RFID 101 The Basics

State of the Market

4 RFID Is Not Emerging Anymore More than a billion transponders deployed world-wide RFID has been delivering ROI RFID has created new markets 4 The EPC drive and demand for compliance has accelerated the RFID market 4 The Market is poised for a new generation of supply chain applications 4 Industry analysts expect exponential growth from millions to billions

So What is RFID ....?

4 It is an automatic way to collect information or data on:
Products Places Times Transactions

4 Identification is performed in milliseconds

No Line-of-sight is required Contactless Works in Harsh environments Multiple tags can be read simultaneously

4 RFID Tags Can

Store unique information Read and write data to the tag Serve as a portable data carrier
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Some Vital Vocabulary

4 Antenna - The antenna is the part of the system that radiates the RF energy to, and receives energy from the transponder. 4 Anti-collision A reading system that allows more than one transponder in the reader field simultaneously without producing an error report or blocking transaction.
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4 Encryption of Data A system that scrambles its data to prevent unauthorized duplication.
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4 Frequency The part of the radio frequency spectrum in which the RFID system operates. E.g. Low Frequency (120 ~ 140 kHz)
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More Vital Vocabulary

4 Read range The maximum distance between the antenna and a transponder in a radio frequency system at which the signals can be properly received, either for reading the data encoded in the transponder or for re-programming.
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4 Reader (Interrogator) - In an RF system, the device containing the digital electronics which triggers the transponder to respond, and extracts and validates the information from the transponder's modulated RF response. Readers can also write information to tags 4 Transponder - An electronic TRANSmitter/resPONDER which is attached to the object to be identified and, when appropriate signals are received, transmits information as radio signals to a reader. 4 UID Unique Identifier - A number that uniquely identifies the transponder. This is used for addressing each transponder individually.

Transferring Energy
4 A battery-less tag gets its energy from the antennas signal
The radio waves are generated by the readers antenna.
Antenna Reader

Tag

A tag in the RF field uses energy from the radio waves to respond to the readers commands
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The Radio Spectrum

4 RFID tags operate at a number of frequencies.
Each frequency band has quite different characteristics These characteristics are exploited by applications

RADIO FREQUENCY SPECTRUM

100 kHz 1 MHz 10 MHz 100 MHz 1 GHz 10 GHz

LF

MF

HF

VHF

UHF

120 ~ 134 kHz

13.56 MHz

2.45 GHz5.8 GHz 868 ~ 915 MHz (Europe/ US)

Low Frequency (ISO 11784/5 ISO 14223)

High Frequency (ISO 15693/ ISO 14443/ ISO 18000-3)

UHF (Emerging standards)

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Transferring Energy to the Tag

4 Radio Waves
ELECTRIC (E) FIELD

Radio signals are electromagnetic waves, having a magnetic component and an electric component. LF & HF systems use the Magnetic field to transfer power by induction. This field has a well defined zone but the strength of this field falls off quickly. UHF systems use the Electric field to transfer power by capacitive coupling. The strength of this field doesnt fall off as quickly, so potentially longer read distances are possible. Reflections mean that the reading zone is less well defined.
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MAGNETIC (H) FIELD

Low Frequency Systems

100 kHz

1 MHz

10 MHz
VHF

100 MHz

1 GHz

10 GHz

LF

MF

HF

UHF

120 ~ 134 kHz

13.56 MHz

2.45 GHz5.8 GHz 860 ~ 960 MHz (Europe/ US/Japan)

Low Frequency (ISO1 1784/5 ISO14223)

High Frequency (ISO15693/ ISO 14443)

UHF (Emerging standards)

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Characteristics of LF Systems
4 Most tags operate at frequencies between 120 to 134 kHz 4 LF radio waves will pass through most materials, with the exception of metals, with almost no reduction in read range. 4 Compact ferrite cored glass packaged tags can be used. (10 yrs life immersed) 4 The magnetic field although falling off quickly, creates a reliably defined homogeneous read zone. 4 Data-rates are slow though and systems capable of reading multiple tags at the same time are rare. 4 Tags are more expensive than those at higher frequencies
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LF Transponders
4 Examples of LF tags

32mm and 23mm glass capsule transponders

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LF Applications (1)
4 Livestock Applications
Reads in wet, dirty conditions

Pig Identification

Sheep Identification

Fish Identification

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LF Applications (2)
4 Livestock Applications
Accredited Identification schemes

Sale Yards/ Auctions

Milking Parlours

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LF Applications (3)
4 General Applications
Reads in tough conditions

Leisure Facility Management Marathon events

Waste

Mngmn aae et
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LF Applications (4)
4 General Applications
Defined read zone

Automobile Immobilisers

SpeedPass

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LF Standards
For Livestock the following standards exist: i ISO 11784 RFID of animals Code structure i ISO 11785 RFID of animals Technical concepts i ISO 14223-1 RFID of Animals Advanced transponders; Air Interface i ISO 14223-2 RFID of Animals Advanced Transponders; Protocol It is likely that ISO 14223-2 will become part of the emerging generic ISO standard:i ISO 18000-2 Physical Layer. Anti-collision and Protocol for systems less than 135 KHz (Final Committee Draft) For waste management too, standards are emerging:

i DIN 30745
This is currently a national standard but is expected shortly to emerge as a European standard
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