B.4. Inlet ConversionThis step converts an inlet into a form that is usable and/or customized to specific ruggedness requirements. For example, the inlet could be sandwiched between two layers of paper or plastic to form a smart label. The top layer might contain areas for printing the sender and recipient addresses, the item bar code, a short textual description of the item, and so on. The bottom layer could consist of an adhesive backing that could be used to attach the label to an item. Alternatively, the inlet can be housed inside a glass capsule, plastic molding, or some other usable form. After this stage, another round of contactless testing is generally performed for quality assurance. The defective tags are discarded. Tag converter companies can convert an inlet into a desired usable form. At this point, the tag is ready to be used by a customer. Figure B-1 shows the typical tag-manufacturing process. Figure B-1. A typical tag manufacturing process. |