INTRODUCTION TO

RFID

AUTO-ID TECHNOLOGIES

Auto-ID

BarcodeSystems

OpticalCharacter

Recognition(OCR)

RFIDSmart Cards

BiometricSystems

RFID DEFINITION

• RFID (Radio Frequency

Identification) is a technology used

for electronic and wireless

identification of objects, humans and

animals

IDENTIFICATION

• Assign IDs to objects

• Link the ID to additional information about the object

• Link the ID to complementary info

• Find similar objects

IDENTIFICATION EXAMPLES

• Bar Codes

• License Plates

• Social Security Numbers

• Student ID

• Serial Numbers

• Car Keys

• Database Keys

6

WHAT IS RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID)?

(4)

(3) Give me the

HazMat Class for this

EPC

WMS

(1) W

ho k

nows

abou

t thi

s

EPC?

(2) XYZ In

c.

EPC

Info

rmat

ion

Ser

ver

(5) We just received 5 units

of SKU 123, owned by XYZ

Inc., that are deadly, have

a flashpoint of 22.8 C0, may

detonate, and cannot be

extinguished with waterTagReader

ALE/EPC

Middleware

XYZ Inc.

EPC Information

Service

ONS

Naming Service

Substrate

Tag IC

Antenna

Die attach

- Can be Passive or Active- Can be Read-only or Read-Write

7

SOME CLAIMED ADVANTAGES OF RFID VS. BARCODE

• No requirement for line-of-sight

• Many tags can be read at the same time

• High memory capacity if needed

• Dynamic information carrier (read/write)

• Robust and reliable

• Performs in rugged, harsh environment

• Cheaper in long term

• No human intervention

• Reader virtually maintenance free

REAL TAGS

9

Pre-50’s 1950’s 1960’s 1970’s 1980’s 1990’s 2000’s

RFID TIMELINE

• 1926: Baird’sradio object

detectionpatent

• 1935: Watson-Watt’s radar

patent

•WW II: Radar refined

• 1st Toll Collection

System - Norway• Texas, Georgia /

Oklahoma Tolls• Wide-scale US

Roll-out

• LASL spins-off IDX & Amtech• 1984: IDX/Allen

Bradley installGM System

• Vast number of companies enter RFID marketplace

• 1977: Electroniclicense plate formotor vehicles

• 1979: RFID animal

implants

• 1975 LASLreleases

research topublic sector

• 1991: AARstandard

• 1994: AllUS railcarsoutfitted

• MIT Auto-IDCenter formation

• EPC™ introduced

• National & internationalstandards emerge

• 2004: TREAD

•EPCglobalformed 2003

• 1997:US Army rolls out TC-

AIMS II

• 2003: RFID prominent in

Iraqi Freedom

• Smart shelves

• Multiple

early

adopter

installations

• 1952: Vernon

“Application of

the Microwave

Homodyne”

• Harris

patent: “Radio

transmission

systems with

modulatable

passive

responder”

• Harrington

“Active &

Loaded

Scatterers”

Adapted from Interaction Design Institute RFID Project Presentation - 2002

• 1966: Sensor-matic & Check-

point EAS

• Over 350 direct - reference patents

• 1948: HarryStockman -

CommunicationsBy Means of

Reflected Power

• Fairchild, RCA& Raytheon

initiate pgms

• 2005: Walmartinitial deadline• 1969: Mario

Cardullo RFIDconcept

• 1973: Cardullopatent

RFID: The History

10

TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF RFID

▪Tag Power Source

▪Tag Components

▪Read - Read/Write

▪Anti-Collision

▪Who talks first?

▪Protocol

Ultimate focus of

this SIP activity

Standards? The RFID industry suffered from a

proliferation of standards, according to Sue

Hutchinson, director of product management for

EPCglobal. EPCglobal had two GEN-1 standards,

while ISO had two UHF air interface standards. (December 17, 2004)

11

RFID TAGS COME IN DIFFERENT FORMS – CAN BE ATTACHED TO ALMOST ANYTHING

Class V tags

Readers. Can power other Class I, II and III tags;

Communicate with Classes IV and V.

Class IV tags:

Active tags with

broad-band peer-to-peer communication

Class III tags:

semi-passive RFID tags

Class II tags:

passive tags with additional

functionality

Class 0/Class I:

read-only passive tags

• Tags can be attached to almost anything:

• pallets or cases of product

• vehicles

• company assets or personnel

• items such as apparel, luggage

• people, livestock, pets

• high value electronics e.g., computers, TVs

• Many applicationsPrimary focus

RFID HARDWARE

Magnetic / Inductive Coupling

Transceiver

Tag Reader

antenna

RFID

Tag

IC or microprocessor

antenna

RFID HARDWARE

Propagation Coupling

Transceiver

Tag Reader

antenna

RFID

Tag

IC or microprocessor

antenna

14

TAG TYPES: PASSIVE

▪ Passive:▪ Standard: None/many, Mainly Manufacturers Proprietary

Systems/Protocols (uses back scatter technology)

▪ Range: Typically Measured in “Inches”, Working Toward “Meters” (dependant system layout, interference, etc.)

▪ Used Predominantly in Retail Systems and Transportation Systems.

▪ Characteristics: Small Tag Loaded with License Plate Data

▪ Typically Mounted to End Item, Reader Captures Data as Item Moves Through Choke Point (door, pathway, frame, etc.).

▪ Data Capacity Limited.

RF antenna

(power source)

Memory

(EEPROM)

Digital Logic &

Control

15

TAG TYPES: ACTIVE

▪Active:

▪ Standard: None, Mainly Manufacturers Proprietary

Systems/Protocols

▪ Range: Generally 300 Feet or less

▪ Battery powered / limited life

▪ Used Predominantly in Transportation Systems (rail, toll

systems, trucking, container).

▪ Characteristics: Tag with Internal Power Cell Mounted to Item or

container/pallet/box, Interrogator Queries Tags,

Uploads/Downloads Data. Does not transmit all of the time. Data

Capacity Varies.

RF & Digital

Circuitry

RF

antenna

Battery

16

TAG TYPES: SEMI-ACTIVE

▪ Semi-Active or Battery Assisted Passive

▪ On-board battery power source

▪ Uses Passive Technology

▪ Greater range but higher cost (less than active)

▪ Requires less power from reader

▪ Finite life

▪ Can use thin batteries

RF

antenna

Memory

(EEPROM)

Digital Logic &

Control

Battery

17

TAG TYPES - READ VS READ/WRITE

▪ Read Only:

▪ Information can only be read from an RFID device –

programmed at manufacture

▪ User Programmable

▪WORM - Write Once Read Many - Ability to initialize an

RFID device outside of the RFID manufacturer’s facility

after manufacture

▪ Read/Write:

▪ Information can be read from or written to an RFID

transponder during the time it is presented to a

reader/writer

▪Typically asymmetric read and write operating range

TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS

18

▪ Anticollision

▪ Ability to communicate with several transponders simultaneously

▪ Important in longer range readers

▪Must be implemented in the silicon of the RFID device

▪Who Talks First

▪Tag Talks First (TTF)

▪ After the tag is energized, it sends out a signal that says “I am

here”

▪Reader Talks First (RTF)

▪ As reader sends out energization signal it says “who is there”

RANGE

• Range – the working distance between a tag and a reader

Range

RANGE AND POWER LEVELS

• The range that can be achieved in an RFID system

is determined by

• The power available at the reader

• The power available within the tag

• The environmental conditions and structures

21

Low Frequency (125 – 134 kHz)

Used in Access control, livestock, race timing, pallet tracking, automotive immobilizers, wireless commerce

High Frequency (13.56 mHz) – Smart Labels

Used in supply chain, wireless commerce, ticketing, product authentication

Ultra-High Frequency – UHF (900+ mHz)

Emerging technology, applications still in development

Microwave (2.45 gHz)

Still highly experimental, chipless technology

RFID Operating Frequencies

CARRIER FREQUENCIES

FREQUENCY SELECTION ISSUES

23

▪Desired Pattern

▪Required Range

▪Tag-to-Tag Spacing

▪Data Rate

▪Size Requirements

▪Power Requirements

▪Interference Issues

▪Noise Environment

▪Cost / Performance Tradeoffs

24

• Read distance requirements

• Long read range

• Short read range

• Frequency

• All frequencies have their pros and cons

• ISO standards

• Proprietary or standards-based

• Government regulations

• Varies from country to country

RFID System Considerations

25

• Multiple Tag Reading in Same Field

• Anti-collision

• Hardware Set-up

• Environment can affect performance

• Tag Sensitivity to Metallic environments

RFID System Considerations

26

• Stationary or handheld

• Weather-proof or industrialized

• Typical read ranges vary from a few centimeters to

a few meters

• Read Range is dependent upon:

• Broadcast signal strength

• Size of broadcast antenna

• Size of transponder antenna

• The environment – Metallic, Liquid

• Multi-frequency readers

Reader Characteristics

27

HOW COMPARE TO 2D BARCODES

RFID Tag 2D Barcode

Line of sight Not required Required

Capacity Low to high Low to medium

Security High Low to Medium

Change

Information?

Yes –

Read/Write

NO – new label

Cost (today) $0.40 - $1.00

(in millions)

$0.05 or less

BARCODE EXAMPLES – MANY TYPES

28

Maxi-codeUPC A

Code 49Codablock PDF 417

QR Code Data Matrix

CURRENT TECHNOLOGY: BAR-CODING

29

• UPC A code

– 18 digit alphanumeric code used for identifying flow of

package and billing information

– Large database used to support this system – 18 terabytes

• Maxi-code

– Determined by the locations of bars around a central dot

– Contains information for the destination address of the

package as well as weight and size specs.

– requires special equipment and a stable environment free

from movement to obtain a read of the information

30

RFID VS. BAR-CODING

• Bar-coding Disadvantages• Code must be clearly readable

• free from dirt, smudging or other damage

• This is problem with the constant movement of packages

• Code must be in a position that can be easily read by a scanning device

• Optical lasers are usually used for scanning

• Code must be within a short distance to be read• Typically within 3 feet

• Only one code can be scanned at a time

• Codes must be a reasonable distance apart

• The use of RFID can eliminate many of the problems associated with bar-coding technology.

31

THE FUTURE? -- A HYBRID WORLD

▪Traditional bar codes

▪Will remain the dominant auto ID technology for the

foreseeable future

▪ Lowest cost, broadest applicability, huge infrastructure investment

▪2D bar codes

▪Will be increasingly adopted for value added applications

▪ Portable data files, supplementary retail coding etc.

▪RFID

▪Will be increasingly adopted where non-line of sight,

read/write, multiple detection offers real advantages

32

IMPLEMENTATIONS OF RFID

• Retail is the current driving force

• Wal-Mart

• Target

• Others

• Department of Defense

• UPS

• Other logistics firms

33

THINGS TO CONSIDER

• Price of tags• Currently about 10 to 50 cents each

• If just $0.01, $250,000,000 to tag every P&G product

• Chicken and Egg

• Uses• Wal-Mart will be collecting existing data

• Many possibilities

• Technology matures• Cheaper and standards

• Privacy (e.g., “RFID chips in world soccer tournament tickets questioned”)

• All 2.9 million tickets for FIFA World Cup 2006 soccer tournament in Germany included an RFID smart tag

34

RFID in Action …

Buy Burgers at

McDonald’s

Pay for Gas at

Exxon/Mobil with

Speedpass

Check out

library books

with 3M system

Race timing

at most

major

Marathons

Get a Coke

from a vending

machine at the

Olympics

35

Toll tags,

parking lot

access

Event access, ticketing Anti-theft for automobiles

Building access

control, security

36

Product

authentication

Chip wafer

Manufacturing

Warehouse,

supply chain,

logistics

Livestock,

asset tracking

37

"A Manufacturer of soft drinks can identify with

the click of a button how many containers of

its soda cans are likely to reach their

expiration date in the next few days and where

they are located at various grocery outlets.”( from CACM, August 2005, p. 103 )

• How easy / realistic is this?

• What infrastructure must exist?

RFID – Supply Chain Perspective

38

how it works…

Adding Identity to Products

Coke

39

how it works…

Adding Identity to Cases:Assembly lineapplications

40

how it works…

Reading Tags:

Portal applications:Shipping validation &Confirm routing

41

how it works…

-Savant(middleware software forEPC)

-ONS(ObjectNamingService)

-PML(PhysicalMarkupLanguage)

42

how it works…

Efficiency in Distribution

43

how it works…

Efficiency in Inventory

44

how it works…

Overstocking andOut of Stock Eliminated

45

how it works…

Consumer Convenience

DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS

• Livestock Tagging

• Wild Animal Tracking

• Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS)

• Automated Toll Collection

• Animal Husbandry

• Vehicle Anti-Theft

DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS

• Passive / Secure Entry

• Airline Baggage Tracking

• Postal Package Tracking

• Time and Attendance

RFID STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS

Application Specific ISO Standards

RFID STANDARDS

• Tracking Animals • ISO 11784 – Specifies the structure of the ID code

• ISO 11785 – Specifies how transponder is activated

• ISO 14223/1 – Specifies RF code for advanced transponders

• Credit Cards (Vicinity Cards)• ISO 15693 – Specifies modulation and coding schemes

• Passports and proximity cards • ISO 14443 – Specifies modulation and coding schemes

• General Frequency bands • ISO 18000 series

STANDARD RFID OPERATING FREQUENCIES

• ISO 18000-2

• <135 KHz

• ISO 18000-3

• 13.56 MHZ

• ISO 18000-4

• 2.45 GHz

• ISO 18000-6

• 860-960 MHz

• ISO 18000-7

• 433 MHZ (active)

ISO 18000-2 ~ 135 kHz

ISO 18000-3 ~ 13.56 MHz

ISO 18000-6 ~ 800-960 MHz

ISO 18000-4 ~ 2.45 GHzISO 18000-7 ~ 433 MHz

Standard RFID Operating Frequencies

ISO 18000-2

• Operates at >135 KHz

• Inductive

• Unaffected by presence of water

• Short range (a few centimeters)

• Fairly costly because of coil in transponder

ISO 18000-3

• Operates at 13.56 MHz

• Inductive

• Lower cost ~ 35 cents

• Thin flexible form factor ( smart label )

• Read / write capable

• Unaffected by water (but has to be tuned to item)

• Mid range, 70 – 125 cms

• Two flavors: • Mode 1 Standard ISO 15693 data rate (26 kb/s)

• Mode 2 High speed interface (848 kb/s)

ISO 18000-4

• Operates at 2.45 GHz

• Propagating

• Dual Mode

• Passive Backscatter

• Passive tag currently out of fashion

• Active High data rate

• Long range in active version (100 m+)

• Affected by water (signal absorbed…microwave)

• Read / write capable

• Moderate cost

• Small antenna

ISO 18000-6 A/B

• Operates between 860 – 960 MHz

• Propagating

• Long range 2-5 meters

• Low cost

• High data rates

• “Frequency agile”

• Read / write capable

• Relatively large antenna

• The future for mass application RFID

ISO 18000-7

• Operates at 433 MHz

• Active

• Long range - many meters

• High cost

• High data rates

• Read / write capable

• Manifest tags- DoD

☺