RFID Technology An Introduction

1
RFID TechnologyAn Introduction
2
Outline

• What is RFID
• RFID timeline
• The RFID system
• Technical issues
• Benefits and tradeoffs
• Some Applications

3
What is RFID

• Radio Frequency Identification
• Use of radio frequency (air interface) for
  automatic identification in proximity
• An identification technology
• Bar coding
• Magnetic stripe
• Old technology
• new innovations
• new applications

4
Timeline

• 1940s Radar refined and used RFID invented in
  1948
• 1950s Early exploration of RFID
• 1960s Development of the theory of RFID field
  trials
• 1970s Explosion of RFID development and early
  adoption
• 1980s Commercial applications enter mainstream
• 1990s Emergence of standards RFID widely
  deployed
• 2000s Over 350 direct reference patents vast
  number of suppliers

SOURCE Landt Jeremy. Shrouds of time AIM 2001
5
The RFID system

• Main Components
• A reader (interrogator) with an antenna and an
  external interface (e.g. to a computer)
• A transponder (tag) with a chip and an antenna

(also called as an Interrogator)
6
How does it works

• Reader gets and executes commands from the
  back-end system
• Reader emits radio frequency (RF) waves via its
  antenna
• Waves travel through air and energize a passive
  transponder
• Tag responds and transmits data signal via its
  antenna
• Reader captures the tag data signal
• Reader processes data signal
• Reader delivers the processed information to the
  back-end system

7
RFID tags

• 2 common types

8
RFID tags cont

• Made up of three parts
• Chip with memory that holds the intended
  information
• Antenna which is used to transmit information or
  in passive tags to harvest power
• Packaging which encases the chip and the antenna
• Memory configuration
• Read-only (RO)
• Write-once-read-many (WORM)
• Read-write (R/W)

9
RFID Tags
Construction
10
RFID UHF Tags
ALL-9238 tagSquiggleT antenna design
Approximate Size 95mm x 10mm Small UHF form
factor
ALL-9250 tag I2 antenna design Approximate
Size 134mm x 13mm high gain in a controlled
orientation
ALL-9254 tagM antenna designApproximate Size
95mm x 30mmVery high gain
source www.alientechnology.com/
11
EPC RFID Classes

• Class 0 Tags Read Only E.g Matric
• Class 1 Tags WORM E.g Alien
• Class 0 - Read/Write E.g Matrics Impinj
• Class 2 Read/Write
• Class 3 Semi active with sensors E.g Alien
  Powerpaper(EM)
• Class 4 Active Tag

12
RFID tags cont

• Size of the silicon chip is small
• Size and design of the antenna depend on the
  required performance

SOURCE Alien Technology
SOURCE Matrics Technology
13
RFID System Frequencies

• Frequency bands used
• lt135KHz (low frequency LF)
• 13.56MHz (high frequency HF)
• 868MHz to 915MHz (Ultra-high frequency UHF)
• 2.45GHz 5.8GHz (microwave)

14
Low Frequency (LF) (135 KHz)

• Use inductive coupling
• Typically passive read-only or read-write
  transponders
• Requires a longer more expensive antenna
• Has shorter read ranges and typically larger
  transponder sizes than higher frequency ones
• The least susceptible to performance degradations
  from metals and liquid

15
High Frequency (HF) (13.56 MHz)

• Use inductive coupling
• Typically passive read-only read-write or WORM
  (write once read many) transponders
• Less expensive and smaller than LF transponders
• Lower data rates when compared with higher
  frequency ones
• Commonly used in contact-less smart cards
• Good penetration through non-conductive materials
  and nonconductive liquids

16
Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) (868 MHz and 915 MHz)

• Use far field coupling
• Active and passive read-only read-write or
  WORM transponders
• Longer read range (up to 5 meters) higher data
  transfer rate
• Less expensive than LF and HF transponders
• Good penetration through non-conductive materials
  and non-conductive liquids
• Provides a good balance between range and
  performance especially for multiple transponder
  reading

17
Microwave (2.45 GHz 5.8 GHz)

• Use far field coupling
• Active and passive read-only read-write or
  WORM transponders
• Similar characteristics to UHF transponders but
  with faster read rates
• Cost is often twice as much or more than lower
  frequencies
• Microwave heating on water
• Reflected by metals and other conductive
  surfaces offers the most directional signal
• Frequency used by other applications e.g. WiFi
  microwave oven

18
Operating range depends on reader power and
operating environment
19
RFID Frequency Comparison
20
(No Transcript)
21
Benefits of RFID

• Technical Features
• No line of sight from a distance of varying
  orientation
• Read and write capabilities change data at any
  time and data capacity is higher
• Reusable
• Multiple tags can be read in fast succession
• Embeddable into any non-metallic product opaque
  is ok

22
Benefits of RFID

• Business Perspective
• Reduction of direct labor data capturing
  without human interaction
• Protection of assets brand protection
  authentication
• Single identifiable track-and-trace in real-time
• Inventory costs savings
• Follow the leaders
• Mandate (e.g Wal-Mart DOD Tesco Metro)

23
Drawbacks of using RFID

• Unregulated Operates in the ISM1 (industrial
  scientific and medical) band that requires no
  operators license.
• Security Tag signals can be read by any
  equipment within range
• Interference occurs when more than one reader is
  transmitting (partitioning is then required)
• Interference occurs when more than one tag is
  responding (anti-collision mechanism is needed)
• Privacy track and trace capability

1. http//www.itu.int/ITU-R/terrestrial/pub-reg/fa
q/index.htmlg013
24
Factors that affect operating distance

• The radio frequency used
• Power emitted by the reader
• The working environment
• Sources of radio interference

25
RFID Constraints
Metal Interference
Metal heavily influences LF and HF systems. The
reflected induction field reduces the
transmitting fields power. Near the surface
there is no signal at all. Also with HF Systems
the antenna will run out of tune due to metal
influence.
UHF waves cant penetrate metal and will be
reflected as well but the interferences can be
mastered. Active and semi-active systems are not
affected.
Source Sato
26
RFID Constraints
Water Interference
Water has only a small influence on LF and HF
systems but a heavy influence on UHF
systems. The RF-wave makes the waters molecular
structure oscillate. This creates heat
energy. The microwave!
Source Sato
27
RFID System Considerations

• Determine the required read distance
• Select a suitable tag antenna design for the
  specific application
• Select a suitable system frequency
• Follow standards and government regulations
• For multiple tag reading in same field select a
  suitable reader with anti-collision
• Select a suitable reader antenna arrangement for
  orientation sensitive applications
• A hardware setup can be affected by the working
  environment

28
RFID why not now
Varying standards incompatibility costs
cross-border
Source SATO
29
Different UHF ISM bands cross-border issue
EU Countries 125KHz 13.56MHz 868-870MHz
US Canada 125KHz 13.56MHz 902-928MHz
Japan 125KHz 13.56MHz 950-956MHz
30
Applications

• Inventory control
• Theft prevention (EAS)
• Track and trace of products (in food and
  pharmaceutical industries)
• Express checkout
• Smart cards
• People tracking (RFID tag implant)

31
RFID Applications

• Tracking animals/fish
• RFID ear tags for cattle.
• RFID under-skin smart tags are being used for
  horses or pets.
• In Singapore SANC pioneered the application of
  RFID tags incorporating EAN-128 system to
  identify the endangered Arowana Fish.

Source Sato
32

standalone systems of each partner
reactiveness is limited


ERP



ERP
ERP

(Reuse)/ (Recycle)
ERP
/

/
()

33
RFID Application
34
Other Possible Implementations

• Sewing RFID tags directly into fabric fibers in
  the clothing industry
• Protecting sensitive documents (US passports will
  have RFID tags from 2005 onwards)
• Counterfeit control1
• Baggage trackers2

• www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtmlar
  ticleID18311407
• www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2004-04-19-high-tech-
  bag-tracking_x.htm

35
Other Possible Implementations
36
EPC Global

• EPCglobal is leading the development of
  industry-driven standards for the Electronic
  Product Code (EPC) to support the use of Radio
  Frequency Identification (RFID) in todays
  fast-moving information rich trading networks.
  We are a member-driven organisation comprised of
  leading firms and industries focused on creating
  global standards for the EPCglobal Network.
• EPC Standards
• EPCglobal Network

http//www.epcglobalinc.org See the Video The
Basics of RFID and EPC
37
EPC Global Specifications
EPC Tag Data Standards Specific encoding
schemes for a serialized version of the EAN.UCC
Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) the EAN.UCC
Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC) the
EAN.UCC Global Location Number (GLN) the
EAN.UCC Global Returnable Asset Identifier
(GRAI) the EAN.UCC Global Individual Asset
Identifier (GIAI) and a General Identifier
(GID). UHF Class 0 Specifications Communications
interface and protocol for 900 MHz Class 0 UHF
Class 1 Specifications Communications interface
and protocol for 860 - 930 MHz Class 1 HF Class 1
Specifications Communications interface and
protocol for 13.56 MHz Class 1 Reader Protocol
Communications messaging and protocol between
tag readers and EPC compliant software
applications Savant Specification
Specifications for services Savant performs for
application requests within the EPCglobal
Network Object Name Service Specification
Specifications for how the ONS is used to
retrieve information associated with
a Electronic Product Code (EPC) Physical Markup
Language Core Specification Specifications for a
common vocabulary set to be used within the EPC
global Network to provide a standardized format
for data captured by readers
38
EPC (Electronic Product Code)96-bits
e.g. Manufacturer 28 bits (gt268 million)
e.g. Product 24 bits (gt 16 million)
e.g. Serial Number 36 bits (gt 68 billion)
39
Conclusion

• RFID can be used for a wide range of applications
• RFID is one of many established information
  technologies that are making life safer easier
• Consumers benefit from better services based on
  their behavior desires and needs
• Standardization will drive the adoption rate in
  the near future
• Wider adoption will be expected if issues like
  tag price consumer privacy are solved

40
Parties in RFID-Driven Business Chains
CX Cargo
Tradelink Regulatory Agents
AAT/Hactl
LSP - air
LSP - road
XYZ An International Apparel Corporation
SML Group RFID-Label Provider
LSP-VMI - Kerry
Consumers
41
(No Transcript)
42
Notifying Tag Information
43
(No Transcript)
44
(No Transcript)