1.a... 1st Day, RFID Fundamentals1

asia technologies
Invites you for a

Walk Thro’
The land of
“RFID”
Asia Technologies Limited – Training Materials – All Rights Reserved

Auto Identification Technologies
Help machines
to identify
Objects, People and Animals.

Other Auto Id Technologies
• Bar code
• OCR
• Voice Recognition
• Biometrics (retinal scan, Fingerprint,etc)

What is RFID?
People
Objects &
Radio waves
to identify
animals

How to identify?
• Storing Serial number of “subject” to be identified on

an attached microchip equipped with antenna
• This Serial number is termed as

“Unique Identification Code”
(UID)

Barcode
Most pervasive Auto ID Technology is Barcode
BARCODE VS RFID
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE

Barcode Vs RFID
BARCODE RFID
LOS is needed No need for LOS

Requires Physical Physical contact with the
contact reader is not required
Individual scanning Several tags can be read at a
time
Affected by moisture Withstands harsh environment
Limited storage capacity Higher storage capacity

RFID Components
• Reader or Interrogator
• Tag or Transponder
• Host computer (Back-end system)

Elements of RFID System

Reader Functions
• Queries the tag
• Obtains information (about product)
• Decodes the message received from the tag
• Conveys tag information to the back-end system

for processing

Reader – What’s inside?

Tag
Microchip
+
Antenna } Transponder (or) Tag

Passive Transponder
What’s inside ?

Types of tag
Passive tag - Draws power from the reader signal.
Active tag - With battery on board.
Semipassive -Passive tag with small battery.

It usually incorporates onboard
SENSOR to monitor state of item
such as temperature. Sleeps until
awakened by reader.
Classification of tag
• Read Only - Programmed by the manufacturer
• WORM - Write Once-Read Many

User initialized after manufacture
• Read/Write - Information read from or written

into the tag by the reader/Writer
- Asymmetric read and write
operating range

Transponder Examples

HOW RF BEHAVES?
METAL – Metals reflect RF

Radio waves bounce off metals
WATER/LIQUIDS– RF Waves are absorbed to

varying degrees
“RFID using LF(<150 KHZ) exhibits better

performance and stability in above environments”

Interference
• Metal interferences
Metal packaging blocks / corrupts signal
some tags may not be read when attached to metal
• Frequency interferences
Limits identification of a particular tag when
surrounded by other tags operating at same
frequency.

Data Rate Vs Frequency
• The larger the quantum of data to be read in given

time, the higher the frequency to be deployed in
RFID
• For reading bulk data in short span of time, higher

frequencies are used.
E.g.. multiple tags in mobile environments.

RFID Frequencies
RFID is characterized by the frequencies used for

identification.
 Low Frequency - < 135 KHZ

 High Frequency - 13.56 MHZ
 UHF Frequency - 860-960 MHZ
 Microwave (SHF) - 2.4 & 5.9 GHZ

LF Advantages
• Free from regulatory limitations
• Well suited for applications requiring reading small

amount of data at slow speeds and minimum distance.
• Penetrates material well (water, tissue, wood)

LF Disadvantages
• Does not penetrate or transmit around metals
• Handles only small amount of data
• Slow read speeds
• Large antennas
• Minimum range
Tag Construction
• Thicker (compared to 13.56MHz)
• More complex (more turns required)
• More expensive (compared to 13.56MHz)

HF Advantages
• Well suited for applications requiring reading small

amount of data and minimum distance
• Penetrate water/tissue well
• Simple antenna design
• Less expensive
• Higher data rate
• Thinner tag construction (compared to LF)
This is popularly known as

“smart card frequency”

HF Disadvantages
• Does not penetrate or transmit around metal

• Large antenna size (compared to UHF/Microwave
frequencies)
• Larger tag size than at higher frequencies
• Read range < 0.7 m

UHF Advantages
• Effective around metals

• Ideal for range > 1m
• Tag size smaller than HF
• Smaller antenna
• Higher data rate
• Controlled read zone (thro’ antenna directionality)

UHF
Disadvantages
• Does not penetrate water/tissue
• Regulations (different frequency bands in different

countries)

Tag Reading Capability
Anti collision
-- Ability to communicate with several

transponders simultaneously
-- Important in longer range readers
-- Implemented at silicon chip design

stage

STANDARDS – Why?
• To increase customer confidence in new technology
• To promote worldwide RFID acceptance and
technology advancement
• To broad base market for manufacturers stimulate
competition and reduce costs for end users.
• To facilitate application development by
encouraging interoperability & by reducing
customization
• To provide development platform for
complementary products (software translators,
hardware accessories)

RFID STANDARDS
Two international standards making bodies
ISO EPC Global

Conflicting
EPC Objectives:
• Primary Mission Low cost tag standard
• Standard to be open for tracking purposes
• Open Network architecture
to enable anyone to access the information from
database using unique ID.

EPC – Tag Data Format
• Size -- 96 bits
• Header -- Defines data types(8 bit)
• EPC Manager-- Details of orginator(34 bit)
• Object Class -- Describes Product type(20 bit)
• Serial number -- Unique ID for Product(34 bit)

UHF RFID standard for India
• India adopts 865-867 MHz for RFID
• Wireless Planning and Co-ordination (WPC) Under

Ministry of Communication assigned the 865-
867MHz band for RFID

Applications
Broad Classes
• Proximity or Short Range
• Vicinity or Long Range
Proximity – E.g.. Access control

Mass transit ticketing
Vicinity –E.g.. Railcar tracking

Highway toll collection
Supply chain management
RFID Applications
Broadly applied to five market segments
• Track &Trace
• Manufacturing
• Asset management
• Security & access control
• Consumer applications

Track & Trace
• Track and trace is a broad umbrella concept

popularly known as SCM
• The right label can take the labor out of track and
trace processes
Includes Parcel and postal application

Tagging pallets, cases & returnable containers

• Gives total asset visibility
• Date of manufacture written into tag memory
to facilitate selling by date & avoiding
spoilage and out of stock

Parcel and post
• Improves tracking
during sorting and
delivery processes
Features:
• Line of sight not
required
• Orientation of items is
not a concern

Manufacturing
• Most technologically advanced element of supply

chain
• Sophisticated IT system geared for real time data
• Manufacturer assumes responsibility for product
life cycle management
• Potential gains in terms of cost reduction & added
value

Manufacturing
Features on assembly line:
• Read/write tags
• High accuracy
• Real-time inventory of raw material, WIP & finished
goods.
• Enables tracking of product genealogy

Manufacturing
• Monitoring of
post production
performance
• Simplifies
product recall
• Realization of JIT

Asset management
For high value items in

• Warehouses
• Manufacturing plants
• Offices
• Complexes
Using
• RFID tag – transmitting periodic signals
• Intelligent locators
• Central computer

Asset management
Common Applications:
• Library management
• File & document tracking
• Gas cylinder management
• Warehouse management

Library management
Features:
 Automates issues and returns
 Provides real time inventory visibility
 Scanners on shelves for automated inventory
 Minimizes labor cost

File and document tracking
Important and valuable document files can be

RFID tagged to facilitate security, location
tracking and filing.

Gas cylinder management
• Reduction of gas
cylinder losses
• Delivery warranty
• Personalized
invoice
• Automation of
processes

Warehouse management

Warehouse Management
Manages Warehouse,Inventor
y
Special equipment,
Labor resources
To direct flow of
material & information Receiving, Put-away
Light assembly
Order pick-up &
Shipment

Security & access control
• Data from smartcard sent to control zone computer
• After authentication door/gate is released for entry/exit
• For high security areas, biometric feature is included
• Operates with long range antenna controlling turnstile or
revolving door
• Data display system to facilitate supervision
Common Applications:
 Access control
 Airline baggage tagging
 Parking lot access
 Vehicle identification

Access control
• Involves identity card with RFID tag

Feature:
• Contactless, secure & tamper-proof
Airline Baggage tagging
Airlines have successfully

run. RFID trials
• Improved read rates(99%)

with RFID
• Rewriting feature on tag
provides additional
functionality at
checkpoints

Parking Lot Access
RFID Provides
 Quick identification of
vacant lots
 Automatically records
entry/exit data
 Provides complete
vehicle history
 Automated collection of
parking tolls

Vehicle identification
Environment:
• Fleet and vehicles in
facility
Features:
• Determines current
position of each vehicle in
facility
• Information stored in
database for integration
with fleet MIS

Consumer applications
Typical
 Garments
 Laundry
 Healthcare
 Automatic ticketing
 Retail
 Jewellery management

Garments
• Value for brand owners

• Authentication of
garments by unique
identity
• Facilitates detection of
counterfeit
• Minimizes shrinkage
and out of stock

Laundry
• Most reliable automation
• Increased productivity &
profitability because of 100% read
rate
• 100% Tracking from laundry to

customer premises
• Reduction of losses - Optimum

inventory management
Healthcare

Automatic ticketing
• Contactless card / ticket

used
Feature:
• Minimal reader
maintenance
• Eliminate fraudulent use
of counterfeit tickets

Jewellery management
• Designed to manage &

track at retail level
Feature:
• Increases operational
efficiency, security and
accuracy of inventory
management
• Avoids theft and loss of
jewels
Miscellaneous applications
 Animal tagging
 Waste management
 Road toll management
 Sports time recording
 Paper reel tracking
 People tracking
 Ore tracking

Animal identification
• Mandatory in US & Canada
consequent to mad cow disease
• provides information regarding
identity and lineage of animals
Technology Features:
• 135KHz LF used (ISO 11784, ISO
11785)
• Read rates 90% max, short range
& directional sensitivity
• UHF system with better read rates
under consideration.
Waste management
• Facilitates Real time monitoring of operations

• Optimization of Waste collection
• Accurate billing for the citizen

Automatic toll collection
Benefits:
• Increases patron convenience
and safety with nonstop
payment
• Improves traffic flow/reduces
commute times
• Reduces traffic congestion
• Lowers operating costs for toll
operators
• Provides proven reliability and
unparalleled accuracy

Sports Timing
• Records or collect the perfect
timing data of athletes in
marathon
Features:
• Withstand harsh weather
condition because the glass tag is
packaged in specially designed
plastic
• Guards against Fraud
Paper reel tracking
• Tracking paper reel thro’

production & further
through global paper
supply chains
• Paper reels are moved on
conveyer belts and by
clamp trucks
• Provide 100% multi read capability

• RFID reader positioned on conveyor belt, clamp trucks
& docking doors

People tracking
Used in
• Entrance management for
security
• Contact management at events
• Monitoring physical movements
• Baby tags in hospitals
Goals:
• To obtain real time location of individual within tracking zone
• Provide value added services with same infrastructure

Ore tracking

Ore tracking
• Tracking of wet ores on conveyor belt in rugged

mining environment
• Reliable reading at conveyor speeds up to 5m/sec
• Tag with primary flexible packaging and

secondary packaging of PU
• Reader height: 30-50cm above are.

RFID in the pharmaceutical
industry
• Pedigree reporting: Track medications from
component parts to distribution
• Anti-counterfeiting: Identify counterfeit drugs
before they are distributed
• Anti-diversion: Improve the distribution of drugs
according to need
• Cold chain management: Verify the proper
transport of temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals

What is the limit...

What happens to the RFID data
gathered by readers?
This data is processed by
“MIDDLEWARE”

What is middleware?
Software layer residing between
RFID hardware
&
Existing back-end system application software

System Infrastructure
Reader
m
i Ent
d erp
d rise
l Ap
e plic
w ati
.. a on
r
.. e

What does it do?
Extracts data from readers
Filters
Aggregates the information
Routes data to enterprise system (WMS, ERP

etc)
What does RFID cost
Fixed costs
• Readers
• Antenna
• Printers
• Network infrastructure
• Data collection software
• Business middleware
• Integration, installation and training
Variable costs
• Tag
• Tag application (labor support and maintenance)
Hardware Cost Trends
Initially
High Costs inhibited adoption of RFID
Now
• With advances in Technology
• Standardization efforts
There is steady decline in costs.

Prices will plummet

Benefits of RFID
• Facilitates process automation
• Improves security & prevents theft through access
control
• Determines real time location of tagged objects
• Improves management of tracked objects
• Authenticates products and protects brand name &
know-how
• Promotes enterprise- wide innovation

Omron rfid
RFID Hardware
Vendors
symbol

RFID is
Simply NOT a PRODUCT
But
an Enabled Technology

RFID - as a technology
• Changes old ways of doing things

Alters competitive position
• Create new industry

Changes work practices
Expands the role of system integration
• Brings a fundamental different value proposition

RFID - as a technology
• Leads to emergence of
new products
Redefinition of industry
Shake-up of competitive structure
• Fundamentally changes market for products

and services of companies

RFID is not hype
It is

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asia technologies

Invites you for a

Asia Technologies Limited – Training Materials – All Rights Reserved

Objects, People and Animals.

Asia Technologies Limited – Training Materials – All Rights Reserved

• Biometrics (retinal scan, Fingerprint,etc)

Asia Technologies Limited – Training Materials – All Rights Reserved

Asia Technologies Limited – Training Materials – All Rights Reserved

• Storing Serial number of “subject” to be identified on

• This Serial number is termed as

Asia Technologies Limited – Training Materials – All Rights Reserved

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE

Asia Technologies Limited – Training Materials – All Rights Reserved

LOS is needed No need for LOS

Asia Technologies Limited – Training Materials – All Rights Reserved

• Host computer (Back-end system)

Asia Technologies Limited – Training Materials – All Rights Reserved

Asia Technologies Limited – Training Materials – All Rights Reserved

• Queries the tag

• Obtains information (about product)

• Decodes the message received from the tag

• Conveys tag information to the back-end system

Asia Technologies Limited – Training Materials – All Rights Reserved

Asia Technologies Limited – Training Materials – All Rights Reserved

Asia Technologies Limited – Training Materials – All Rights Reserved

Asia Technologies Limited – Training Materials – All Rights Reserved

Passive tag - Draws power from the reader signal.

Active tag - With battery on board.

Semipassive -Passive tag with small battery.

• WORM - Write Once-Read Many

• Read/Write - Information read from or written

Asia Technologies Limited – Training Materials – All Rights Reserved

Asia Technologies Limited – Training Materials – All Rights Reserved

METAL – Metals reflect RF

WATER/LIQUIDS– RF Waves are absorbed to

“RFID using LF(<150 KHZ) exhibits better

Asia Technologies Limited – Training Materials – All Rights Reserved

Asia Technologies Limited – Training Materials – All Rights Reserved

• The larger the quantum of data to be read in given

• For reading bulk data in short span of time, higher

Asia Technologies Limited – Training Materials – All Rights Reserved

RFID is characterized by the frequencies used for

 Low Frequency - < 135 KHZ

Asia Technologies Limited – Training Materials – All Rights Reserved

• Free from regulatory limitations

• Well suited for applications requiring reading small

• Penetrates material well (water, tissue, wood)

Asia Technologies Limited – Training Materials – All Rights Reserved

Asia Technologies Limited – Training Materials – All Rights Reserved

• Well suited for applications requiring reading small

This is popularly known as

Asia Technologies Limited – Training Materials – All Rights Reserved

• Does not penetrate or transmit around metal

Asia Technologies Limited – Training Materials – All Rights Reserved

• Effective around metals

Asia Technologies Limited – Training Materials – All Rights Reserved

• Does not penetrate water/tissue

• Regulations (different frequency bands in different

Asia Technologies Limited – Training Materials – All Rights Reserved

-- Ability to communicate with several

-- Important in longer range readers

-- Implemented at silicon chip design

Asia Technologies Limited – Training Materials – All Rights Reserved