RFID system components
Inlay
The silicon IC must be attached to a small antenna (often made from aluminium or copper), which is used to transmit and receive information wirelessly. The antenna and IC are usually mounted on a thin plastic substrate to form an inlay.
Although an inlay is fully functional, it is unlikely to survive typical operational conditions because of its flexibility and susceptibility to mechanical stresses and physical impacts. Inlay vendors include global manufacturers of paper and office products such as Avery Dennison and UPM Raflatac, together with smaller niche vendors (eg KSW and Alien).
Tag
A tag is an inlay packaged in plastic or other materials to provide physical protection, together with a convenient means of mounting and securing it on individual assets (such as a plastic crate, roll cage, pallet etc). Tags are usually designed for specific applications by system integrators. |
