How to Improve RFID Labels Read Rate?

Understand RFID labels

When it comes to the application of RFID labels, there are inevitably some issues with reading distance, such as single RFID labels or reading multiple RFID labels at the same time. Most of them can be read, but there may be a small part that cannot. To solve these problems, we need to make adjustments through technical support.

Problem: When a large number of tags need to be read at the same time, such as inventory of warehouse goods, inventory of library collections, and reading dozens or even hundreds of goods labels on logistics conveyors or pallets, it is generally used Ultra-high frequency RFID because it has a farther reading distance and a wider range of radio wave scanning. Therefore, in the logistics and supply chain fields, ultra-high frequency RFID technology is selected. As a result, the author will further elaborate on the issue of read rate for ultra-high frequency RFID.

How to improve the read rate of RFID labels?

If you want to improve the read rate of multiple RFID labels, you need to start with the reading principle. When multiple RFID labels are read, the reader first performs a query, and then the tags respond to the query in turn. If multiple tags respond at the same time during the reading process, the reader will query again, and the tagged tag will be marked as “hibernating” to prevent it from being read again. Like this, the reader and tag perform high-speed data exchange processing, and this process is called congestion control and anti-collision.

To improve the read rate of multiple RFID labels, you can expand the reading range and extend the reading time, and you can also increase the number of information exchanges between the tag and reader. In addition, the high-speed communication method between the reader and tag can also improve the read rate.

However, in real-world scenarios, the situation is too complicated. For example, if metal goods are loaded in the goods, it may cause tags to be unable to read at one angle. Therefore, the direction of the antenna and the placement position of the goods are very important factors that need to be reasonably designed so that the reader can read the tags from all angles as much as possible. Moreover, even if all the work is done well, other unexpected situations may occur, such as electronic tags may be damaged themselves.

What are the factors that affect the read rate of ultra-high frequency RFID labels?

In addition to the reading distance and scanning direction mentioned above, the read rate will be affected by many other factors. For example, the speed of goods movement at the entrance and exit, the communication speed between the tag and reader, the material of the goods and outer packaging stickers, the placement of goods, the temperature and humidity of the environment, the height of the ceiling, and the influence between readers and readers, etc.