A

Active Tags
Tags that have an internal battery that allows them to reach higher read ranges. These tags are mainly used to track valuable items and have larger dimensions and higher costs than passive tags.

Addressability
The ability to address bits, fields and tag data.

Alignment
Tag orientation with the reader.

Antenna
Device that emits and receives electromagnetic energy. The antenna is embedded in an assembly with a chip to produce RFID tags and is also the way readers transmit and receive signals/data.

Anti-collision
A feature of a RF protocol interface that allows the RFID reader to identify multiple tags at the same time in its reading field. This feature also block interference from readers put too close one another. It's a crucial feature of Gen2 protocol.

B

Bidirectional
Capacity to work in either of two directions I.E.: by front or back. For example, a tag that can be read or written to from the front or the back is bidirectional.

Also, Readers and Tags are bidirectional because they can send information as well as receive it.

C

Capacity
Amount of bits or bytes that can be programmed into a tag. This can be the number of bits or bytes available to store data, including manufacturer reserved bits, like parity or control bits.

Capture Window/Field
The magnetic field region in which a tag operates.

Class 0
Owner RF Interface Protocol for passive UHF tags. The Class 0 protocol is read only, however the subsequent protocol, Class 0 Plus, has a read and write capacity. This protocol became obsolete with the coming of Gen2.

Class 1
Is a property RF interface protocol for UHF passive tags. The Class 1 protocol has a read/write function.

Closed Systems
A system in which relevant data is stored in a common data base that is accessible by a data link between the TAG number and referencing the object or person identified.

D

Dual Dipole
A tag that has two antennas, so the capacity of transmission can be increased, reducing the need of oriented reading.

E

Electromagnetic Coupling
Systems which use a magnetic field to transfer data or power.

Electronic Label
A tag shaped as label.

Electrostatic Coupling
Systems that use the voltage induction in a coil to transfer data or power.

Encoder
A device that transmits and writes data into a RFID tag. There are RFID reader modules developed to be used at printers for data transport.

Environmental Factors
The UHF devices can be affected by some factors, such as metal and liquid. For a correctly applying of a tag's position and adjustment it's necessary to study these factors.

EPC (Electronic Product Code)
Code stored in the RFID tag that is unique to each one of them. The code contains information about the manufacturer and about the product which the tag is attached and a single serial code. The EPC codes are controlled by EPCglobal.

EPC Network
Developed by the Auto-ID Center, this system was based in an Internet protocol that allows the supply sector's companies to access the information associated to an EPC, using the web.

EPCglobal
Originally formed as a joint-venture of the Uniform Code Council (UCC) and the Electronic Article Numbering Association (EAN), the EPCglobal is an organization responsible for creating rules to RFID and promoting development of solutions for this technology.

Error
Any operation or data that doesn't follows the project protocol or system requirements.

Error Correcting Code
System which sends additional bits during data transfer to compose a polynomial algorithm in order to control the error.

Error Correcting Mode
The data communication mode in which wrong or missing bits are automatically corrected.

Error Correcting Protocol
They're the rules used by the Error Correcting Mode.

Error Management
A technique used to ensure that only the correct information is presented to the users of the system.

Error Rate
Rate between the numbers of errors and number of transactions.

Expansion Port
It's an additional port to increase the total number of ports of a computer or device.

F

Factory Programming
Data programmed into a tag during manufacturing process which results in a read-only tag.

Field Programming
Usually, the field programming occurs before the tag is installed into an object. In some cases, it's possible to change or duplicate all data in the label or sometimes, some part of the data is reserved for factory programming, to set the serial number in the label, for example.

Field Protection
The ability to limit operations which can be performed on portions or fields of the stored data in a tag.

Flat Panel Antenna
A flat, conductive sheet antenna usually made of metal.

Frequency
The number of times a signal executes a complete excursion through its maximum and minimum values and returns to the same value (e.g. cycles).

G

Gen2 (Generation2)
It's a RF interface protocol for supply chain applications that uses UHF. The Gen2 pattern was approved on December of 2004 by EPCglobal ever since the approval by the ISO trough ISO 18000-6C. The EPCglobal is working to establish a similar pattern for High frequency (HF).

I

I.D. Filter
Software that compares the tag's ID that was read with the database.

Inductive Coupling
They are systems that use the current induction of a coil to transfer the data or power.

ISO (International Organization for Standardization)
Standardization Institute for 148 countries, with a General Secretary at Geneva, Switzerland, the head of the system. The EPCglobal is an ISO member and owns the approval for the Gen2 protocol.

K

Kill Command
It's a RFID tag's code, that when activated, permanently disables the tag. It's meant to limit the traceability of products after the purchase.

L

Life
The time expected for something to work without maintenance.

M

Memory Cards
A read/write tag in the size of a credit card

Memory Modules
A read/write tag

Middleware
Specific type of software that offers many functionalities. Middleware acts as a data filter, deleting duplicate reads conforming this data to central system structure assuring register reliability.

Misread
It's a situation that occurs when the data presented at the reader is different from the data in the tag.

Modulation
Methods of modulating or changing carriers in order to transfer the encoded data. They include amplitude modulation (AM), phase modulation (PM), frequency modulation (FM), frequency shift keyed (FSK), pulse position (PPM), pulse duration (PDM) and continuous wave (CW). In some cases, different modulating techniques are used in each direction (to and from the tags).

N

Nominal
Value that the projected system ensures is an optimal operation.

Nominal Range
The range at which a system can assure reliable operation, considering the normal variability of the environment in which it is used.

O

Ominidirectional
The capability of a tag to operate at any direction.

Open Systems
Systems in which a reader/writer does not have access to a common data base.

Orientation
Orientation of a tag according to the reader.

Orientation Sensitivity
Range variation caused by an orientation change.

P

Passive Tags
These types of tags use the reader's electromagnetic field as power source since they don't have any internal battery. They have smaller dimensions and lower costs than the active tags.

Port Concentrator
A device that accepts many communications interfaces and introduces them into a communication network.

Portal
It's a strategic site where RFID is installed to identify and observe the product flow of a process.

Power Levels
Levels of power radiated from a reader or tag, usually measured in volts/meter.

Programmability
In order to be identifiers of specific objects, tags must at some point have their identity and/or other data entered into them. This capability is called programmability.

Programmer
It's a component able to write in Tags, also known as writer.

Projected Life
The estimated life time of a tag, defined from the number of read and/or writes cycles.

Pilot project
An initial test developed by companies that wish to implement the RFID technology in their applications. This test can improve and properly adapt RFID tags and readers to the companies needs, before its definitive implementation.

R

RF/DC (RF/DC)
Communication system that works through radio frequency between a computer and a data collector.

RFID (RFID)
RFID is a powerful and flexile technology to identify, track and manage a great variety of products, documents, animals and people, without any contact or need of a visual field.

RF/AIS (RF/AIS)
Automatic radio frequency identification system

Range
A distance in witch read and/or write can be successfully accomplished.

Read
Decodification, extraction and presentation of a tags data.

Read Only
A tag aspect that comes pre-wrote from factory and can only be read.

Read Rate
Maximum rate that data can be read from a tag expressed in bits or bytes per seconds.

Read/Write
Many applications require new data or revision for a tag data. Tags with this capacity are re-writable and called read/write tag.

Reader
Device that holds the digital electronic to extract a tag information. This digital electronic executes the read task. They read an can also contain an interface to fully display it (into a screen) and/or provide an parallel or serial communication interface to a host computer or industrial controller.

Reader/Writer
The electronic assembly that can change a tag content. (see also reader)

Reprogrammable
Tag with the ability to be multiple rewritable.

RFID HF
Products that works in 13,56MHz range. This frequency generally allows read distance between 1 and 2 meters and is not affected by environmental factors as liquids. ISO 15693 is different from Gen2. Products of HF are typically used as electronic money and in item tracking applications.

RFID LF
Products that works in 125KHz range. Usually have lower size and costs, just as a limited read distance (less than 30 cm). Access and security control applications are the most common for this type of technology.

RFID UHF
Products that works in 868-950 MHz range. This frequency allows read distance between 2 and 8 meters but is strongly affected by environmental factors, like liquids and metals.

Rollout
When a pilot project shows sufficient proof that can bring a high return on investment, the company starts the definitive deployment. This process is known as rollout.

S

Semi-passive tag
Passive tags that have a tiny battery to intensify signal transmit. The battery remains in off mode until the tag meets an RFID field range. Products known as Class3 witch regulations are still waited to be launched in the market.

Sensor
A device that respond to a physic stimulation and produces an electronic signal.

Separation
Minimum distance between two tags so they won't interfere one another.

Speed
Rate in witch something happens.

T

Tag (Tag)
The transmitter/receptor with information storage system (chip + antenna)

Tag
Also known as transponder. Is a device frequently used to track items, made of a chip connected to an antenna, in a substrate. Each tag has a unique ID number and in some cases, additional memory bits (or kilobits). Passive tags receive energy from RFID reader, while active tags have an internal battery.

Transponder
See tag

W

Write
Data transfer into a tag

Write Rate
Rate of data transmitted into a tag, write in its memory and checked as correct. Its quantified as the average number of bits or bytes per second in witch the entire transmission can be concluded.