TABLE OF CONTENTS

No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. DEFINITION FUNCTION

Content

Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

OPERATION/RESPONSIBILITY SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES RELATED INFORMATION CONCLUSION REFERENCE

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 DEFINITION

RFID Reader

RFID reader is a transmitter and receiver that read the contents of RFID tags in the vicinity. It also called an RFID interrogator. The maximum distance between the reader's antenna and the tag vary, depending on application. Credit cards and ID badges have to be brought fairly close to the readers, somewhat like bar codes. For other applications, passive RFID tags can be read up to approximately 10 feet away, while active tags with batteries can be several hundred feet from the reader.

Bar Code Reader

A barcode reader also known as barcode scanner is an electronic device for reading printed barcodes. Like a flatbed scanner, it consists of a light source, a lens and a light sensor translating optical impulses into electrical ones. Additionally, nearly all barcode readers contain decoder circuitry analyzing the barcodes image data provided by the sensor and sending the barcodes content to the scanners output port. There are five basic kinds of barcode readers, pen wands, slot scanners, Charge-Couple Device (CCD) scanners, image scanners and laser scanners.

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 FUNCTIONS

RFID Reader

An RFID reader functions is to interrogate RFID tags. The means of interrogation is wireless and because the distance is relatively short, line of sight between the reader and tags is not necessary. A reader contains an RF module which acts as both a transmitter and receiver of radio frequency signals. The transmitter consists of an oscillator to create the carrier

frequency, a modulator to impinge data commands upon this carrier signal and an amplifier to boost the signal enough to awaken the tag. The receiver has a demodulator to extract the returned data and also contains an amplifier to strengthen the signal for processing. A microprocessor forms the control unit which employs an operating system and memory to filter and store the data. The data is now ready to be sent to the network.

Bar Code Reader

A barcode reader (or barcode scanner) is an electronic device for reading printed barcodes. Like a flatbed scanner, it consists of a light source, a lens and a light sensor translating optical impulses into electrical ones. Additionally, nearly all barcode readers contain decoder circuitry analyzing the barcode's image data provided by the sensor and sending the barcode's content to the scanner's output port.

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 OPERATION/RESPONSIBILITY

RFID Reader

RFID belongs to a group of technologies referred to as Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC). AIDC methods automatically identify objects, collect data about them, and enter those data directly into computer systems with little or no human intervention. RFID methods utilize radio waves to accomplish this. At a simple level, RFID systems consist of three components: an RFID tag or smart label, an RFID reader, and an antenna. RFID tags contain an integrated circuit and antennas, which are used to transmit data to the RFID reader. The reader then converts the radio waves to a more usable form of data. Information collected from the tags is then transferred through a communications interface to a host computer system, where the data can be stored in a database and analyzed at a later time.

Bar Code Reader

Barcode scanners begin by illuminating the code with red light. The sensor of the barcode scanner detects the reflected light from the illumination system and generates an analog signal with varying voltage that represent the intensity (or lack of intensity) of the reflection. The converter changes the analog signal to a digital signal which is fed to the decoder. The decoder interprets the digital signal, does that math required to confirm and validate that the barcode is decipherable, converts it into ASCII text, formats the text and sends it to the computer the scanner is attached to.

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 SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES

Similarities

RFID Readers Using scanning method.

Bar Code Readers

RFID and Barcodes convey information, making them suitable for a variety of different environments. Intelligent behavior

Differences

RFID Readers Uses radio waves, which doesnt need line of sight, to get the data RFID scanners can process dozens in a single second More complex and secure

Bar Code Readers Uses a sensor and light to read the data on the tag Can only process tags one at a time

Really simple and can be easily replicated or counterfeited

RFID tags can be hidden to protect against the environment Substantial pricier

Barcodes need to be exposed

Very cheap

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 OTHER RELATED INFORMATION

The major disadvantages of both RFID and BAR CODES are as follows:

Presence of obstacles. A bar code reader cannot read a bar code if there is any obstacle between the reader and the bar code. An RFID reader, depending on its operating frequencies and other factors, such as power and duty cycle, might not be able to read a tag if there are any RF-opaque obstacles, such as metal or RF-absorbent material, such as water present between the reader and the tag.

Presence of moisture. For bar code readers, the light beam might be refracted by water particles suspended in the atmosphere, resulting in focus distortion. For RFID readers operating in UHF and microwave frequencies, water particles suspended in the atmosphere might absorb RF energy, resulting in insufficient energy reaching the tags for proper data transfer.

Speed. If the scan rate of a reader is exceeded by the speed of movement of the bar codes, a loss of reading accuracy, together with failure to read a bar code, might result. For RFID readers, if the speed of the tag is so great that the tag has insufficient time to optionally energize itself properly and transmit data back to the reader, a loss of reading accuracy, together with failure to read a tag, might result.

Extrinsic identification schemes. A bar code or an RFID has to be applied externally to an object; these are not part of the object's physical characteristics. Therefore, if such an object is mislabeled or miss-tagged, the object identity is in jeopardy. However, perhaps intrinsic properties could be used to uniquely identify an object. For example, a fingerprint or a retinal scan of a person can uniquely identify this person without any need to put an external identification scheme, such as a bar code or RFID tag, on the person.

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 CONCLUSION

A comparison to bar codes did not make RFID look as promising as the current hype makes it out to be. In fact, you might be wondering whether RFID is heading toward failure because it cannot replace bar codes. This is a completely incorrect opinion! Although it might be true that RFID will not replace bar codes, such a fact does not herald the demise of RFID technology. Why? Because there is life beyond bar codes! No law states that RFID must replace bar codes to be successful. An untold number of applications for which bar codes are totally out of context represent a wide opening for RFID. Examples of these applications include smart tags, anti-tampering tags, and tags to locate objects in real time; for these scenarios, RFID might just be the right technology.

The problem with the bar code versus RFID debate does not have to do with the technology, but with the misguided zeal to prove the superiority of RFID. Hype that one of the most prevalent technologies today will be defeated soon attempts to make people notice and accept RFID. As it turns out, however, such hype targets a competing technology that is hard to defeat with the current state of RFID technology.

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 REFERENCE

RFID Sourcebook CSC134 Computer and Information Processing Textbook Internet :http://www.rfidreader.com/ http://abrfid.wpengine.com/rfid-vs-barcodes/ http://www.ehow.com/facts_7470883_difference-between-rfid-barcode_.html http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Technology-Article.asp?ArtNum=60

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