provides power to the passive electronic tag to transmit the radio signal to activate it. Electronic tags; on the other hand, it also receives information from the electronic tags. Each electronic tag also has its own micro-shaped antenna for communication with the reader.
2 Advantages of RFID
Compared with barcodes, RFID technology has a different scope of application. Conceptually, the two are very similar, and the purpose is to quickly and accurately identify and track the target object. The biggest difference between the two is that the barcode is a “visual technology”. The role of RFID tags is not limited to the field of view, because the information is transmitted by radio waves, and the data can be read without a light source, even through the outer packaging. In addition, RFID technology is compared with traditional bar codes. , It also has the advantages of fast recognition speed, large data capacity, long service life, wide application range, tag data can be changed dynamically, and dynamic real-time communication.
3 Application of RFID tags in packaging anti-counterfeiting
RFID technology can be applied to the payment system of the retail industry, paymentSystem. Think about the checkout in hypermarkets or supermarkets. However, attaching RFID tags to a single item allows consumers to walk through the shopping cart with the RFID tag. After the RFID reader, you can walk out of the store. There is no need to take out the goods one by one from the shopping cart. There is no need to scan any barcode. The total price will be displayed on the screen almost immediately. This technology can also be used in supply chain management to help retailers improve Inventory management increases operational efficiency. Attach the RFID tag to the cargo box, and install a reader at the incoming goods gate to automatically identify the type and quantity of the incoming goods, and this information can be transmitted to the database for update in real time. In addition, the use of RFID tags can make it easier to monitor the shelves The inventory level of the company to facilitate timely replenishment.
But the application of RFID is by no means limited to this. Its other wisdom lies in its super anti-theft function. If a customer steals a product with an RFID tag in the store, the RFID tag will automatically remind the security? At the same time, once RFID The tag is naturally damaged, and the security sensor will also inform the customer that it is not shoplifting. Of course, the biggest application of this technology is the field of anti-counterfeiting of packaging. RFID technology can effectively solve the increasingly rampant phenomenon of product anti-counterfeiting.
In RFID anti-counterfeiting applications, clothing anti-counterfeiting is commonly used. Clothing manufacturers put their own unique RFID read-write tags and the clothing produced in the carton at the same time, and each carton has its own unique ID code. When the production is completed to the delivery process, each carton passes through an RFID tag reader, and all carton information will be read and transmitted to the PC. The PC software system will read the actual information with the planned delivery items of the carton. After the comparison, the judgment of whether to release is obtained. At the same time, if the carton is released, the ID number of the carton will be written into the memory of each label and locked.
RFID technology also contributes to the counterfeit problem of wine industry products. Today, as wine producers and sellers gradually turn their attention to radio frequency identification technology, this magical liquid seems to have added a bit of “wisdom” in addition to romance. Wine manufacturers are constantly looking for new ways to promote their products. In the colorful packaging marketing, RFID will gradually become the new favorite. While realizing the tracking function, it will also help to improve the product safety of the consumer supply chain, and it will be a long-term entanglement. RFID is also of great benefit to the problem of product counterfeiting in the wine industry.
In addition, medicines, certificates, ticketing, logistics, and many other aspects are also favored by this anti-counterfeiting technology, but the principle of anti-counterfeiting is roughly the same: the product identification number (ID) is written in the RFID chip, and this ID is used in production, sales, etc. The link is unique. The chip is made into an electronic tag, and the electronic tag is attached to the product, making it an inseparable part of the product. When the electronic tag is “forced” to separate from the product, the “integrity” of the product is destroyed , The product is deemed to have been “consumed” and the anti-counterfeiting is over. In the above links, various technical means are used to ensure that the ID verification process is unforgeable and tamper-proof? If the verification mechanism is forged, counterfeit goods will appear; if the verification process is tampered, the authenticity will be “falsified”. Disturb the market? In this way, in the whole process of commodities from production, circulation to consumption, there is only one commodity with a unique verification method that is identified by a unique ID, so as to achieve the purpose of anti-counterfeiting.
4 RFID technology continues to be optimized
RFID technology, while being driven by application requirements, has in turn greatly promoted the expansion of application requirements. From a technical point of view, the development of RFID technology has benefited from the comprehensive development of multiple technologies. The key technologies involved generally include: chip technology, antenna technology, wireless transceiver technology, data conversion and coding technology, and electromagnetic propagation characteristics.
①In terms of RFID electronic tags, the power consumption of electronic tag chips is lower. Passive tags and semi-passive tag technologies are becoming more mature, their working distance will be longer, wireless read-write performance will be more perfect, and can be suitable for high-speed The recognition speed of moving objects will also be faster, with fast multi-tag reading and writing functions, and better consistency. At the same time, the protection ability under strong fields will be more complete, more intelligent, and lower cost.
②In terms of RFID readers, multi-function readers, including integration with barcode recognition, unlimited data transmission and offline work, will be more widely used. Readers will develop in the direction of miniaturization, portable, embedded, and modular, with cheaper costs and a wider range of applications.
③In terms of RFID antennas, after five years of cooperation and development with more than a dozen companies such as Mark Andy Texas Instruments, the in-line production of printed antennas and packaging has been realized on Mark Andy flexographic printing machines, which is completely commercialized. More than a dozen lines are in normal operation. The use of printed conductive ink instead of corroding copper antennas and in-line packaging not only reduces the cost of RFID smart tags, but also lays the foundation for high-efficiency and mass production in the future. Therefore, the future development of RFID tags Huge space.
④In terms of the types of RFID systems, low-frequency short-range systems will have higher intelligence and safety features; high-frequency long-range systems will have better performance and lower cost; 2.45GHz and 5.8GHz systems will also be more complete; chipless systems will gradually be applied.
⑤In terms of RFID standardization, the basic performance research related to the RFID standard has become more in-depth and mature; the finally formed and released standard is accepted by more companies; the production system of different manufacturers, the module can be replaced better? More popular? Radio frequency In the future development of recognition technology, while combining other high-tech to realize the development of single recognition to multi-functional recognition, it will work with modern communication technology and computer technology to realize cross-regional and cross-industry applications.
5 RFID technology market outlook
Wal-Mart’s demonstrative effect in RFID applications is indispensable. The company has recently required the top 100 major suppliers to have all products shipped to major distribution plants be equipped with RFID tags; similarly, it also requires all products shipped to various distribution points. All products are also marked with RFID. Wal-Mart’s words and deeds will attract the attention of the whole world, and other world-renowned large-scale retail chain companies have also followed up. In fact, long before Wal-Mart announced the full use of RFID technology, in April 2003, Germany’s largest retailer Metro Metro established a “FutureStore” in Rheinberg, and used low-cost RFID to identify goods. In November 2004, the German Metro Group began a large-scale expansion of the RFID application test “FutureStore”. Its target will include about 100 suppliers. 10 logistics outlets and about 250 branches in Germany will use RFID to track and manage the circulation of goods from the time the supplier delivers the goods until they are placed on the counter. At the same time, Gillette, Kraft, Procter & Gamble and other large companies have also joined Metro RFID testing. Tesc, the largest retail company in the UK, started in June 2003 and lasted for 3 months to conduct a test of “reducing the cost of RFID reading probes through a smart shelf that can feel the reflection of RFID”. Each shelf is equipped with multiple Although the antenna and two RFID function readers cannot realize real-time reading in function, they greatly reduce the cost. In addition, many large application system developers such as Sun, SAP, IBM, Microsoft and other companies have already seen RFID radio frequency identification technology. For business opportunities, they have integrated RFID technology in their products to meet the huge demand in this area in the future.
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