RFID Glossary : Active Tag (Active RFID Tag)
An RFID tag is an active tag when it is equipped with a battery that can be used as a partial or complete source of power for the tag's circuitry and antenna.Some active tags contain replaceable batteries for years of use; others are sealed units. (Note that It is also possible to connect the tag to an external power source.)
The major advantages of an active rfid tag are:
It can be read at distances of one hundred feet or more, greatly improving the utility of the device
It may have other sensors that can use electricity for power.
The problems and disadvantages of an active RFID tag are:
The tag cannot function without battery power, which limits the lifetime of the tag.
The tag is typically more expensive, often costing $20 or more each
The tag is physically larger, which may limit applications.
The long-term maintenance costs for an active RFID tag can be greater than those of a passive tag if the batteries are replaced.
Battery outages in an active tag can result in expensive misreads.
Active RFID tags may have all or some of the following features:
longest communication range of any tag
the capability to perform independent monitoring and control
the capability of initiating communications
the capability of performing diagnostics
the highest data bandwidth
active rfid tags may even be equipped withautonomous networking; the tags autonomously determine the best communication path.
Compare to passive tag (or passive rfid tag).
(go to RFID articles)
Index of related articles:
Active Tag (Active RFID Tag)
Amplitude Modulation (AM)
Antenna (RFID Tag Antenna)
Anti-collision
Back scatter (RFID back scatter)
Bi-directional
Contactless smart card
Chipless RFID tag
Contactless Credit Cards
Closed Systems (or Closed Loop Systems)
Code plate (RFID code plate)
Continuous Wave (CM)
Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)
Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS)
Electronic Product Code (EPC)
Error Correcting Code (ECC)
Error Correcting Mode
Error Correcting Protocol
Excite
Factory Programming
Field Programming
Frequency Modulation (FM)
Frequency Shift Keyed Modulation (FSKM)
Frequency Hopping
Harvest
Inductive Coupling
Modulation
Passive RFID Tag (or Passive Tag)
Phase Modulation (PM)
Pulse Duration
RF Fibers
RFID Reader
RFID Tag Collision
RFID tag
Smart label (RFID Smart Label)
RFID Reader Collision
Smart cards
Transponder for RFID