RFID –AN EMERGING AIDC TECHNIQUE

Rajan Kumar* and Gurman Dhillon**

*Electronics and Product Design, PEC, Chandigarh, India
**Electronics and Product Design, PEC, Chandigarh, India

Abstract—Automatic Identification Data capture from the RFID reader acts as the master unit and
(AIDC) is a method of identification of physical sends commands to the reader. In a hierarchical
objects without the use of manual intervention. system structure the application software
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is one such represents the master while the reader is a slave.
AIDC technique which is finding more and more
applications. The complete layer model approach
for implementing a RFID system is explained in
this paper. In this paper we present the
implementation of RFID system as a single unit,
discuss the hardware requirement and the various
standards assigned for implementation RFID. This
paper states the advantages of 13.56MHz as
compared to low frequency as well as the UHF
Figure 1: Block Diagram of a RFID system, showing
range.
relationship between Reader, Tag and Application unit.
I. INTRODUCTION
RFID systems with a very small range, typically
The Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) in the region of up to 1 cm, are
technology is of growing interest to commerce, known as close coupling systems. For operation
industry, and academia. This technology can be the transponder/tag must either be inserted into
used not only for identification, but also for the reader or positioned Close coupling systems
tracking objects in a supply chain, monitoring the are primarily used in applications that are subject
object’s status, enhancing security, and as well as to strict security requirements, but do not require
many other applications. a large range. Examples are electronic door
Automatic Identification and Data Capture locking systems or contactless smart card
(AIDC) is a method of identification of physical systems with payment functions.
objects without the use of manual intervention. It RFID systems with write and read ranges of up
may use a computer system or Programmable to 1m are known as inductively coupled systems.
Logic Controller (PLC) for this purpose. The Frequencies below 135 kHz or 13.56MHz are
benefits of eliminating manual intervention are used as transmission frequencies. Market of these
eliminating errors and Accelerate throughput. systems is gaining popularity due to more
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) advantages of 13.56Mhz frequency range.
Technology; Barcode Technology; Card RFID systems with ranges significantly above
Technology; Data communication Technology; 1m are known as long-range systems.
etc are the famous AIDC techniques used all over All long-range systems operate using
the world. Among which RFID is an emerging as electromagnetic waves in the UHF ranges.
well as promising technique for object
identification. With the help of networking techniques LAN or
The RFID system consists of WAN, RFID systems employed at different
readers/interrogators, tags/transponders, and an substation can send information to the main
information managing host computer. This paper station.
focuses on the 13.56_MHz inductive passive
RFID systems, one of the mainstream RFID Working of the RFID system can be explained
products, since this frequency is better able to with help of layer model as shown in the figure
penetrate non-metal substrates than UHF and 2. As shown in the figure, the process start from
microwave bands due its longer wavelength. the bottom layer 4 where RFID hardware
II. RFID SYSTEMS interacts and generates required data. Layer 4 is
discussed in detail in next section. In layer 3
As shown in the figure (1) below, the reader and (middleware), this data is picked up from the
transponders are in a master-slave relationship hardware; filtered; adapted and logged after
where the reader acts as a master and the which the data become usable for processing in
transponders are slaves. RFID readers themselves the existing enterprise system.
are in a slave position as well. A software
application that performs the reading of data
 A. RFID readers are consisted of three main
parts that allow them to function in RF and
digital systems. These main three components
are as shown in figure 3.

Control section

High frequency interface

Antenna

Figure 3. Block Diagram of RFID Reader/Interrogator

Control unit consist of microprocessor/

microcontroller, memory block, analog-to-
digital converters and communication unit for
software application. It performs the following
Figure 2. Layer model displaying the working of the RFID functions:
system.

It enables communication with the
application software and the execution of
For example time and location details associated
commands from the application software
with the data are added to this data.This layer

Control of the communication with a
acts as a link between the physical events
RFID tag/ transponder.
occurring in the hardware layer and existing IT

Signal coding and decoding.
infrastructure on which the required business
logic will be executed. Edge processing layer
HF interface or RF interface, as shown in the
acts like a personal secretary bringing only the
diagram, transmits and receives the signal
points of interest and filtering out operation
information from antenna. Its major components
details. It also provides tools to aggregate and
are oscillators, filters, envelope detector,
manage EPC data. IT Infrastructure; It is the
directional coupler (at UHF applications), etc. It
software (like SAP, Oracle) and hardware used in
performs the following functions:
the enterprise which is responsible for storage,

Generation of High Frequency
utilization, processing or communication of the
Transmission Power to activate the tag
RFID event based data. Business Process
and supply it with power.
Analytics is the layer where this data is utilized

Modulation of transmission signal to send
to meet the objective for which the RFID system
data to tag.
has been deployed, that is, increased visibility.

Reception and demodulation of HF
signals transmitted by tag.
III. RFID HARDWARE
EMI/EMC considerations have to be kept in
Primarily, the two main components involved in
mind while designing RF interface. Like Tin
a Radio Frequency Identification system are the
Shielding on HF components.
Transponder (tags that are attached to the object)
and the Interrogator (RFID reader).
Antenna The design and configuration of
Communication between the RFID reader and
antenna primarily depends on the frequency of
tags occurs wirelessly and generally does not
operation, as in this paper we are concentrating
require a line of sight between the devices. These
around 13.56 Mhz which results in an Inductively
two important components of RFID system are
coupled RFID systems. The basic requirements
discussed as follows.
for designing the Reader antenna are:

Maximum current in the antenna coil, for disrupted by the operation of RFID systems. For
the maximum magnetic flux. this reason, it is usually only possible to use

Power matching so that the maximum frequency ranges that have been reserved
available energy can be used for specifically for industrial, scientific or medical
the generation of the magnetic flux. applications. The table given below various

Sufficient bandwidth for the undistorted frequency ranges for RFID systems.
transmission of the carrier signal
modulated with the data- this can be Frequency Characteristics Applications
achieved by suitably selecting the Q of Band
the circuit. Low (100- short to Access
Depending on the required read range the size 500 KHz) medium read control,
and shape of the antenna depends. Also antenna range; Animal
shape depend on the frequency of operation, for Inexpensive; Identification,
example, at UHF range generally patch antennas low reading Inventory
are implemented. speed Control, Car
Immobilizer
B. TRANSPONDER / TAG: which is located on Intermediate Short to Access
the object to be identified. (10-15MHz) medium read Control,
Tags can be categorized as: range, smart cards

Active tag, which has a battery that Potentialy
supplies power to all functions; Inexpensive,

Semi-passive tag, which has a battery medium
used only to power the tag IC, and not for reading speed
communication; High (850- Long read Railroad car

Passive tag, which has no battery on it. 950 Mhz, range, High monitoring,
In this paper we discussed only passive tags/ 2.4-5.8 reading Speed, Toll
transponders. These tags come in different GHz) LOS required, collection
formats like disks, coins, contactless smart cards, Expensive systems
ID-1 format (Credit cards) and smart labels. One
such example is shown in the figure 4. A lot of interest has grown into the 13.56 MHz
frequency in the last decade more than the VLF,
LF and UHF bands .The use of 13.56 MHz
frequency is proven to be very advantageous
over these other bands:

Frequency band available worldwide as
an ISM frequency

Excellent Immunity to environmental
noise and electrical interference

Minimal shielding effects from adjacent
objects and the human body

Freedom from environmental reflections
that can plague UHF systems

Good data transfer rate
Figure 4. Example of a 13.56 MHz smart card coil.
On-chip capacitors for tuning transponder
coil can be easily realized
The manufacturing technique of these tags is
Cheap ICs, disposable tags
explained in REF {Klaus}, page no.330.
Cost effective antenna coil manufacturing
Thus the main components of a passive
Low RF power transmission so EM
transponder are the antenna coil and the regulation compliance cause no problems
microchip. The necessary power required
energizing and activating the tag’s microchip or The ISO (The International Organization for
low-power CMOS Integrated circuit is drawn Standardization) and IEC (The International
from the localized oscillatory magnetic field Electrotechnical Commission) issued a set of
created by the reader antenna. guidelines which must be followed to implement
the RFID projects. These standards differ for
IV. FREQUENCY RANGES different applications like ISO standards 11784,
Since RFID systems generate and radiate 11785 and 14223 deal with the identification of
electromagnetic waves, they are legally animals using RFID systems; ISO standard
classified as radio systems. The function of other 14443 & 15693 entitled ‘Identification cards —
radio services must under no circumstances be Proximity integrated circuit(s) cards’ , etc.
 V. CONCLUSION
The Radio frequency Identification is an
emerging technique. It covers a vast area of
applications, from animal identification to rail-
road monitoring. All major players of
semiconductor industry deal in RFID techniques
and provide technical support, in the form of
datasheets, application notes and technical
forums. For example Melexis, Texas- Instrument,
Philips, microchip, etc are doing extensive
research in this field and launching new products
with improved qualities. The RFID hardware is
easy to implement and work efficiently with
existing systems. Currently, Ford motor company
uses RFID in engine assembly plant; Wal-mart
uses tamper proof RFID tags; Nokia, Xerox,
Pfizer and many more, implementing this
technique and getting good results.

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