RFIDRadio Frequency Identification

By

Lakshmi VS

Pranav Pandit

What is RFID

RFID is an automatic identification technique.

What is automatic identification?

Techniques that are used to help machines identify objects

It Involves :• Identifying objects• Capture data about object• Get data in computer without human interaction

Advantages of Automatic identification• Increase efficiency• Reduce data entry errors• Free Up the staff to do other work

Existing techniques

- Barcodes - Smart cards- Voice recognition- Retinal scan- Character recognition- RFID

One which is compared most with RFID is Barcodes.

Barcodes

• Machine-readable representation of information • Visual format on a surface• Store data in the widths and spacing of printed parallel lines• Can be read by optical scanners called barcode readers • Or scanned from an image by special software.

RFID Tag

Tags range in size from a postage stamp to a book.

Types Of RFID tags

Active – Have built-in power cell – Can be read and updated from hundreds of kilometers– Transmit at higher power levels , more effective in "RF challenged"

environments. – Have a battery life of up to 10 years. They have larger memories – Ability to store additional information sent by the transceiver

Passive – No internal power supply – Minute electrical current induced in the antenna by the incoming radio

frequency signal provides power– Antenna has to be designed to both collect power from the incoming

signal and also to transmit the outbound backscatter signal– The device can be quite small

Semi-passiveSemi-passive tags use a battery to run the chip's circuitry, but communicate by drawing power from the reader

Read-only and Read-write RFID tags

Microchips in RFID tags can be read-write Read-only or “write once, read many” (WORM)

– Read-only microchips have information stored on them during the manufacturing process

– The information on such chips can never be changed– WORM tags can have a serial number written to them once, and that

information cannot be overwritten later Read-write chips

– You can add information to the tag or write over existing information when the tag is within range of a reader

– Read-write tags usually have a serial number that can't be written over

– Additional blocks of data can be used to store additional information about the items the tag is attached to

Parts of RFID system

Tag made up of a microchip with an antenna An interrogator or reader with an antenna.

How does RFID system work?

The reader sends out electromagnetic waves. The tag antenna is tuned to receive these

waves The tag chip then modulates the waves that

the tag sends back to the reader, Reader then converts the new waves into

digital data.

RFID frequencies

Low-frequency (around 125 KHz) Low-frequency tags use less power and are better able to penetrate non-metallic

materials Ideal for scanning objects with high-water content, such as fruit Their read range is limited to less than a foot (0.33 meter)

High-frequency (13.56 MHz) Work better on objects made of metal They have a maximum read range of about three feet (1 meter)

Ultra-high-frequency or UHF (860-960 MHz). Typically offer better range than low or high frequencies Can transfer data faster than low and high-frequencies But they use more power and are less likely to pass through materials They require a clear path between the tag and reader Might be better for scanning boxes of goods as they pass through a dock door into a

warehouse

RFID Applications

Automatic Vehicle identification EZpass used on US highways for automatic vehicle

identification and toll extraction

RFID Applications

Uses of RFID in Consumer products industry

RFID technology is widely used in the supply chain industry

- Just-in-time manufacturing

- Product loss and also identity the theft

- Warrantee claims and after sales support

Human Identification

- RFID technology in passport

- Identifications of persons to enter a certain restricted area

- Authenticity of the students

Other Applications

Uses in Libraries

- Maintain inventory

- Scan stacks of books at a time

- Simplifies issuing of books and also self-return.

RFID uses in health care industry

- Manage costly and critical equipments

- Improve supply chain efficiencies

- Ensure legitimate drugs enter the supply chain

RFID Vs Barcode

Barcode RFID

Optical technology Radio technology

Barcode uses UPC (Universal Product Code)

RFID uses EPC (electronic product code)

Bar codes are larger than the smallest tag

Tags range in size from a postage stamp to a book

Barcodes have unlimited shelf life but are subject to degradation with handling.

Tags have no moving parts and have multi-year lifespan

Bar Codes can be easily duplicated and reattached to products and are, therefore, easily counterfeited

Tags have a unique identity code embedded on the microchip. Its difficult to duplicated tags so products can not be counterfeited

RFID Vs Barcode

Barcode RFIDBar code is limited to an entire class of products and unable to drill down to a unique item. It is not feasible to recall, track or document a single item

The combination of UIC (unique identification code), user data, serial number and on-board memory makes it possible to track, recall, or document the life span of a single item

Barcode offers a range over inches and requires line of sight to read the code.

RFID offers a range from inches to hundreds of feet and does not require line of sight.

Unable to support simultaneous reads.  RFID standards have algorithms to support simultaneous reading of Tags at one time

Barcodes are not reusable RFID is reusable

ISSUES & CONTROVERSIES 

Privacy and Ethical problems - RFID Technology can be turned around and be used to track the

people carrying these objects.  

Security Concerns - Without proper controls technology could also facilitate industrial

espionage by giving access to other company’s inventory.

Proper standards are still evolving  

Future of RFID

Predictions are that RFID tags will replace barcodes

Standardization is certainly needed

RFID is the important piece in the technological jigsaw of ubiquitous computing

Conclusion

RFID technology is here to stay

Main potential of this technology is its influence on diverse fields

Growth of this technology will be determined by how it is presented and how soon these issues are solved.

References

http://www.rfidjournal.com/faq http://www.rfidconsultation.eu/docs/ficheiros/TSW0602.pdf http://www.rfidjournal.com http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RFID#

Thank You

Questions?