This shows the operation of an RFID system and how a passive tag gets its energy. The three main components of an RFID system are the reader, the antenna and the tag itself. When the reader is instructed to interrogate a tag, it turns on its transmitter which sends a powerful signal to the tag. The tag then uses the RF field energy to respond to the reader's commands. All Texas Instruments' tags are passive which means there is no battery to replace or maintain. They are totally inactive until powered by the reader’s RF field.