Presentation at the NORDITE Conference, June 2011

1. RFID Sensor Tag
Ambient Intelligence platform with sensors integration
Cristina Rusu (Imego)
Peter Enoksson (Chalmers)
Ovidiu Vermesan (SINTEF)
Kaj Nummila (VTT)
The NORDITE Conference
14 June 2011

2. RFID Sensor Tag
Introduction – RFID
Technology highlights
Companies – Business applications
Conclusions

3. RFID – Basic Principle
Wireless communication technology that
• Uses radio frequency waves
• Stores and/or remotely retrieves data using devices called RFID tags.
• So far, mainly for the purpose of identification
Passive tag

4. Existing ID Tags – RFID Tag
KSW Microtec: T threshold
Texas Instruments
 Capability of tracking simultaneously moving objects.
 Effective in manufacturing environments where barcode labels may not
be readable.

5. RFID – Expected business development
 RFID is fast growing multi-billion dollar business
• The market is expected to rise to $27.88 billion in 2017
 Market needs for smarter RFID labels are emerging
 Tremendous commercial potential
 Problem: Today there is no low cost Sensor Tag products on the market
 Sensor tag prices: $2 to $200
 Available passive wireless sensor and data acquisition systems are
 Work at low operation frequency (up to a few MHz)
 Based on inductive powering and communication
 Large size of sensing transponder
 Achievable distances typically ≈ 1- 2 cm
 Active sensor tags: Too expensive and bulky
 Semi-passive EPC sensor tags (example CAEN): limited to own embedded
sensor, no generic sensor interface for external sensors, bulky

6. RFID Sensor Tag projects - Goals
Project objectives:
Develop technologies that make it possible to use the same
RFID solutions in logistics and consumer applications.
► Passive RFID sensor tag
► Semi-passive RFID sensor tag

7. Uniqueness of the approach
 Applicable for passive, semi-passive solutions
 Same solution can be used as a gateway for data loggers and remote controls
 Allows connection of displays, printed sensors, biosensors
 Novel antenna solutions facilitate multi-band and flexible, rigid implementations
RFID
I2C
semi-
passive SPI
functio
nal tag

8. RFID Sensor Tag - application sectors
Healthcare Logistics and food chain: Construction,
-T (direct contact to skin) cold chain: perishable and machinery:
-Clothing/diaper (humidity, T) pharmaceuticals (T, humidity, moisture, humidity
pH) in homes, cement
dryness,
machinery failures

9. RFID Sensor Tag
Introduction – RFID
Technology highlights
Companies – Business applications
Conclusions

10. RFID Sensor Tag – Multi-band antennas HF & UHF
• M. Hirvonen, N. Pesonen, O. Vermesan, C. Rusu, P. Enoksson, Multi-System, Multi-Band RFID Antenna:
Bridging the Gap Between HF- and UHF-Based RFID Applications, Proc. European Wireless Technology
Conference (EuWiT), 2008, Amsterdam, Netherlands
• PhD student

11. RFID Sensor Tag – Multi-band antennas UHF & MW
Simulations and experimental measurements showed that Minkowski-based
fractal antenna, small size (< 3x3cm) operates
• at 878MHz and 2.45 GHz: 50 cm reading distance (Deister reader).
• at 2.45 and 5.8 GHz: good radiation efficiencies
asymmetric layout symmetric layout
878 MHz & 2.45GHz 2.45 & 5.8 GHz
• P. Enoksson, M. Rusu, M. Hirvonen, H. Rahimi, C. Rusu, N. Pesonen, O. Vermesan, H. Rustad, Minkowski Fractal Microstrip
Antenna for RFID Tags, Proc. European Microwave Conference 2008 (EuMC), p. 666-670, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
• S. Ahmed, P. Enoksson, M.V. Rusu, C. Rusu, Fractal-based dual-band small antenna for 2.45 and 5.8 GHz, Proc. MME 2010,
Enschede, The Netherlands.
• Master Thesis students (2)

12. RFID Sensor Tag – P, T sensors

13. RFID Sensor Tag – pH, humidity sensors
 Capacitive (conductimetric) measurement for ultra-low power application (mW)
 Interdigital finger electrodes εliq
• small size (0.5 x 0.5 mm2) εpoly
• CMOS compatible.
 Electrodes covered with a layer of sensitive polymer
• humidity, pH, bio-chemical MIP - propranolol
pH 200
DL-propranolol
Humidity
Atenolol
Im Z
100
0
400
300
Re Z
200
100
L. Löfgren et al. Low-power humidity sensor, Proc. Eurosensors XXII, 2008, Germany. 0
0 200 400 600
Concentration (µM)

14. RFID Sensor Tag – Demonstrators
• Passive Temperature UHF RFID tag
• Reading distances up to 70-80 cm
• Mimics the EPC Gen protocol
• Each tag has a unique ID
• PIE / FM0 encoding
• PIFA-based tag works on metal
PIFA RFID sensor tag

15. RFID Sensor Tag – Demonstrators
• Semi-passive RFID Data logger / RFID tag
Measures temperature, pressure, luminosity
• Data logger controlled by UHF passive RFID tag
Starts, stop data logger, read content of memory
• Controlling realized via I2C

16. RFID Sensor Tag – Demonstrators
RFID tag IDS-SL13A (internal T sensor) RFID reader IDS-R13MP (inside box)
together with and RFID sensor tag
Imego’s humidity sensor and interface
electronics

17. RFID Sensor Tag
Introduction – RFID
Technology highlights
Companies – Business applications
Conclusions

18. RFID Sensor Tag – Company involvement
 Advice and information
- User requirements document
- Technical specifications document
- Market needs
 Applications / specific interests
Gambro Lundia AB Saab Microwave Systems SCA Personal care Volvo 3P

19. Gambro Lundia AB
Hemodialysis

20. Personal care

22. Volvo’s interest in RFID
 Production logistics
 Vehicle applications
 Aftermarket applications
 Soft products
Volvo 3P
Volvo Powertrain
Volvo Parts
Volvo Logistics
Volvo Information Technology & Others

23. RFID Sensor Tag
Introduction – RFID
Technology highlights
Companies – Business applications
Conclusions

24. RFID Sensor Tag – Conclusions
New technology know-how
• Feasibility verified
• Technology transfer possible
NORDITE = Opening for business possibilities
• Smart RFID sensor tags
• International and National R&D / Industrial projects
 Collaboration
• Companies involvement
• Technical
• …..
 Huge market potential

25. Thank you for your attention
Peter Enoksson (Chalmers) Kaj Nummila (VTT)
peter.enoksson@chalmers.com Kaj.Nummila@vtt.fi
+46 (0)31 772 1868 +358 207225773
Cristina Rusu (Imego)
cristina.rusu@imego.com
+46 (0)31 75018 68