Battery-Assisted Passive and Active RFID

Battery assisted passive RFID extends the range of conventional passive RFID well beyond its present capacity for a relatively low cost. From a price/performance point of view, battery-assisted RFID can effectively fill the gap between conventional passive RFID and more costly active RFID.
Solutions using battery assisted RFID deliver increased read range, as well as consistently higher read rates. This is especially true in the tagging of challenging materials, such as metals and liquids, or nested items, such as mixed pallets of goods. Battery-assisted passive RFID can now be used effectively in real-time locating systems (RTLS) type applications, using the latest in reader technology from companies like RF Controls and Mojix.

Active RFID systems designed to track and trace mobile assets can benefit from thin printed battery technology by reducing the overall size of tags and reducing the total cost of integration vs. traditional battery technology. RFID-enabled “smart cards” and badges are also being deployed in applications ranging from cashless transaction processing, to access control and tracking of people in secure buildings, at public events, and at disaster sites.

Blue Spark battery applications and related industry solutions for battery-assisted passive and active RFID include:

• Asset Management
• Manufacturing & Supply Chain
• Distribution & Logistics
• Transportation
• Pharmaceutical
• Retail Merchandising
• Consumer Goods Packaging
• Personnel and Event Management
• Security and Access Control