Barcodes and RFID

Question 1

What does an RFID tag do?

Answer 1

It allows data to be transmitted wirelessly over radio waves.

Question 2

What are the two parts of an RFID system?

Answer 2

a tag and a reader.

Question 3

What are RFID tags made of?

Answer 3

• An antenna for transmitting and receiving signal
• A chip for processing signals
• A battery for active systems

Question 4

Name some examples of RFID tags being used

Answer 4

• Student ID cards for security
• Library cards
• Production lines and warehouses
• Farm animals and pets

Question 5

What is the range of a passive RFID tag?

Answer 5

Around 1 meter

Question 6

What is the range of an active RFID tag?

Answer 6

Around 200 meters

Question 7

How are barcodes written?

Answer 7

Every digit is represented by 7 bars coloured black or white. Sometimes checksums are included in the barcode for validation.

Question 8

How are barcodes read?

Answer 8

a light from a laser illuminates the barcode. More light is reflected from the white areas than from the black bars. The reflected light is captured by photoelectric cells that generate a set of electrical pulses that correspond to the black and white stripes in the barcode. These pulses are processed and converted to a binary number that represents the code.

Question 9

How are QR codes read?

Answer 9

QR codes are read by taking an image of the QR code, either with a dedicated scanner, or by using a camera and app on a mobile device.

Question 10

Name some examples of barcodes being used

Answer 10

• Warehouses to track inventory

- Retail to scan products as part of the purchase process