RFID Journal Staff asked 10 years ago Which individual first came up with the idea of radio frequency identification
—Name withheld
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It would be difficult to identify any one person as having invented radio frequency identification technology. The concept of sending a signal to a device and receiving a response dates back to the invention of radar during the Second World War. The British developed the "friend or foe" system to be able to determine if an aircraft was an enemy bomber or a British plane returning from a mission over Europe. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, with the advent of the microchip, businesses began looking into how to apply the technology to small integrated circuits.
One of the earliest patents was awarded to Mario Cardullo in 1970 (see Genesis of the Versatile RFID Tag). However, some say Charles Walton was awarded the first patent (see When Was RFID Technology Invented?). There might be earlier patents in Europe as well. In any case, RFID evolved through innovations by several people and companies over time, and was not the brainchild of a single individual.
—Mark Roberti, Founder and Editor, RFID Journal
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