Introduction to basic knowledge of RFID Readers

In IoT applications, RFID electronic tags give objects a virtual "identity" on the network. By reading the information on the RFID tag through the RFID reader, the properties, characteristics and other information of the item to which the tag is attached can be queried and tracked in real time on the network. Only with the RFID reader can the RFID tag information be collected "anytime, anywhere" to achieve seamless and comprehensive coverage of the IoT.

As an indispensable component of the RFID system, the RFID reader can also be divided into two parts: the RFID antenna and the RFID reader. The RFID reader transmits a signal through the RFID antenna to "wake up" and transmit instructions to the RFID electronic tag, and receives the signal returned by the RFID tag. After preliminary filtering and processing of the signal, the acquisition and analysis of the RFID tag information is completed, and the useful data is interacted with the data management system through the network.

The communication process of the RFID system is the process of the RFID reader giving information to the RFID tag and obtaining information on the tag. Since the passive RFID tag itself has no power supply, it must rely on the energy obtained from the RF signal sent by the RFID reader (beam power supply technology). The energy obtained by the RFID tag is only enough to supply the electronic tag itself, and there is no excess energy for the RF signal source to work. Passive reflection modulation technology must be used to realize the communication between the RFID reader and the RFID tag. During the response process, the RFID tag modulates the continuous wave RF signal emitted by the reader, and then reflects the modulated RF signal back, which is received and decoded by the reader to complete the information transmission function.

Composition of RFID reader

RFID readers are generally composed of RFID modules, control processing modules and antennas. The RF module is mainly responsible for the conversion between RF signals and baseband signals and the modulation and demodulation of data information; the control processing module is the core of the RFID reader, which is mainly responsible for the communication management between the platform system and the RFID tag, the encoding and decoding of the baseband signal, the execution of the anti-collision algorithm, the encryption and decryption during the data transmission process, identity authentication and the control of the peripherals; the function of the antenna is mainly responsible for receiving or sending RF signals to realize the transmission of data information and energy.

Function of RFID reader

Responsible for communication with RFID electronic tags, initialization of RFID tags, reading and writing data information in electronic tags, and managing RFID electronic tags, such as disabling their functions, etc.

Responsible for communication with computer platform systems, on the one hand, transmitting data information read from RFID electronic tags to the platform, on the other hand, receiving control information of the platform system to complete specific application actions

Transmit energy to passive RFID electronic tags through radio frequency, and for active electronic tags, it can also read relevant information of the built-in battery of RFID tags, such as power, etc.

RFID readers are easy to install and can generally be managed and controlled by application software, so they can be maintained remotely

RFID readers have the ability to anti-collision identify multiple tags, can identify multiple mobile electronic tags, can complete simultaneous access of multiple tags, and have the ability to anti-collision information read by multiple tags at the same time

RFID readers have relatively strong compatibility, compatible with the most common communication protocols, and can communicate with a variety of electronic tags.

The structure of RFID readers

The structure of Tray RFID readers has no fixed form. The structure and appearance of RFID readers are designed mainly according to needs and application scenarios. Common RFID readers include fixed RFID readers, handheld readers, integrated readers, separate component readers, industrial readers, OEM modular readers, etc.