RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification and is beside traditional barcoding another method used for automatic identification and data capture.      Unlike barcodes, RFID does not require visible line of sight between the tagged object and the reader to be detected/read, as such it can be embedded inside an object.

RFID tag main components.

An RFID reader will emit, through its connected antennas, an electromagnetic field.    When a tag enters into this electromagnetic field, the tag will be energized (through its own antenna coil) when enough energy is received the microchip will wake up and respond to the reader interrogation through the tag’s integrated antenna back to the reader’s antenna