2. RFID system families and features

RFID is based on the fact that information contained in a microchip can be transmitted contactlessly via an RF (Radio Frequency) link to a fixed or mobile interrogator. To achieve this, the microchip is connected to an antenna, the whole assembly forming what is known as an inlay. This inlay is finally packaged to meet the various constraints of the final application.

Not all RFID tags and labels work in the same way. We can classify RFID systems in several ways, according to different criteria. The first criterion that comes to mind is the frequency at which the system operates. From 125 kHz to 2.4 GHz, or even 5.7 GHz, via 13.56 MHz and 900 MHz, there are numerous applications to suit different needs and constraints. This initial classification can be summed up by the fact that the coupling between interrogator and tags is either predominantly magnetic, or predominantly...