Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

What is RFID? RFID is an ADC technology that uses radio-frequency waves to transfer data between a reader and a movable item to identify, categorize, track... RFID is fast, reliable, and does not require physical sight or contact between reader/scanner and the tagged item

RFID is an ADC technology that uses radio-frequency waves to transfer data between a reader and a movable item to identify, categorize, track...

RFID is fast, reliable, and does not require physical sight or contact between reader/scanner and the tagged item

What Constitutes an RFID System One or more RF tags Two or more antennas One or more interrogators One or more host computers

One or more RF tags

Two or more antennas

One or more interrogators

One or more host computers

RFID Primer RFID Diagram: Note: The host is the software database... Reader RF Module Antenna Host Computer

RFID Diagram:

RFID Primer RFID Diagram: Note: The Reader interprets radio frequency into digital information .…... Reader RF Module Antenna Host Computer

RFID Diagram:

RFID Primer Note: The RF module creates radio frequency (RF) . It receives and transmits RF through the antenna… Reader RF Module Antenna Host Computer

RFID Primer Note: Tag (transponder) is interrogated by the antenna.... Reader RF Module Tag Antenna Host Computer

RFID Primer Note: The antenna captures the tag ID number…first as analog RF waves, then it is converted to digital information. (Tag ID Communication) Reader RF Module Tag Antenna Host Computer

An RFID Tag Is A Portable Database …A sophisticated computing and communications device …A wireless extension of Information Systems Interrogation Unit Tx/Rx Micro Computer Computer Network Antenna Tag Radio Tx/Rx RAM ROM CPU I/O Pwr Supply Radio Tx/Rx RAM ROM CPU I/O Pwr Supply

…A sophisticated computing and communications device

…A wireless extension of Information Systems

What is RFID? -- The Tags Tags can be read-only or read-write Tag memory can be factory or field programmed, partitionable, and optionally permanently locked Bytes left unlocked can be rewritten over more than 100,000 times

Tags can be read-only or read-write

Tag memory can be factory or field programmed, partitionable, and optionally permanently locked

Bytes left unlocked can be rewritten over more than 100,000 times

What is RFID? -- The Tags Tags can be attached to almost anything: pallets or cases of product vehicles company assets or personnel items such as apparel, luggage, laundry people, livestock, or pets high value electronics such as computers, TVs, camcorders

Tags can be attached to almost anything:

pallets or cases of product

vehicles

company assets or personnel

items such as apparel, luggage, laundry

people, livestock, or pets

high value electronics such as computers, TVs, camcorders

Are All Tags The Same? Three Basic Types: Active Battery powered memory, radio & circuitry Tag transmits radio signal High Read Range (300 feet) Active Backscatter Battery powered memory and circuitry Tag reflects radio signal from reader Medium Read Range (10 - 50 feet) Passive Backscatter Reader powered Tag reflects radio signal from reader Shorter Read Range (4 inches - 15 feet)

Three Basic Types:

Active

Battery powered memory, radio & circuitry

Tag transmits radio signal

High Read Range (300 feet)

Active Backscatter

Battery powered memory and circuitry

Tag reflects radio signal from reader

Medium Read Range (10 - 50 feet)

Passive Backscatter

Reader powered

Tag reflects radio signal from reader

Shorter Read Range (4 inches - 15 feet)

Are All Tags The Same? Variations: Memory Size (16 bits - 512KBytes +) Read-Only, Read/Write or WORM Type: EEProm, Antifuse, FeRam Arbitration (Anti-collision) Ability to read/write one or many tags at a time Frequency 125KHz - 5.8 GHz Physical Dimensions Thumbnail to Brick sizes Price ($0.50 to $250)

Variations:

Memory

Size (16 bits - 512KBytes +)

Read-Only, Read/Write or WORM

Type: EEProm, Antifuse, FeRam

Arbitration (Anti-collision)

Ability to read/write one or many tags at a time

Frequency

125KHz - 5.8 GHz

Physical Dimensions

Thumbnail to Brick sizes

Price ($0.50 to $250)

Types of RF Tags Type Data Capacity Write/Read Program by Application EAS 1 bit read-only user Retail Security SAW 4 to 16 bits read-only manufacturer Inductive 2 to 32 bytes read-only manufacturer Modulated Backscatter 32 to 2K bytes write/read user (tag ID may be by manufacturer) Portable Data File Active/ Modulated Backscatter 32 to 2K bytes write/read Portable Data File 2K bytes to 16 Mbytes write/read interrogate/ modify/read Dynamic Data File Active user (tag ID may be by manufacturer) user (tag ID may be by manufacturer) License Plate Ignition Key Proprietary Technology

Types of Tags - Memory Segmentation Read Only (Factory Programmed) WORM - Write Once, Read Many times Reprogrammable (Field Programmable) Read/Write (In-Use Programmable)

Read Only (Factory Programmed)

WORM - Write Once, Read Many times

Reprogrammable (Field Programmable)

Read/Write (In-Use Programmable)

What is RFID? -- The Readers Readers (interrogators) can be at a fixed point such as Entrance/exit Point of sale Warehouse Readers can also be mobile -- tethered, hand-held, or wireless

Readers (interrogators) can be at a fixed point such as

Entrance/exit

Point of sale

Warehouse

Readers can also be mobile -- tethered, hand-held, or wireless

Transmission Modes Inductive (E-Field) Electromagnetic (H-Field) Narrowband Spread Spectrum Frequency Hopping Direct Sequence

Inductive (E-Field)

Electromagnetic (H-Field)

Narrowband

Spread Spectrum

Frequency Hopping

Direct Sequence

The Inventor of Spread Spectrum - Hedy Lamarr

??? 13.56 MHz 433 MHz 315 MHz 915 MHz 2.45 GHz 5.8 GHz 27.1 MHz 125 kHz

RFID Primer…Frequencies Inductive Magnetic Field Coupling: <150 kHz (125 kHz & 134 kHz) 10 kHz 100 kHz Low Freq. EAS Data Modem RFID: Access Control Animal ID

Inductive Magnetic

Field Coupling:

<150 kHz

(125 kHz & 134 kHz)

<150 kHz (125 kHz & 134 kHz ) Advantages Uses normal CMOS processing — basic and ubiquitous Relative freedom from regulatory limitations Well suited for applications requiring reading small amounts of data at slow speeds and minimal distances Penetrates materials well (water, tissue, wood, aluminum)

Advantages

Uses normal CMOS processing — basic and ubiquitous

Relative freedom from regulatory limitations

Well suited for applications requiring reading small amounts of data at slow speeds and minimal distances

Penetrates materials well (water, tissue, wood, aluminum)

Disadvantages: Does not penetrate or transmit around metals (iron, steel) Handles only small amounts of data Slow read speeds Large Antennas -- compared to higher frequencies Minimal Range <150 kHz (125 kHz & 134 kHz )

Disadvantages:

Does not penetrate or transmit around metals (iron, steel)

Handles only small amounts of data

Slow read speeds

Large Antennas -- compared to higher frequencies

Minimal Range

<150 KHz (125 KHz & 134 KHz) Disadvantages: Tag construction: is thicker (than 13.56 MHz) is more expensive (than 13.56 MHz) more complex (requires more turns of the induction coil)

Disadvantages:

Tag construction:

is thicker (than 13.56 MHz)

is more expensive (than 13.56 MHz)

more complex (requires more turns of the induction coil)

RFID Primer…Frequencies Inductive Magnetic Field Coupling: 13.56 MHz (Popular Smart Card Frequency) 1 MHz 10 MHz Mid. Freq. EAS AM CB RFID: Smart Cards

Inductive Magnetic

Field Coupling:

13.56 MHz

(Popular Smart Card

Frequency)

13.56 MHz Advantages Uses normal CMOS processing--basic and ubiquitous Well suited for applications requiring reading small amounts of data and minimal distances Penetrates water/tissue well Simpler antenna design (fewer turns of the coil); lower costs to build Higher data rate (than 125 kHz--but slower than higher MHz systems) Thinner tag construction (than 125 kHz)

Advantages

Uses normal CMOS processing--basic and ubiquitous

Well suited for applications requiring reading small amounts of data and minimal distances

Penetrates water/tissue well

Simpler antenna design (fewer turns of the coil); lower costs to build

Higher data rate (than 125 kHz--but slower than higher MHz systems)

Thinner tag construction (than 125 kHz)

13.56 MHz Disadvantages Government regulated frequency (U.S. versus Europe) Does not penetrate or transmit around metals (unless very thick) Large Antennas (compared to higher frequencies) Larger tag size than higher frequencies Tag construction: requires more than one surface to complete a circuit Minimal Range

Disadvantages

Government regulated frequency (U.S. versus Europe)

Does not penetrate or transmit around metals (unless very thick)

Large Antennas (compared to higher frequencies)

Larger tag size than higher frequencies

Tag construction: requires more than one surface to complete a circuit

Minimal Range

RFID Primer…Frequencies Electromagnetic Field Coupling: UHF >300 MHz <1 GHz (862-928 MHz ANSI MH10.8.4 & GTAG) 1000 MHz Cell Phone RFID: Toll Roads Data Terminal

Electromagnetic Field

Coupling: UHF

>300 MHz <1 GHz

(862-928 MHz

ANSI MH10.8.4 & GTAG)

>400 MHz <1GHz Advantages Effective around metals Best available frequency for distances of >1m Tag size smaller than 13.56 MHz Smaller antennas Range: licensed to 20-40' with reasonable sized tag (stamp to eraser size) Good non-line-of-sight communication (except for conductive, &quot;lossy&quot; materials) High data rate; Large amounts of Data Controlled read zone (through antenna directionality)

Advantages

Effective around metals

Best available frequency for distances of >1m

Tag size smaller than 13.56 MHz

Smaller antennas

Range: licensed to 20-40' with reasonable sized tag (stamp to eraser size)

Good non-line-of-sight communication (except for conductive, &quot;lossy&quot; materials)

High data rate; Large amounts of Data

Controlled read zone (through antenna directionality)

>400 MHz <1GHz Disadvantages Does not penetrate water/tissue Regulatory issues (not available in many countries) Regulatory issues in Europe (similar band ~869 MHz requires dual-freq chip) DSI III recommends 862 to 870 MHz in the EU, may not be available elsewhere

Disadvantages

Does not penetrate water/tissue

Regulatory issues (not available in many countries)

Regulatory issues in Europe (similar band ~869 MHz requires dual-freq chip)

DSI III recommends 862 to 870 MHz in the EU, may not be available elsewhere

RFID Primer…Frequencies Electromagnetic Field Coupling: 2.45 GHz RFID: Item Management Microwave EAS 2.45 GHz

Electromagnetic

Field Coupling:

2.45 GHz

2.45 GHz Advantages Tag size smaller than inductive or UHF (1&quot;x 1/4&quot;) Range: greater range than inductive w/o battery More bandwidth than UHF (more frequencies to hop) Smaller antennas than UHF or inductive High data rate

Advantages

Tag size smaller than inductive or UHF (1&quot;x 1/4&quot;)

Range: greater range than inductive w/o battery

More bandwidth than UHF (more frequencies to hop)

Smaller antennas than UHF or inductive

High data rate

2.45 GHz Advantages Good non-line-of-sight communication (except for conductive, &quot;lossy&quot; materials) Can store large amounts of Data Controlled read zone (through antenna directionality) Effective around metals with tuning/design adaptations

Advantages

Good non-line-of-sight communication (except for conductive, &quot;lossy&quot; materials)

Can store large amounts of Data

Controlled read zone (through antenna directionality)

Effective around metals with tuning/design adaptations

2.45 GHz Disadvantages More susceptible to electronic noise than UHF Shared spectrum with other technologies-- microwave ovens, RLANS, TV devices, etc. Requires non-interfering, &quot;good neighbor&quot; tactics like FHSS Competitive requirement: single chip--highly technical; limited number of vendors Regulatory approvals still &quot;in process&quot;

Disadvantages

More susceptible to electronic noise than UHF

Shared spectrum with other technologies--

microwave ovens, RLANS, TV devices, etc.

Requires non-interfering, &quot;good neighbor&quot; tactics like FHSS

Competitive requirement: single chip--highly technical; limited number of vendors

Regulatory approvals still &quot;in process&quot;

RFID Primer…Frequency >5.8 GHz (European Road Telematics Frequency) Advantages: Less congested band/less interference Disadvantages : Not available in U.S. or many other countries (5.9 now in FCC review) Must orient antennas carefully Range limited (due to scaling issues/wavelengths) Chip difficult to build Expensive RFID: European Tolls 300 GHz

>5.8 GHz

(European Road Telematics Frequency)

Advantages:

Less congested band/less interference

Disadvantages :

Not available in U.S. or many other countries (5.9 now in FCC review)

Must orient antennas carefully

Range limited (due to scaling issues/wavelengths)

Chip difficult to build

Expensive

Intelligent Labels

Label contains an RF tag in conjunction with a bar code label Interrogator reads the tag for information using RFID Interrogator may write new or additional information to tag if required How Does It Work?

Label contains an RF tag in conjunction with a bar code label

Interrogator reads the tag for information using RFID

Interrogator may write new or additional information to tag if required

The Data

The Label

UHF Tag Feature Set Low power > long range 1024 bit memory Read/write/lock on 8 bits Advanced protocol Efficient multi-id  Lock data permanently 12 ms/8 byte read  25ms/byte write Group select  Broadcast write 40 tags/second  Anti-collision

Low power > long range

1024 bit memory

Read/write/lock on 8 bits

Advanced protocol

Efficient multi-id  Lock data permanently

12 ms/8 byte read  25ms/byte write

Group select  Broadcast write

40 tags/second  Anti-collision

WG 8/TF 3 10 kb/s~ ~70 cm 13.56 MHz Vicinity (VICC) ISO15693 WG 8/TF 2 106 kb/s~ ~10 cm 13.56 MHz Proximity (PICC) ISO 14443 WG 8/TF 1 106 kb/s~ ~2 mm 4.91 MHz Close Coupling (CICC) ISO 10536 Remote Coupling Contactless IC Card WG 4 106 kb/s~ Contact 3.57 MHz IC Cards with Contacts ISO 7816 Integrated Circuit(s) Card ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 17 IC Card Classification (as of October, 2000) “ Standardization in the area of identification cards and related devices for use in inter-industry applications and international interchange.” This is interpreted to cover all standardization concerning personal identification and/or cards. ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 17

Standards ISO/IEC 15693 is an I.C. Card standard for 13.56 MHz, NOT an RFID standard The 13.56 MHz standard for RFID is ISO/IEC 18000, Part 3 .

ISO/IEC 15693 is an I.C. Card standard for 13.56 MHz, NOT an RFID standard

The 13.56 MHz standard for RFID is ISO/IEC 18000, Part 3 .

Instant Checkout…A Dream Come True?? “ Chip to remove shopping blues” — Post-Courier, January 1994 “ Tiny microchip identifies groceries in seconds.” — Chicago Tribune “ Checkout in one minute” — The Times, London “ Scanning range of four yards” — NY Times “ 1.5¢ electronic bar code announced” — San Francisco Chronicle

Typical RFID Applications Production Control Access Control Asset Protection Livestock Tracking Vehicle Identification Electronic Article Surveillance

Lads, Dads, & Granddads                                                        

Identify software requirements: Will the new RFID solution integrate with legacy system software and solutions Must new interface software be developed What type of data formats must be supported What communications protocols must be supported How must the current software change to accommodate the advantages of “write” technology? Build synergies by expanding software to add RFID capabilities to current solutions How to Evaluate Your Needs

Identify software requirements:

Will the new RFID solution integrate with legacy system software and solutions

Must new interface software be developed

What type of data formats must be supported

What communications protocols must be supported

How must the current software change to accommodate the advantages of “write” technology?

Build synergies by expanding software to add RFID capabilities to current solutions

How to Evaluate Your Needs Identify hardware requirements: What will be identified, tracked, located What read distance and field of view (FoV) is required How many tags in the FoV at the same time What amount and type of data will be stored Must data be updated Will tags be moving and how fast What are limits on tag size, shape, and orientation Will tags be disposable or reused Will tags be operating in cold, wet, dirty, hot, steamy, muddy, dusty environment What are regulatory constraints in the nation(s) of use

Identify hardware requirements:

What will be identified, tracked, located

What read distance and field of view (FoV) is required

How many tags in the FoV at the same time

What amount and type of data will be stored

Must data be updated

Will tags be moving and how fast

What are limits on tag size, shape, and orientation

Will tags be disposable or reused

Will tags be operating in cold, wet, dirty, hot, steamy, muddy, dusty environment

What are regulatory constraints in the nation(s) of use

How to Evaluate Your Needs Determine if RFID meets the need and if implementation is economically viable Can it help improve efficiency Can it help improve productivity Can it reduce operating costs Can it reduce labor costs What is the infrastructure installation cost What are the recurring costs associated with the solution Do the investment and variable costs of the solution meet the customer’s business model

Determine if RFID meets the need and if implementation is economically viable

Can it help improve efficiency

Can it help improve productivity

Can it reduce operating costs

Can it reduce labor costs

What is the infrastructure installation cost

What are the recurring costs associated with the solution

Do the investment and variable costs of the solution meet the customer’s business model

How to Evaluate Your Needs Identify system requirements: Are there security needs What are the future needs of the system infrastructure (expandability) Is an open system required (will trading partners share data on the tags) Choose a technology to fit the need Choose a reputable company Research the recommended solution (“standardized” product?)

Identify system requirements:

Are there security needs

What are the future needs of the system infrastructure (expandability)

Is an open system required (will trading partners share data on the tags)

Choose a technology to fit the need

Choose a reputable company

Research the recommended solution (“standardized” product?)