RFID tags

Electronic technology is a method of converting designs or images into printed layouts, which is widely used in the fields of publishing, printing, and post-press processing. With the continuous development of computer technology, electronic technology is also becoming more and more mature. It not only improves the accuracy and speed of plate making, but also improves production efficiency and reduces production costs. With the rapid development of the Internet of Things and intelligent transportation, RFID technology has also been widely applied in various fields. As an important information carrier, studying the production process of RFID electronic tags is of great significance for improving tag performance and reducing production costs.

The Development History of RFID Electronic Labels

The development of RFID electronic tags has gone through the following stages:

(1) Initial stage. In the early 1990s, RFID technology began to be applied, but at that time, RFID electronic label production technology was not mature enough, mainly relying on manual labeling and other methods.

(2) Development period. In the late 1990s, with the continuous development and gradual popularization of RFID technology, RFID electronic label production technology began to develop rapidly, and specialized label printing equipment emerged.

(3) Maturity period. After entering the 21st century, RFID technology has been widely applied, and RFID electronic tag technology is gradually maturing, starting to be mass-produced.

(4) Innovation period. With the continuous progress and innovation of RFID technology, RFID electronic tag technology is also constantly improving and upgrading, such as nanoprinting, laser punching, gravure printing, etc., which are gradually being applied in the production process of RFID electronic tags.
The working principle of RFID electronic tags

RFID electronic tag technology is a technology that utilizes radio waves for automatic identification and tracking. In the production process, it is necessary to use RFID electronic tag readers to convert designs or images into RFID electronic tags. RFID electronic tags typically consist of chips and antennas. The chip stores label information, while the antenna is used to receive and send signals. When RFID electronic tags pass through the reader, the reader will emit radio waves, which will be reflected by the RFID electronic tag and transmit information to the reader. The reader can read and write tag information to achieve automatic recognition and tracking. As shown in the figure.

Overview of RFID electronic tags

At present, RFID technology has developed from low frequency to high frequency and ultra-high frequency, improving reading distance and data transmission speed. At the same time, RFID electronic tag production technology has also been integrated with other technologies, such as the Internet of Things and big data. By utilizing IoT technology, it is possible to monitor the location and status of items in real-time, and make intelligent decisions and optimizations; By utilizing big data technology, a large amount of data can be analyzed to improve efficiency and accuracy.

1. Specific steps for producing RFID electronic tags

The production process of RFID electronic tags includes the following steps: (1) selecting suitable RFID chips and antennas, which is the core step of RFID electronic tag production; (2) Printing chips, antennas, and other information on label substrates can be done using a label printing machine; (3) Attach the printed label to the surface of the managed item; (4) Program the tag, set the tag's ID, store data, read and write permissions, and other information; (5) Use an RFID reader to test the reading of tags and check if they can be read properly.

2. Selection of RFID electronic tag materials

The materials for RFID electronic tags mainly include polyester film, copper foil, conductive adhesive, etc. Among them, polyester film has good flexibility and is suitable for labels of various shapes; Copper foil has good conductivity and corrosion resistance, making it a key material for achieving high-frequency reading and writing of RFID electronic tags; Conductive adhesive is used to connect copper foil and polyester film together, forming a good conductive path.

When selecting materials for RFID electronic tags, it is necessary to comprehensively consider factors such as material conductivity, flexibility, and cost. Generally speaking, materials with good conductivity can improve the reading and writing performance of labels, but the cost is also relatively high; Materials with good flexibility are suitable for making labels with complex shapes, but their conductivity is poor. Therefore, when selecting materials, it is necessary to weigh them according to specific application scenarios.

3. Optimization of RFID electronic tag technology

The RFID electronic tag process mainly includes steps such as design, photolithography, etching, electroplating, etc. In order to improve production efficiency and reduce costs, existing processes can be optimized. For example, using computer-aided design software (CAD) for rapid design can reduce design errors and repetitive labor; Using a lithography machine for high-speed lithography can improve production efficiency; Using low-cost materials for etching and electroplating can reduce production costs.

4. Problems in the production process of RFID electronic tags

At present, the production of RFID electronic tags faces problems such as high manufacturing costs and environmental pollution. RFID electronic tags are relatively expensive compared to ordinary barcode tags, several tens of times more expensive than ordinary barcode tags. Meanwhile, traditional RFID electronic tags require chemical reagents for etching during the production process, which poses environmental pollution issues.

5. Improvement of RFID electronic label printing quality

The use of printing technology to prepare RFID electronic tags can solve the problems of high cost and environmental pollution mentioned above, and the quality of printing is an important factor affecting the performance of RFID electronic tags. In order to improve printing quality, improvements can be made in the following areas:

(1) Optimize printing parameters, such as adjusting oil

The application of RFID electronic tags

At present, RFID electronic tags are widely used in various fields such as production, logistics, and transportation.

(1) Production line management. RFID electronic tags can conveniently and accurately record process information and process operation information, meeting the needs of flexible production. The recording of labor number, time, operation, and quality inspection results can fully achieve traceability in production and avoid errors caused by human factors during the production process.

(2) Warehouse management. RFID electronic tags can effectively solve the information management of warehouse goods, enabling real-time understanding of the location and storage situation of goods. They play an important role in improving warehouse efficiency and guiding production.

(3) Valuable item management. RFID electronic tags can be used for anti-theft, settlement, and after-sales guarantee of valuable items such as cameras, cameras, portable computers, CD players, jewelry, etc. A specialized shelf scanner will scan the goods in real-time and obtain real-time cargo records.

(4) Book and rental product management. Sticking RFID electronic tags on books can conveniently receive book information, eliminating the need to move books when organizing them, improving work efficiency and avoiding work errors.

(5) Product anti-counterfeiting. The RFID electronic tag exclusive to the product can record all information of the product from the source manufacturer to the sales terminal. The unique code in the electronic tag, the difficulty of counterfeiting the electronic tag, and the automatic detection characteristics of the electronic tag make the electronic tag have product anti-counterfeiting and anti-theft functions. The use of RFID electronic tags on the product can also play a role in brand protection, and can be widely used in identity recognition fields such as drugs, access control, and tickets.

The Future Development Trends of RFID Electronic Labels

With the increasingly widespread application of RFID electronic tags, RFID electronic tags will also develop in the following directions:

1. High precision

With the development of the printing industry, the quality requirements for printed materials are becoming increasingly high. In the future, RFID electronic tags will also develop towards high precision, generating higher quality printing layouts.

2. Quickening

With the increasing demand for production efficiency, the production speed of RFID electronic tags is also required to be faster. In the future, RFID electronic tags will develop towards speed, further improving production speed and efficiency.

3. Intelligence

With the development of artificial intelligence technology, RFID electronic tags will move towards intelligence. In the future, artificial intelligence technology can be used to automatically recognize, process, and optimize designs or images, and generate high-quality printing layouts. With the continuous upgrading and improvement of RFID technology, the production of RFID electronic tags will become more intelligent in the future, achieving higher levels of automation and intelligence.

4. Digitization

With the development of digital technology, RFID electronic tags will move towards digitalization. In the future, digital technology can be used to achieve fully digitized, automated, and intelligent production processes.

5. Low cost

With the advancement of technology and the expansion of applications, the production cost of RFID electronic tags will continue to decrease, and more and more enterprises and institutions are starting to apply RFID technology.

6. Efficiency

With the continuous development of RFID technology, the reading speed and data transmission speed are constantly improving, which can achieve more efficient item recognition and tracking.

7. Multi application

With the continuous development of RFID technology and the expansion of application areas, RFID electronic tags will be applied in more fields in the future, achieving more applications.

In short, with the continuous progress of technology and the expansion of application areas, RFID electronic tags will develop towards low-cost, efficient, intelligent, and multi application directions, providing more efficient, accurate, and intelligent support for the development of various fields.