RFID is radio frequency identification technology, also known as electronic tags and radio frequency identification. It is a communication technology that can identify specific targets and read and write related data through radio signals without the need to establish mechanical or optical contact between the identification system and specific targets. RFID has developed into a truly mass-market technology. For printing companies, the technical issue is how to integrate the sending device into their products, and what ideas can interest their users.
? ? What is RFID technology
? ? Initially in the technical field, a transponder refers to an electronic module capable of transmitting information and replying to information. In recent years, due to the rapid development of radio frequency technology, the transponder has a new meaning and meaning, and is also called a smart tag or label. The reader (reader) of the RFID electronic elevator qualification certificate performs wireless communication with the RFID electronic tag through the antenna, and can realize the reading or writing operation of the tag identification code and the memory data. A typical reader contains a high-frequency module (transmitter and receiver), a control unit, and a reader antenna. RFID radio frequency identification is a non-contact automatic identification technology. It automatically recognizes target objects and obtains related data through radio frequency signals. The identification work does not need manual intervention and can work in various harsh environments. RFID technology can identify high-speed moving objects and identify multiple tags at the same time, which is fast and convenient to operate. RFID is a simple wireless system with only two basic devices. This system is used to control, detect and track objects. The system consists of an interrogator (or reader) and many transponders (or tags).
? ? Relationship with printing
? ? After the relationship between RFID and printing has been set, the next step is how to popularize RFID. Cost has always been one of the main reasons hindering the popularization of RFID. Printing is more important than traditional copper corrosion methods. Fast and lower cost, so printing antennas onto RFID is a cost-effective and efficient way. Some RFID market providers already expect that screen printing will enable RFID antennas to print at speeds exceeding 50,000 per hour. -80,000 to meet the huge demand that comes with it. The biggest advantage of screen printing is that as long as the difference between the mesh and the template is used, different ink materials can be used to print the desired product, that is, the inks used can be very diverse, and among them the most important for RFID What is helpful is the so-called conductive ink. As far as printed materials are concerned, if printing is used, the antenna can be printed on a variety of label materials, including polyester, PVC and even paper. In the process of printing the antenna, as long as the required antenna shape is printed on the printed object, there is no need to destroy the printed object itself like the traditional etching method, which not only saves many costs, but also reduces chemical Waste and pollution, further explained that printing can make the antenna itself more automated. By combining with other printing units, strengthening the label and microchip's automatic devices, this can make the RFID manufacturing process faster. .
? ? Conductive inks play a very important role in printing RFID antennas. Usually these inks include silver or carbon. In recent years, many RFID tag manufacturers have been testing the feasibility of conductive polymers for printing. Common conductive inks use silver and carbon to form PTF pastes. PTFs are most commonly used on printed circuit boards. Because SilverPTF has a low resistivity, it is the best printing system for RFID tags. In addition, there are PTFs formed using copper, but because copper oxidizes very quickly, it is not suitable for RFID. Due to the above advantages of printing, coupled with the rapid development of RFID, printing RFID antennas will bring another new wave of business opportunities to the printing industry. The most obvious example is that RFID will replace the original barcode. Barcode labels were originally a major branch of the packaging and printing industry. After the use of RFID labels, printing has another new task-printing its antenna with conductive ink. Cost has always been a big resistance in the promotion of RFID tags. At present, the cost of RFID tags is between about 3 to 6 US dollars. Of course, there is no problem for valuable goods, but it is not feasible for low-priced products. The use of conductive ink to print RFID tag antennas or lines is not only highly efficient, but also an effective way to reduce costs, and also reduces the pollution of a large amount of copper and corrosion solution.
? ? RFID label printing
? ? The advent of RFID tags has brought higher gold content to label printing. Because the chip layer can be encapsulated and printed with paper, PE, PET or even textiles, it can be made into stickers, paper cards, tags or other types of labels. The chip is the key to the RFID tag. Because of its special structure, it cannot withstand the pressure of the printing machine. Therefore, it is generally used to print the surface layer, and then compound and die-cut the chip layer.