What is RFID?

Muhammad Wasim Raad 1

What is RFID?• RFID is a 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 is RFIDWhat is RFID

Radio Frequency Radio Frequency IdentificationIdentification

Radio Frequency Radio Frequency IdentificationIdentification

LabelLabel

(Transponder)(Transponder)

Reader/AntennaReader/Antenna

(Interrogator)(Interrogator)

ComputerComputer

Tag enters RF field

RF signal powers tag

Tag transmits ID, plus data

Reader captures data

Reader sends data to computer

Computer determines action

Computer instructs reader

Reader transmits data to tag

Muhammad Wasim Raad

• RFID Diagram:

Note: The host is the software database...

Reader

RF Module

Antenna

Host ComputerHost Computer

RFID Primer

Muhammad Wasim Raad

Note: The RF module creates radio frequency (RF). It receives and transmits RF through the antenna…

Reader

RF Module

AntennaAntenna


RFID Primer

Muhammad Wasim Raad

Note: Tag (transponder) is interrogated by the antenna....

ReaderReader

RF ModuleRF ModuleTagTag

AntennaAntenna


RFID Primer

Muhammad Wasim Raad

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 ModuleTag

Antenna


RFID Primer


An RFID Tag Is A Portable Database

…A sophisticated computing and communications device

…A wireless extension of Information Systems

Interrogation UnitTx/RxMicro

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


Inlays for RFID Tags for 13.56 Mhz


Why use RFID ?• To determine authentication of a

package

• To provide automated traceability of an item


Motivation of using RFID

•Generate Revenue

•Reduce operating costs


The RFID Reader Anti-collision protocol


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 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

What is RFID? -- The Tags


Are All Tags The Same?

Basic Types:Active

•Tag transmits radio signal•Battery powered memory, radio & circuitry

•High Read Range (300 feet)Passive

•Tag reflects radio signal from reader•Reader powered•Shorter Read Range (4 inches - 15 feet)


• 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)

Are All Tags The Same?


Types of Tags - Memory Segmentation

Read Only (Factory Programmed)

WORM - Write Once, Read Many times

Reprogrammable (Field Programmable)

Read/Write (In-Use Programmable)


What are chipless tags?• No IC• Use RF fibers or materials reflect

reader’s signal producing unique serial no

• Cost: 10-25 cents each• Tolerates wide range temperature• Less sensitive RF


Chipless tags• 2.5% of RFID market

• Expected to become 30% in 2010

• Chipless RFID smart labels have a range of 10 meters


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


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)

<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)

<150 kHz (125 kHz & 134 kHz )


13.56 MHz13.56 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)


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

13.56 MHz13.56 MHz


RFID Applications• Petrol Service Stations

– In Singapore, the Mobil petrol service stations has already introduced RFID technology to implement their Speed Pass system to enable drivers to fill up the petrol and drive away. All information will be gathered automatically through RFID smart tags and customers’ bills can be settled through the net.


RFID Application in Petrol Service Station


RFID Application in a Factory Canteen

• it is very interesting to notice that in the factory canteen’s environment, RFID tags are attached at the bottom of the plates to identify the cooked food and its price.

• The staff of the factory need only to pick up the food on the tray and place the tray on top of a RFID reader.

• The RFID reader will identify the products and its price. The staff need only to place the cash card to pay for the food.


Paperless Maintenance Senario at Frankfort Airport


Configuration of RFID Antennas on doors in Metro ware house


What is EPC (Electronic Product Coding)?

• EPC is a globally unique serial number identifying individual item attached to it

• Enables enquiries to be made about individual item wherever it is in the global supply chain


The EPC Network• EPCglobal network enable

immediate retrieval accurate trusted information

• EPC network uses RFID+EPC + internet to allow trading partners to share this information securely


Benefits EPCglobal RFID network

• Faster and more precise reads• Accurate and trusted data• Lower inventory levels• Fewer out of stock• Better asset utilization


Example and Structure of An EPC Number


EPC Information Service


EPC meets pharmaceutical supply chain


Case Study:Logistics processes at HP


Automotive production at BMW


Event information in automotive process

chain


What is EAS(Electronic Article Surveillance)?

• Books, hairdryers.. Bear small tags for theft prevention

• Initially at book shelf tag has a bit of 0

• At point of sale sales clerk deactivate tags by setting bit to 1


Smart Shelves• Antennas have to be optimally

placed on shelves• Still expensive, requires numerous

readers• Smart shopper carts scan items

and objects on shelves


Privacy• Privacy bit on tag• Tags belong to consumers• If privacy bit=1 it will be invisible

to readers• Readers watch on each other:

private tag command• What is blocker tag?


The privacy bit• Blocker tag command can prevent

privacy violations before they occur• A blocker effectively jams readers

that emit private-read commands• When it detects it, it simulates all

possible RFID tags in the world rendering reader incapable


Market Trend


Cost• RFID readers: 1000$• Tags: > 20 cents.• Active tags: 1$-5$• Tags will become cost effective

when production inlay very high• Only handful of quality suppliers


Cost continue• Production methods and materials

used to build RFID inlays being defined

• Tag antennas metallic, very expensive and large size

• Chip less Tags much cheaper: .1-10 cents


Future of RFID Tags• Low cost active tags for locating &

tracking objects with limited no of readers

• Higher frequencies: Tags developed at Siemens lab: 2.5-24 Ghz, have batteries and range extend to several kilometers


Future continue• Recently, Ultra WIDE BAND (ubw)

can locate objects in 2 & 3 dimensions within few inches

• Marketed for asset tracking in hospitals

• The size of wristwatch, 40 grams • Indoor range: 300 feet


Future: Science Fiction• Transparent packages will light up

in moving color advertisement

• Disposable smart labels will detect viruses and specific chemicals


References• www.rfidjournal.com• RFID book by Steven Shepard, McGraw-

Hill 2005-ISBN-0-07-144299-5• www.gs1uk.org• RFID Field Guide Deploying Radio

Frequency Identification systems By Manish Bhuptani-ISBN-0-13-185355-4

What is RFID?

Documents

Transcript of What is RFID?