D7.7: RFID, Profiling, and AmI

Title: BASIC OPERATION OF RFID SYSTEMS*

Basic operation of RFID systems*

Mark Gasson (Reading University) 

The basic RFID system* consists of two main components, the small transponder*, more commonly known as a tag, which is attached to the item needing identification and the interrogator, or reader*, which in some cases is used to both power the tag and read its data without contact.  

The tag is known as a passive transponder* if it is unable to function without the reader* since the reader* supplies the power to it. If the tag has its own power supply such as a battery, then it is an active transponder*. Note that ‘reader*’ is somewhat of a misnomer as the device in some cases can actually be used to write to the tag to change its data as well as reading from it. The basic components of the RFID system* are shown in :

Figure : The two main components of the RFID system*

The range of RFID implementations available are broad, and are covered in more depth in other FIDIS deliverables. Here we will further elaborate on some of the key technical aspects of RFID systems*.