RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION(RFID) Features and Functionality of RFID by:- VIBHU SINGH

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 RFID? RF signals transmitted by the antenna activates the tag, which transmits data back to the antenna. Tag is powered by EM waves emitted by the tag. Various frequencies are used depending on the application Requires no line-of-sight (like bar-codes) 3

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

(Communicates with the RFID Reader) Components of an RFID System Host Computer Host Memory Space Antenna Customer-Specific Application Software Application Program Interface (API) Application Program Interface (API) RFID API Software (Communicates with the RFID Reader) Reader

RFID System Components (block diagram) Reader Antenna Asset/Tag Asset Firmware Tag Insert TCP/IP ~ To help you understand how tightly integrated RFID applications are to the customer’s environment, we have prepared an analysis of each system component, describing the component and environmental properties and considerations. Host Power Application Software identification Customer’s API

Antenna (RFID Tag Antenna) The antenna in an RFID tag is a conductive element that permits the tag to exchange data with the reader. Passive RFID tags make use of a coiled antenna that can create a magnetic field using the energy provided by the reader carrier signal.

Application Program Interface APPLICATIONRESPONSES INTERROGATOR RF TAG Tag Physical Memory Decoder AIR INTERFACE Logical Memory Map Encoder DEVICE COMMANDS Tag Driver and Mapping Rules COMMANDS APPLICATIONCOMMANDS Command / Response Unit Application Program Interface APPLICATIONRESPONSES 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 in the Tag Driver. All the information in the Logical Memory is represented in the Logical Memory Map DATA PROTOCOL PROCESSOR PHYSICAL INTERROGATOR

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 Antennas receive the modulated signal and send them to the Reader Reader decodes the data Results returned to the host application NOTE: Bullet 5 - Tag is NOT actually generating and transmitting a signal. The Tag modifies the signal and sends it back to the reader. Intermec tags are “passive tags” because they are NOT generating and transmitting their own signal.

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

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.

Are All Tags The Same? Basic Types: Tag transmits radio signal 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? Memory Frequency Physical Dimensions Variations: Memory Size (16 bits - 512 kBytes +) Read-Only, Read/Write or WORM 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)

chipless RFID A chipless RFID tag (also known as RF fibers) is one that does not make use of any integrated circuit technology to store information. The tag uses fibers or materials that reflect a portion of the reader's signal back; the unique return signal can be used as an identifier. The fibers are shaped in different ways; thin threads, fine wires or even labels or laminates. At volume, they range in cost from ten cents to twenty-five cents per unit. Chipless RFID tags can be used in many different environments than RFID tags with electronic circuitry. They tend to work over a wider temperature range; these tags also are less sensitive to RF interference.

error correcting code When product data is placed on an RFID tag, a special piece of data called an error correcting code is created based on the product data using a known algorithm. The algorithm (or rule) used to create the correcting code is called the error correcting protocol. When the tag is activated and read, the reader pulls out the product data as well as the ECC. The reader uses the error correcting protocol on the product data, and compares the result to the ECC. If they match, the reader knows that the data has been read correctly. Similar methods are used in most data transfer systems to ensure the correctness of each data packet as it moves from one part of the system to another. A reader that performs this check automatically is said to be in error correcting mode.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Applications

RFID Applications Tracking Books in Libraries Inventory Tracking Walmart required it of their top 100 vendors Authorized building access (Prox Cards) Passports (recently in US)

Portal Applications Material Tracking

RFID Applications For toll booths (or any “pay for entry” system) Airport Baggage ID Car keys, wireless entry Animals Hospital Patients

Portal Applications Electronic receipt & dispatch Wrong destination alert Electronic marking Pallet/container item tracking

Application Examples Material Handling Wireless / Batch By Destination Inventory Management Material Handling By Destination Where is it going? Where has it been? Should it be here? Where is it? What is it? What is inside the box? Material Handling Aggregate / De-aggregate Material Handling Inspecting / Maintaining Has this been repaired? Is this under warrantee? Has this been inspected? Is this complete? What is the asset’s status or state? What have I assembled or disassembled? How many do I have? Do I have enough?

Intelligent Labels

SMART CARD Vs RFID….. Contactless smart cards are a very different technology from RFID tags.  Both are wireless, meaning they can communicate using radio like a cell phone, but contactless smart cards are far more advanced and secure. Contactless smart cards have small but sophisticated computers inside them.  They deliver the highest levels of computer security to protect your identity, privacy or financial information.  Contactless smart card technology is suitable for uses such as identity credentials, passports and payment cards. RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) tags and labels are used mostly in manufacturing, shipping and object-related tracking.  They have minimal built-in support for security and privacy.  WalMart and others have been working to use RFID tags to replace bar codes on store-bought items to scan purchases and track inventory. Another important difference is how far away someone can read the cards or tags.  Contactless smart card technology has a very limited read range of four inches or less to prevent tracking.  You can read RFID tags from much further away, however, up to thirty feet.  This RFID feature lets you find items in a warehouse or identify railcars as they pass by, typical uses of RFID.

RFID Shortfalls Cost UHF signals problematic near metal and water Transceiver ~ $1000 RFID Tags $0.20 each Not competitive with cost of barcode UHF signals problematic near metal and water Reader Collisions Can be overcome using TDMA Tag Collisions Required some engineering of tag transmit timing Security Concerns 25

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)

Standard RFID Operating Frequencies ISO 18000-2 ~ 135 kHz ISO 18000-6 ~ 800-960 MHz ISO 18000-3 ~ 13.56 MHz ISO 18000-4 ~ 2.45 GHz ISO 18000-7 ~ 433 MHz

ISO 18000-2 Operates at >135 KHz Inductive Unaffected by presence of water Short range (a few centimeters) Fairly costly because of coil in tAG

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

ISO 18000-4 Operates at 2.45 GHz 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 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

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