What is an RFID Reader?
An RFID reader is a device that emits radio frequency signals to detect tags and collect data from them. When a tag is in range of the reader, the signal energises it and reads information stored on its chip.
The RFID reader/router developed can achieve a maximum packet loss rate of 3% at a transmission distance of 80-100 m outdoors and 30-50 m indoors.
Optical Readers
Optical data readers are light-sensitive input devices that read characters, marks, and codes and convert them into digital information that the computer can process. The most common type of optical reader is a bar code scanner, which uses laser beams to read a series of identification codes consisting of vertical lines and spaces of different widths printed on products and labels. A similar device, called a magnetic-ink character recognition (MICR) reader, can detect characters written with magnetized ink.
Another type of optical reader is an Optical Mark Reading (OMR) device, which recognizes pencil or pen marks on paper forms such as tests, election ballots, or company shareholding cards, and turns them into data in a computer system. OMR can be useful if large quantities of data need to be scanned simultaneously, such as multiple choice questions on test papers or tick list prompts in surveys.
A third optical data reader is a voice-generation optical character recognition (OCR) reader, which uses the scanned image of a text document to produce a computer-generated audio file that can be played back over a speaker. This technology is particularly helpful for blind people or those with poor vision, as it allows them to use a computer without needing to physically read the screen. Some mobile telephones now include this feature as well.
Fixed Readers
Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is becoming more widely used in businesses to help with inventory management. RFID readers are one of the key components for this technology and it’s important to understand how they work and their types so you can get the best reader for your business.
Fixed RFID readers are permanently installed in a given location and require a power source and network connection. They’re ideal for non-mobile applications in warehouses, distribution centers, retail, manufacturing and other industrial environments. Fixed readers are constantly monitoring their surroundings and can detect any RFID tagged item within range. This gives them the ability to provide more extensive data collection and enables businesses to automate many processes, such as tracking or replenishing items.
A fixed RFID reader has three main parts: an antenna, a transceiver and a processor. The antenna sends out radio waves to look for the response of any tagged items. The transceiver converts the signals into data and the processor interprets that information to make it useful. This processed Epoxy Card information can then be transmitted to a system to track the tag and item.
Another advantage of using a fixed RFID reader is that it can easily read multiple tags simultaneously, even when they’re close together or behind each other. This is an advantage over other systems like barcode scanners that require line of RFID Reader sight and can only scan a single label at a time.
Mobile Readers
When a reader is within range of a tag, it transmits a signal that the tag then reads. The signal contains information about the tag, including its unique identification number and other data. The RFID reader can distinguish between several tags with the same serial numbers based on their responses to interrogation (which vary according to the communication protocol used).
Mobile readers can be used in many different environments, from oil rigs to livestock farms. They’re commonly seen on security badges, as they can help identify personnel quickly and reliably. Veterinarians and animal control workers use them to identify and update information on animals. And toll roads rely on them for electronic toll collection.
The wireless signal transmitted by an RFID reader powers the IC on the tagged item. The IC stores and broadcasts the tag’s data to the reader, which interprets it. RFID readers typically operate in three formats: portal, handheld and mounted.
Mobile readers work on a battery-operated power supply and connect to a tablet or smartphone. This makes them convenient for on-the-go businesses like food trucks, market vendors or service providers who visit customers at their location. They’re also popular with businesses that want to provide an enhanced customer experience by offering more payment options on-the-spot. These devices can be purchased with mPOS software that helps businesses manage inventory, payment statistics and other data.
Multiplexers
In electronic circuits, a multiplexer is a combinational switch that selects one of several input signals to be transferred to the output. It can be used to combine digital or analog signal inputs into a single output signal. Multiplexers are among the most common component in digital system designs. They are also often referred to as muxes.
In a basic multiplexer there are multiple data input pins and a single output pin. A control signal selects which input will be connected to the output pin, depending on whether the select signal is high or low. If the select signal is low, the output will be connected to the D0 input, and if the select signal is high, the output will be connected to the D1 input.
Multiplexers can be arranged in a variety of ways, using sum-of-products logic, tristates and other combinational circuits. A simple example of a 4:1 multiplexer can be constructed from four 2:1 multiplexers, each with two inputs and one output (Y).
Several important considerations are involved in the design of multiplexers, such as the break-before-make time, the make-before-break time, and the propagation delay through the switch. These factors can affect the dynamic characteristics of the multiplexer, including channel-to-channel crosstalk and output-to-input skew.