Rfid technologies

RFID Technologies
By Francisco J. Carabez
franciscojavier@carabez.com

Index
1 What is RFID?
 RFID History
 Working principle of RFID Technology?
2 RFID Components
 RFID Readers

Fixed

Handheld
 RFID Antenna
 RFID Tags

Active Tags

Semi-Active Tags

Passive Tags
3 Are All Tags The Same?
 Frequencies of Operation
 Frequencies chart
 Technical details: LF
 Technical details: HF
4 RFID System Basics
 What Constitutes an RFID System?
5 Why RFID?
 Business Value
 Benefits of RFID
 Issues / Concerns
 RFID Future
 RFID Vs Barcode
6 Application area of RFID
 Portal Applications
 Conveyor / Assembly Line
 Product Monitoring and Control
 Shipping Validation
7 Application Examples
 Hand Held Application Categories

1 What is RFID?
Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) is an automatic identification
method, relying on storing and remotely retrieving data using devices
called RFID tags or transponders.
RFID (radio frequency identification) is a technology that incorporates the
use of electromagnetic or electrostatic coupling in the radio frequency
(RF) portion of the electromagnetic spectrum to uniquely identify an
object, animal, or person.
An alternative to bar code.

Invented in 1948 by Harry Stockman.
Initial application was during World War II-The
United Kingdom used RFID devices to
distinguish returning English airplanes from
inbound German ones. RADAR was only
able to signal the presence of a plane, not
the kind of plane it was..
Came into commercial use only in 1990s.
RFID History

Working principle of RFID Technology?
The antenna enables the chip (data storage) to transmit its
identification information to a reader/interrogator. The reader
converts the radio waves returned from the RFID tags into
digital information and passes it to the computer.

2 RFID Components
An RFID system consists of three components:
 An antenna and transceiver (often combined into one Reader)
 And a transponder (the Tag).

An Application.

RFID Components Cont.
Reader – A transmitter/receiver that reads the contents of RFID Tags in the
vicinity, also called an "RFID interrogator." The maximum distance between
the Reader's antenna and the Tag vary, depending on application.
Tag – An electronic identification device that is made up of a chip and antenna.
For reusable applications, it is typically embedded in a plastic housing, and
for tracking shipments, it is usually part of a "smart" packaging label. An
RFID Tag is an object that can be applied to or incorporated into a product,
animal, or person for the purpose of identification and tracking using radio
waves. Some Tags can be read from several meters away and beyond the
line of sight of the Reader. The Tag contains a unique serial number, but
may have other information, such as a customers' account number. There
are generally three types of RFID Tags: active RFID Tags, which contain a
battery, and passive RFID Tags, which have no battery and Semi-Active
RFID Tags which contain a battery but only activates when it is under
frequency of Reader.
Host Computer:-Stores the data into database and view real time presentation
of an asset with History.

RFID Readers
A reader (now more typically referred as an RFID Interrogator),
is basically a radio frequency (RF) transmitter and receiver,
controlled by a microprocessor or digital signal processor.
The reader, using an attached antenna, captures data from
tags, then passes the data to a computer for processing.

Types of Readers: Fixed
Fixed in a position (for example, beside a
conveyor belt in a factory or dock doors in
a warehouse). Consists of Antennas
connected to it. Antennas communicate
with Tags.

Types of Readers: Handheld
Portable, integrated with an application and
used to scan individual items in a
warehouse or by mobile workers. Consists
of in built Antennas.

Antenna
The antenna uses radio frequency waves to transmit
a signal that activates the transponder. When
activated, the Tag transmits data back to the
antenna. The data is used to notify a
programmable logic controller that an action
should occur.

RFID Tags
RFID tag is a microchip combined with an antenna in a
compact package. When attached to an object, object
will be traced by a reader. Tags Antenna picks up
signals from Reader and then returns the signal with
some additional data (like unique serial number of
other customized information).

Types of Tags: Active Tags
Powered by battery.
Larger in size and expensive.
Better identification range and larger
capacity.
Tag transmits radio signal.
High Read Range (300 feet).

Types of Tags: Semi-Active Tags
Uses battery to power microchip but not to communicate
with reader.
These Tags are used for longer range and with more
capabilities.
Only activates when it is under frequency of Reader

Types of Tags: Passive Tags
Operate using the power of RFID readers.
(Tag reflects radio signal from reader)
Small and inexpensive
Shorter Read Range (4 inches - 15 feet)

Variations:
 Memory

Size (16 bits - 512 kBytes +)

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)
 Read Range

4 inches to 300 ft
3 Are All Tags The Same?

Frequencies of Operation
Low frequency
 30-300 kHz
 Tags need to be closer to the reader
 Poor discrimination
High frequency/radio frequency
 3-30 MHz
 Tags can be read from relatively greater distances
 Tags can hold more information
Ultra high frequency/microwave
 >300 MHz
 Longest range
 More interference

How far?
How fast?
How many?
How much?
Attached to and surround by what?
4 RFID System Basics

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

5 Why RFID?
 No need for physical contact between data carrier and the
communication device.
 Tags can be used repeatedly.
 Tags can last up to 20 years.
 Works in harsh environments (compared to bar code, optical scan
technologies) withstands extreme temperatures, acid baths etc.
 Low maintenance costs.
 Tags available in a range of types, sizes and materials.
 Simultaneous & multiple tag reads, 10s to 1000s in short time
intervals.
 Non-line-of-sight communication makes it possible to read and write
Tags in dirty conditions.
 Extremely low error rate.
 Can be read through the human body, clothing and non-metallic
materials.

Benefits of RFID
Automates the entire process.
Unique Identification - Each RFID tag has a unique serial number that
distinguishes among many millions of identically manufactured
objects.
Wireless, non-contact, non-line-of-site.
Ideally suited for providing low cost remote and instant identification
of objects.
Real time tracking of assets and its content.
Visibility of location of assets and their tampering history,
maintenance history.
RFID tags can be read through human body, clothing and non-
metallic materials.

Issues / Concerns
Cost of RFID technology.
Active RFID life - 2 to 4 years.
Privacy concerns-surreptitious consumer surveillance.
Extreme weather.
Security concerns-illicit tracking of RFID tags.
Global standardization.
Environmental concern-recycling.
RFID system are vulnerable to virus.

RFID Standard
The good news is that the EPC global RFID technology standards have
been recognized by the International Standards Organization (ISO) in 2006.
The EPC global UHF Generation 2 protocol for radio frequency identification
(RFID) has been endorsed by the International Standards Organization (ISO),
paving the way for its use throughout the global supply chain.
EPC is an international trade standard designed to drive RFID use forward
in the UHF (ultra high frequency) range. The standard was developed so that
manufacturers are using compatible devices and RFID technologies.
The royalty-free standards developed by EPCglobal are the foundations in
the continuing construction of a global supply chain information network that
combines RFID technology, existing communications network infrastructure
and a system called Electronic Product Code (EPC), a number for uniquely
identifying an item.

RFID Future
RFID technology is growing very fast. As technology moves ahead,
Tags and readers sizes are reducing with the increase of functionalities.
According to experts, RFID technology represents a new approach
towards business with an interaction of computers with wireless
technology, sensors and networking.
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RFID Vs Barcode
RFID Barcode
Forging is difficult Forging is easy
Scanner not required. No need to
bring the tag near the reader
Scanner needs to see the bar
code to read it
RFID is comparatively fast
Can read multiple tags Can read only one tag at a time
Relatively expensive as
compared to Bar Codes
(Reader 1000$, Tag 20 cents a
piece)
Can be reusable within factory
premises
Cannot be reused

6 Application area of RFID
Corporate offices and industries.
Supply chain and retail industries.
Asset Management.
Pallet Tracking.
Government, Military and Army.
Commercial Industries.

Portal Applications
Bill of Lading
Material Tracking

Portal Applications
Limited number items at forklift speeds
8’ X 10’ doorways
Electronic receipt & dispatch
Wrong destination alert
Electronic marking
Pallet/container item tracking

Read / Write Operations
Higher Accuracy than Bar Code
Conveyor / Assembly Line

Up to 450 fpm
60+ items per container
Inexpensive tunnels
Longer tunnel more items
Electronic receipt
Sorting
Electronic marking
Conveyor / Assembly Line

Product Monitoring and Control

Tote/Box/Unit/Pallet Level Inventory
Shipping Validation

Wireless / Batch
Inventory Management
Material Handling
By Destination
Material Handling
Inspecting / Maintaining
Material Handling
Aggregate / De-aggregate
Where is it? What is it?
What is inside the box?
Where is it going? Where has it been?
Should it be here?
What have I assembled or disassembled?
How many do I have? Do I have enough?
Has this been repaired?
Is this under warrantee?
Has this been inspected?
Is this complete?
What is the asset’s status or state?
7 Application Examples

WirelessBatch
Fixed Station
Hand Held Application Categories

Rfid technologies

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