Comparison of radio frequency identification technology and bar code

Why is RF technology superior to bar codes?

Radio frequency technology is not necessarily "better" than barcodes. They are two different technologies, have different scopes of application, and sometimes overlap. The biggest difference between the two is that the barcode is a "visual technology". The scanner works under the guidance of a person and can only receive barcodes within its field of view. In contrast, RFID does not require seeing the target. The radio frequency tag can be read as long as it is within the range of the receiver. The barcode itself has other disadvantages. If the label is scratched, contaminated, or comes off, the scanner cannot recognize the target. Barcodes can only identify producers and products, and cannot identify specific products. The barcodes attached to all the same product packaging are the same, and it is impossible to identify which products expire first.

What is the difference between RF technology and barcode?

Conceptually, the two are very similar, the purpose is to quickly and accurately confirm the tracking target object. The main differences are as follows: the ability to write information or update memory. The barcode memory cannot be changed. The radio frequency tag is not like a bar code, and its unique identifier cannot be copied. The role of the label is not limited to the field of vision, because the information is transmitted by radio waves, and the bar code must be in the field of vision. Due to the low cost of bar codes and the well-established standard system that has been distributed worldwide, it has been generally accepted. Overall, RF technology is limited to a limited market share. At present, a variety of barcode control templates are already in use, and there are different standards for radio frequency in obtaining information channels.

At present, in terms of cost, what is the difference between a label and a barcode?

Due to the different components, smart tags are much more expensive than barcodes. The cost of barcodes is the cost of barcode paper and ink. The price of active RF tags with memory chips is more than $ 2, and the cost of passive RF tags is also more than $ 1. However, the price of a label without a built-in chip is only a few cents. It can be used in situations where the requirements for data information are not so high, and at the same time it has an anti-counterfeiting function that the barcode does not have.