Basics of RFID Technology

Session Description
It is unlikely that any technology in the automatic
identification and data capture industry has been
hyped more than RFID. So what is the truth?
What technologies are best suited for which
technologies? What is the relationship between
regulations in the United States and in other parts
of the world? What is the future of that
regulation? How to determine which technology is
best for you by asking yourself three little
questions: "How far?", "How fast?”, and "How
many?" Learn the answers to these and other
questions in this session.
What is RFID?
• RFID is an ADC 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 Constitutes an RFID System?

• One or more RF tags

• Two or more antennas
• One or more interrogators
• One or more host computers
• Appropriate software
How it Works
RFID System Components
(block diagram)

Antenna Reader
Asset/Tag
Asset
Firmware

Tag
Insert

TCP/IP
~
Host
Power

Application
Customer’s
Software API
MIS
APPLICATION INTERROGATOR RF TAG

Tag Physical Memory

Decoder
AIR Logical
Application Program Interface

Encoder Memory
DEVICE
INTERFACE
Map
COMMANDS
Tag COMMANDS
APPLICATION
COMMANDS Command / Driver
Response and
APPLICATION Unit Mapping
RESPONSES Rules RESPONSES
DEVICE
RESPONSES

Logical Memory Note: The Logical Memory Map in the

Tag Physical Memory is given by the
Tag architecture and the mapping rules
DATA PROTOCOL PHYSICAL in the Tag Driver. All the information in
PROCESSOR INTERROGATOR the Logical Memory is represented in

the Logical Memory Map

ISO/IEC 15961 ISO/IEC 15962 ISO/IEC 15962 ISO/IEC 18000

Annexes
RFID Operation
Sequence of Communication
• Host Manages Reader(s) and Issues Commands
• Reader and tag communicate via RF signal
• Carrier signal generated by the reader (upon request
from the host application)
• Carrier signal sent out through the antennas
• Carrier signal hits tag(s)
• Tag receives and modifies carrier signal
– “sends back” modulated signal (Passive Backscatter - FCC
and ITU refer to as “field disturbance device”)
• Antennas receive the modulated signal and send them
to the Reader
• Reader decodes the data
– Results returned to the host application
RFID Operations
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
RFID System Basics
• Tag ID Only • Read Only (Factory
• Programmable Programmed)
Database Pointer • WORM - Write Once,
• Mission Critical Read Many times
Information • Reprogrammable
• Portable Database (Field Programmable)
• Read/Write (In-Use
Programmable)
 What is RFID? -- The Tags
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
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)
Are All Tags The Same?
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)
RFID System Basics

• How far?
• How fast?
• How many?
• How much?
• Attached to and surround by what?
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
 <150 kHz (125 kHz & 134 kHz )

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)
13.56 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)
• Popular Smart Card frequency
13.56 MHz
Disadvantages
• Government regulated frequency
(U.S. and Europe recently harmonized)
• Does not penetrate or transmit around metals
• Large Antennas (compared to higher frequencies)
• Larger tag size than higher frequencies
• Tag construction: requires more than one surface
to complete a circuit
• Reading Range of ≈ 0.7 m
RFID Primer…Frequencies
RFID:
Toll Roads

Electromagnetic Field
Data
Terminal
Coupling: Lower Range UHF
Cell Phone
>300 MHz <3 (<1) GHz
(862-928 MHz ANSI MH10.8.4,
ISO 18185, B-11 & GTAG)
1000 MHz
(433.92 MHz ISO 18185)
 >300 MHz <1GHz
Advantages
• Effective around metals
• Best available frequency for
distances of >1m
• Tag size smaller than 13.56 MHz
• Smaller antennas
• Range: licensed to 20-40' with
reasonable sized tag (stamp to
eraser size). Unlicensed 3-5 m.
• Good non-line-of-sight
communication (except for
conductive, "lossy" materials)
• High data rate; Large amounts
of data
• Controlled read zone (through
antenna directionality)
>300 MHz <1GHz
Disadvantages
• Does not penetrate water/tissue
• Regulatory issues (differences in frequency,
channels, power, and duty cycle)
• Regulatory issues in Europe
(similar band 869 MHz requires frequency
agile chip)
950 - 956 MHz under study in Japan
RFID Primer…Frequencies

RFID:
Item Management
EAS
Electromagnetic
Field Coupling:
2.45 GHz
2.45 GHz
 2.45 GHz
Advantages
• Tag size smaller than inductive or
lower range UHF (1"x 1/4")
• Range: greater range than
inductive w/o battery
• More bandwidth than lower
range UHF (more
frequencies to hop)
• Smaller antennas than lower
range UHF or inductive
• High data rate
2.45 GHz
Advantages
• Good non-line-of-sight communication
(except for conductive, "lossy" materials)
• Can transmit large amounts of data more
quickly than lower frequencies
• Controlled read zone
(through antenna directionality)
• Effective around metals with
tuning/design adaptations
2.45 GHz
Disadvantages
• More susceptible to electronic noise than lower
UHF bands, e.g. 433 MHz, 860-930 MHz
• Shared spectrum with other technologies--
microwave ovens, RLANS, TV devices, etc.
• Requires non-interfering, "good neighbor"
tactics like FHSS
• Competitive requirement: single chip--highly
technical; limited number of vendors
• Regulatory approvals still "in process"
RFID Primer…Frequency
>5.8 GHz
RFID:
European Tolls
(European Road
Telematics Frequency)

Advantages:
• Less congested band/less interference
Disadvantages:
• Not available in U.S. or many other
300 GHz
countries (5.9 now in FCC review)
• Must orient antennas carefully
• Range limited (due to scaling
issues/wavelengths)
• Chip difficult to build
• Expensive
Spectrum Regulation
• The radio frequency (RF) spectrum is a scarce and
shared resource, used nationally and internationally,
and subject to a wide range of regulatory oversight. In
the U.S., the Federal Communications Commission is
a key regulatory body that allocates spectrum use and
resolves spectrum conflicts. The International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) is a specialized
agency of the United Nations which plays the same
role internationally.
Regulations - ITU
Regulatory Differences
• Usage of channel
– Primary service
– Secondary service
• Cannot interfere with primary service
• Cannot claim protection of interference from primary service
• Can claim protection of interference from other secondary users
– Industrial, Scientific, & Medical (ISM) Bands
• Narrowband or Spread Spectrum
• Power level
• Duty cycle
How far, how fast, how much, how many, attached to what?

Frequency Regulation Range Data Speed Comments

Animal identification
125-150 kHz Basically unregulated Å 10 cm Low and factory data
collection systems
ISM band, differing Low to Popular frequency for
13.56 MHz power levels and duty < 1m I.C. Cards (Smart
moderate
cycle Cards)
Non-specific Short
Asset tracking for U.S.
433 MHz Range Devices (SRD), 1 Š 100 m Moderate DoD (Pallets)
Location Systems
ISM band (Region 2);
increasing use in EAN.UCC GTAG,
Moderate to
860-930 MHz other regions, 2Š 5m high MH10.8.4 (RTI),
differing power levels AIAG B-11 (Tires)
and duty cycle
ISM band, differing IEEE 802.11b,
2450 MHz power levels and duty 1Š 2m High Bluetooth, CT,
cycle AIAG B-11
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
Applications
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
Conveyor / Assembly Line

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
Hand Held Application Categories

Batch Wireless

Fixed Station
Application Examples

Wireless / Batch Material Handling

By Destination
Inventory Management
Where is it going? Where has it been?
Where is it? What is it? Should it be here?
What is inside the box?

Material Handling
Inspecting / Maintaining
Material Handling
Aggregate / De-aggregate Has this been repaired?
Is this under warrantee?
What have I assembled or disassembled? Has this been inspected?
How many do I have? Do I have enough? Is this complete?
What is the asset’s status or state?
Shipping Validation
Intelligent Labels
The HazMat Label
HazMat Smart Label
 Low power > long range
 1024 bit memory
 Read/write/lock on 8 bits
 Advanced protocol
 Efficient multi-id  Lock data permanently
 12 ms/8 byte read  25ms/byte write
 Group select  Broadcast write
 40 tags/second  Anti-collision
BENEFITS OF VEHICLE TRACKING

1. Tracking vehicles within the plant: The use of RFID in a vehicle assembly line ensures
optimum
operation, enhanced efficiency and eliminates the possibility of fraud and theft. Strategically
positioned fixed RFID readers with multiple tag reading capability trace the newly finished cars
as
they leave the product line. In this way vehicles can be tracked throughout the plant.

2. Prevents manipulation of data: The security issues RFID tags to the trucks that are
coming inside the premises. It is attached to the truck that carries the cane load and
identification is done throughout its journey.
The RFID antenna will be coupled to the PC and once the truck is over the weigh bridge the
data is captured from the tag and this is passed on to the PC for processing. This can
reduce your fraud activities drastically.
 Vehicle Tracking Solution using RFID

3. Better Fleet Management:

RFID has enabled better fleet management. Now the transporters have a fix on reasons behind
vehicular downtime. They know how long it takes to load raw materials and they can measure the
performance of drivers. Transporters can plan availability of trucks based on the latest tracking data and
make optimum use of their fleets.

4. Parking Lot Access Control:

We also provide parking barrier drop-arm control systems to control authorized access into and out of
the parking area. RFID based access control systems ensures that only authorized vehicles can get into
and get out of the parking area. Parking barrier arms automatically lifts to let the vehicle pass through
on success identification of the vehicle RFID tag.

This can be done by fixing RFID tag to the windscreen of the vehicle. When the vehicle comes in range
of the reader, the reader reads the card ID and authenticates the same. If ID is authenticated the relay
for moving the boom barrier is fired and access to the parking lot is
enabled.

In this way there is no need for any guard to be monitoring the exit and entry of vehicles to the parking
lot. The vehicles will be logged automatically and a total report of the usage of the parking lot can be
generated.
Advantages of RFID in parking lots

RFID tags can be affixed to automobiles for activating hands-free

access to communities and parking lots.

The RFID reader can also trigger surveillance cameras or video

recorders whenever a vehicle enters or exits the controlled area.

Each access can be recorded in the RFID reader or host computer's

database to maintain a history of access activities and administer
billing of daily, weekly, or monthly fees.

Gives automatic notification when a car enters or leaves the lot

Eliminates manual record keeping, thereby increasing accuracy and

staff productivity.
How it Works
 Fuel monitoring in vehicle tracking
systems.
At a time when fuel prices are rising globally the most urgent task is fuel monitoring. Fuel
monitoring systems are developing, and GPS vehicle tracking systems too, and now appeared
to the synthesis of both systems.
Fuel monitoring systems receive the information remotely and in relation to the coordinates
and time.
Application of techniques of fuel monitoring allows vehicle tracking systems to dramatically
increase the functionality, providing the user with information not only about the location and
speed of the vehicle, but to answer a wide range of issues relating to fuel monitoring:

• Fuel tank fuelling control.

• Fuel theft control.
• Measurement of the actual engine fuel consumption.
• Driver quality control.
• Monitoring the technical state of machines.
• Time control of the engine.
• Axle load control
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
Standards
 The Layers of Logistic Units
(Optically Readable Media)

Layer 5
ISO TC 204 (None)
AIAG B-15 Movement Vehicle
(truck, airplane, ship, train)
Layer 4
ISO TC 104 (None)
Container
(e.g., 40 foot Sea Container)

Layer 3
ISO TC 122/WG 4 (15394)
ANSI MH10.8.1 Unit Load Unit Load
AIAG B-10/14
EIA 556-B “Pallet” “Pallet”
UCC 6

Layer 2
ISO TC 122/WG 4 (15394)
ANSI MH10.8.1 Transport Transport Transport Transport
AIAG B-10/14 Unit Unit Unit Unit
EIA 556-B
UCC 6/EAN Genl Spec

Layer 1
ISO TC 122/WG 7 (22742)
ANSI MH10.8.6
AIAG B-4 (TBD) Pkg Pkg Pkg Pkg Pkg Pkg Pkg Pkg
EIA 621/624 & IEC TC 91
UCC 1 /EAN Genl Spec

Layer 0
ISO TC 122 (TBD)
ANSI MH10.8.7
AIAG B-4 Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item
EIA SP-3497
UCC 1 /EAN Genl Spec
 The Layers of Logistic Units
(Radio Frequency Identification - RFID)

Layer 5
ISO TC 104
ISO TC 204 (ISO 14816)
IATA
Movement Vehicle
ISO TC 8
AAR
(truck, airplane, ship, train)
Layer 4 (433 MHz, 860-930 MHz)
ISO 122/104 JWG (ISO 10374)
ISO TC 104 (ISO 18185) Container
ISO TC 104 (Beyond 18185)
ISO 17363 (122/104 JWG) (e.g., 40 foot Sea Container)

Layer 3 (433 MHz, 860-930 MHz)

ISO 17364 (122/104 JWG)
ANSI MH10.8.4 Unit Load Unit Load
AIAG (TBD)
EIA (TBD) “Pallet” “Pallet”
EAN.UCC GTAG

Layer 2 (860-930 MHz)

ISO 17365 (122/104 JWG)
ANSI MH10.8.8 Transport Transport Transport Transport
AIAG (TBD) Unit Unit Unit Unit
TCIF (TBD)

Layer 1 (860-930 MHz)

ISO 17366 (122/104 JWG)
Pkg Pkg Pkg Pkg Pkg Pkg Pkg Pkg

Layer 0 (860-930 MHz)

ISO 17367 (122/104 JWG)
AIAG B-11
Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item
 Application Requirements
© Q.E.D. Systems 2003

 Wal-Mart - Suppliers will mark inbound cases and

pallets with RFID - 1 January 2005 - May, 2003
specification calls for ≈256 bit read/write tag
 U.S. Department of Defense - Draft RFID policy to
be completed by 18 September 2003 - To issue
final policy in July of 2004 that will require
suppliers to put passive RFID tags on selected
case/pallet packaging by January of 2005. Draft
policy calls for passive tags (est. 256 byte) and
active tags
Lads, Dads, & Granddads

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Thank
You!