Radio Frequency identification / Near field communication / Mobile Payment - Research Paper Example

RF field propagation is also the basis of many wireless technologies today. Meanwhile, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) refers to the wireless use or application of electromagnetic fields for purposes of transferring data. The two primary components of RFID are tags and readers. Tags (also known as transponders) can be active or passive, and often use radio waves to communicate all sorts of information, including their identity, to a nearby reader. On the other hand, the reader has at least one antenna that receives signals from RFID tags as well as emits radio waves.

RFID allows for automatic identification and tracking of labels or tags to certain objects. These tags contain information that has been stored electronically. In most cases, the RFID tags are powered by the electromagnetic induction, often emanating from the magnetic fields produced in the vicinity of the reader (Hunt 2). These tags store a broad range of information, including serial numbers and copious pages of data. Some tags act as passive transponders, collecting energy from the interrogating radio waves.

Also, these RFID tags do not necessarily have to be within the line of sight of the reader though may be entrenched in the tracked object. RFID is a typical example of methods for Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC). Many industries in the U.S. and several other countries worldwide use RFID tags. Most tags are active, passive or battery-assisted passive. Unlike passive tags, active tags periodically transmit their ID signals and have an on-board battery (Hunt 2). On the other hand, passive tags use radio energy transmitted by the reader and are relatively cheaper and smaller.

Meanwhile, battery-assisted passive (BAP) tags have small battery on-board and are generally activated in the presence of RFID readers. In most cases, RFID tags consist of at least two parts namely an integrated circuit and an antenna.