RFID technology market outlook and its application in packaging anti-counterfeiting

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) refers to the application of radio frequency identification signals to identify target objects. It is a type of non-contact automatic identification technology. It automatically identifies target objects through radio frequency signals and obtains relevant data. The identification work does not require manual intervention and can work in various harsh environments. 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 World War II, in order to distinguish the enemy's aircraft from their own, the military This kind of RFID technology has been used; starting in the 1970s, the U.S. federal government began to put such tags on nuclear materials to track their whereabouts; in the 1980s, some commercial company warehouses also began to use them. It was used to determine the location of containers; as time went by and the cost of RFID decreased, it was around 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 affix RFID electronic tags to all products that an RFID storm began.

1 Principles and characteristics of RFID

The simplest RFID system consists of three parts: the electronic tag Tag reader and the antenna Antenna. In practical applications, it also requires 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 emitted by the reader. The signal uses the energy obtained from the induced current to send out the product information Stored in the chip, or actively sends a signal of a certain frequency; after the reader reads the information and decodes it, it is sent to the central information system for relevant data processing.

① Electronic tag Tag, 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 tag has a unique electronic code, which is equivalent to a 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 SOC with wireless transceiver function and storage function, which stores an agreed format. The encoded data is used to uniquely identify the attached object? It is the data carrier of the radio frequency identification system and has the ability to intelligently read, write and encrypt 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 non-contact 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 to transmit information to each other. Whenever an object with an electronic tag attached passes through its reading range, radio waves are emitted to the tag, and then the tag sends back the object information it stores. The entire process is contactless. 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.) to transmit the obtained data to the application system or receive commands from the application system.

③Antenna

The antenna transmits radio frequency signals between the electronic tag and the reader. The antenna connected to the reader is generally made in the form of a door frame and placed at the entrance of the passage for the items to be tested. On the one hand, it provides electrical energy for the passive electronic tag to transmit radio signals to activate it. Electronic tags; on the other hand, they also receive information sent from the electronic tags. Each electronic tag also has its own miniature antenna for communicating with the reader.

2 Advantages of RFID

Compared with barcodes, RFID technology has different application scopes. Conceptually, the two are very similar, with the purpose of quickly and accurately confirming and tracking target objects. The biggest difference between the two is that barcodes are "visual technology". The role of RFID tags is not limited to the field of view, because information is transmitted by radio waves, and data reading does not require a light source and can even be performed through the outer packaging. In addition, RFID technology is compared with traditional bar codes. , also has the advantages of fast recognition speed, large data capacity, long service life, wide application range, label data can be dynamically changed, 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. Think about it in a hypermarket or supermarket. The most troublesome thing is the checkout. However, by attaching RFID tags to individual items, consumers can push their shopping carts across the street. You can walk out of the store after using the RFID Reader. There is no need to take out the goods one by one from the shopping cart, and there is no need to scan any barcodes. 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 to increase operational efficiency. Attach RFID tags to the cargo boxes, and install a reader at the entry point to automatically identify the type and quantity of the incoming goods. This information can be immediately transmitted to the database for update. In addition, the use of RFID tags can make it easier to monitor the shelves. inventory levels for timely replenishment.

But the application field of RFID is by no means limited to this. Another wisdom of it is its super anti-theft function. If a customer steals goods with RFID tags in the store, the RFID tag will automatically remind the security guard. At the same time, once the RFID The tag will naturally break and the security sensor will tell you that it was not a shoplifting incident. Of course, the biggest application of this technology is in the field of anti-counterfeiting in 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 place their own unique RFID read-write tags in cartons together with the produced clothing, and each carton has its own unique ID code. When the production is completed and shipped, each carton passes an RFID tag reader, and the information of all cartons will be read and transmitted to the PC. The PC software system will compare the actual information read with the planned shipment of the carton. After comparison, a judgment is made as to whether to release the carton. 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 counterfeiting 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 colorful packaging marketing, RFID will gradually become the new favorite. While realizing the tracking function, it will also help to improve product safety in the consumer supply chain, and it will also help to deal with long-term entanglements. RFID is also of great benefit to the problem of product counterfeiting in the wine industry.

In addition, medicines, documents, ticketing, logistics and many other aspects have also been favored by this anti-counterfeiting technology, but the anti-counterfeiting principle is roughly the same: write the product identification number (ID) in the RFID chip, and this ID is used in production, sales, etc. It is the only one in the process. The chip is made into an electronic label. The electronic label is attached to the commodity, making it an integral part of the commodity. When the electronic label is "forced" to be separated from the commodity, the "integrity" of the commodity is destroyed. , the goods are considered to have been "consumed" and anti-counterfeiting ends. In the above links, various technical means are used to ensure that the ID verification process cannot be forged and tampered with? If the verification mechanism is forged, counterfeit goods will appear; if the verification process is tampered with, the genuine product will be "falsified" and thus Disrupting the market? In this way, in the entire process of goods from production, circulation to consumption, there is only one product identified by a unique ID with a unique verification method, thereby achieving the purpose of anti-counterfeiting.

4. RFID technology continues to be optimized

RFID technology is driven by application needs and in turn greatly promotes the expansion of application needs. From a technical perspective, the development of RFID technology benefits from the comprehensive development of multiple technologies. The key technologies involved roughly include: chip technology, antenna technology, wireless transceiver technology, data conversion and coding technology, and electromagnetic propagation characteristics.

①In terms of RFID electronic tags, electronic tag chips require lower power consumption, passive tags, and semi-passive tag technologies are becoming more mature, their operating distance will be longer, wireless read and write performance will be more complete, and they can be suitable for high speeds. 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 capabilities under strong fields will be more complete, more intelligent, and lower cost.

② In terms of RFID readers, multi-function readers and writers, including integration with barcode recognition, unlimited data transmission, offline work and other functions will be more widely used. Readers and writers will develop in the direction of miniaturization, portable, embedded, and modular. The cost will be cheaper and the application scope will be wider.

③In terms of RFID Antennas, after five years of cooperation and development by more than a dozen companies such as Mark Andy Texas Instruments in the United States, on-line production of printed antennas and packaging has been realized on Mark Andy flexographic printing machines. It is fully commercialized and has already been used in North America. More than a dozen lines are in normal operation. Using printed conductive ink instead of corroding copper antennas and wire encapsulation not only reduces the cost of RFID smart labels, but also lays the foundation for high efficiency and mass production in the future. Therefore, the future development of RFID labels has great potential. Huge space.

④ In terms of RFID system types, low-frequency short-range systems will have higher intelligence and security features; high-frequency long-range systems will have more complete performance and lower costs; 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 RFID standards is more in-depth and mature; the standards finally formed and released are accepted by more companies; different manufacturers produce systems, and modules are more substitutable? More popular? RF In the future development of identification technology, while combining with other high and new technologies to realize the development from single identification to multi-functional identification, it will work with modern communication technology and computer technology to achieve cross-regional and cross-industry applications.

5. RFID technology market outlook

Wal-Mart's demonstration effect in RFID application is indispensable. The company has recently required its top 100 large suppliers that all products shipped to major distribution factories must be equipped with RFID tags; it also requires all products shipped to various distribution points. All products must also be marked with RFID. Every word and deed of Wal-Mart will attract the attention of the whole world, and other world-renowned large-scale retail chain companies will also follow suit. In fact, long before Wal-Mart announced the full use of RFID technology, in April 2003, Metro, Germany's largest retailer, Metro established a "Future Supermarket" 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 "Future Supermarket." Its targets will include approximately 100 suppliers. 10 logistics outlets and approximately 250 branches in Germany will use RFID to track and manage the circulation of goods from the time of delivery by the supplier until they are placed on the counter. At the same time, major companies such as Gillette, Kraft, and Procter & Gamble have also joined Metro's RFID testing work. Tesc, the UK's largest retail company, started a three-month test in June 2003 to "reduce the cost of RFID reading probes through a smart shelf that can sense RFID reflections." Each shelf was equipped with multiple The antenna and two RFID function readers, although functionally unable to achieve real-time reading, 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. business opportunities, they have integrated RFID technology into their products to meet the huge demand in this area in the future.