1JB Jan 2006

RFID Frequency Overview to Application fit

2JB Jan 2006

The Radio Spectrum

RADIO FREQUENCY SPECTRUM

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

2.45 GHz 5.8 GHz

LF MF HF VHF UHF

13.56 MHz

High Frequency (ISO15693/ ISO 14443/

ISO18000-3)

120 ~ 134 kHz

Low Frequency(ISO11784/5 ISO14223)

850 ~ 960 MHz (Europe / US / Japan)

UHF (ISO 18000-6, EPCglobal)

● “RFID tags exhibit different characteristics at different frequencies and it is highly unlikely that there will ever be one tag that can be used with all applications”– This presentation looks at the characteristics of battery-less

tags operating in the different bands and their associated International standards :

3JB Jan 2006

Transferring Energy

The radio waves are generated by the reader’s antenna.

A tag in the RF field uses energy from the radio waves to respond to the reader’s commands

● A battery-less tag gets its energy from the antenna’s signal

Tag

Antenna

Reader

4JB Jan 2006

Transferring Energy to the Tag

● Radio WavesELECTRIC (E)

FIELD

MAGNETIC (H)FIELD

– Radio signals are electromagnetic waves, having a magnetic component (H-Field) and an electric component (E-Field)

– LF & HF systems use the Magneticfield 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 doesn’t fall off as quickly, so potentially longer read distances are possible. Reflections mean that the reading zone is less well defined.

5JB Jan 2006

System Configuration

foil antenna

ICresonance capacitor+ tuning

LF(HDX)

Charge upcapacitor

coil

res. capacitor

ferrite IC

Command / Data / Energy

Data

Reader

Antenna

HF(FDX)

6JB Jan 2006

Low Frequency Systems

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

2.45 GHz5.8 GHz

LF MF HF VHF UHF

13.56 MHz

High Frequency (ISO15693/ ISO 14443)

120 ~ 134 kHz

Low Frequency(ISO11784/5 ISO14223)

860 ~ 960 MHz (Europe / US / Japan)

UHF (Emerging standards)

7JB Jan 2006

LF Characteristics

● Characteristics of Low Frequency Systems

– LF radio waves will pass through all materials, with the exception of metals, with almost no reduction in read range.

– LF frequencies allow adequate power levels to be used worldwide and without special licensing.

– Allows compact packaged tag designs. Ferrite cores and glass housing can be used. (>10 yrs life immersed)

– Tags, typically designed for lifetime use, are more expensive than those at higher frequencies

– The magnetic field although falling off quickly, creates a reliably defined homogeneous read zone.

– Data-rates are relatively slow though and systems capable of reading multiple tags at the same time are rare.

– Information can also be written to the tags (Read/Write technology)

– Most tags operate at frequencies between 120 to 134 kHz . These frequencies have wavelengths of approximately 2500 m (8200 ‘)

8JB Jan 2006

FDX System Overview

● An FDX AM System– Transmitter on 100% of time– Response at different frequency– Fighting against its own noise– Raising the power – raises the

noise

POWER CODE

CONTROL

RX/ DECODE

TX

RX

READER TRANSPONDER

9JB Jan 2006

HDX System Overview

● An HDX FM System– Transmits in bursts– Tags respond in radio silence– Raising the power doesn’t raise

the noise

TX

RX

CODE

CONTROL

RX/ DECODE

READER TRANSPONDER

POWER

TX/ CONTROL

Charge Capacitor

10JB Jan 2006

● Uplink Transmission– Frequencies: 123.2/134.2 kHz– Modulation: FM (FSK)– Coded: NRZ– Bandwidth: 25 kHz

LF - HDX System

11JB Jan 2006

AM vs. FM Uplink● FM System

– Uses Frequency Shift keying

– Exhibits ‘signal capture’allowing the reader to discriminate between tags close together by locking onto the strongest signal.

– More noise immune than AM

● AM System– Uses Amplitude Shift

Keying ■ Transmitter 100% on or

Off– Easier to implement

RX

f1 f2

AM-Noise

Δf = Information

amax amin Amplitude

AM-Noise

Δa = Information

12JB Jan 2006

LF Transponders

● Examples of LF tags

32mm and 23mm glass capsule transponders

13JB Jan 2006

LF Transponders

Customized packages

14JB Jan 2006

LF Applications

● Typical requirements LF Applications

– Lifetime ID– Compact robust packages– Working in harsh, industrial and outdoor

conditions– Defined read zones

15JB Jan 2006

LF Applications (1)● Livestock Applications

– Lifetime ID under harsh, outdoor conditions

Cattle

Fish and Wildlife

Sheep

16JB Jan 2006

LF Applications● Livestock ID

– Accredited Identification schemes– Trace ability assurance– Farm Management

On the move

On Farm

Defined read zones

17JB Jan 2006

LF Applications

● General Applications– All weather conditions

Sportstiming

Leisure Facility Management

Waste Management

18JB Jan 2006

LF Applications● General Applications

– Defined read zone

SpeedPassAutomobile Immobilisers

19JB Jan 2006

LF Applications

• General Applications• Life time ID security

• Container terminals Rotterdam, Hamburg

• Automatic guided Vehicles• Navigation System• Tags in the surface, reader

on the vehicles

20JB Jan 2006

LF Applications

•General Applications•life time ID security

• Holland flower auctions• Over 200.000 roll cages• Floor chain readers• On the fly read points• On-time delivery after auction• Container management• Tr & Tr goods and equipment

21JB Jan 2006

LF Readers

TI Standard Versions

22JB Jan 2006

LF Readers

Customized packages

23JB Jan 2006

LF Antenna’s

TI Standard Versions

24JB Jan 2006

LF Antenna’s

Customized Versions

25JB Jan 2006

LF Standards

● LF applications utilize the strengths of this frequency.– The ability to read through materials; to be able to read in wet and dirty

conditions and a well defined read zone have seen these tags used in livestock, waste management applications and payment systems.

– For Livestock the following standards exist:■ ISO 11784 RFID of animals – Code structure■ ISO 11785 RFID of animals – Technical concepts■ ISO 14223-1 RFID of Animals – Advanced transponders; Air Interface■ ISO 14223-2 RFID of Animals – Advanced Transponders; ProtocolIt is likely that ISO 14223-2 will become part of the generic ISO standard:-■ ISO 18000-2 Physical Layer. Anti-collision and Protocol for systems

– For waste management too, standards are emerging:

less than 135 KHz (Final Committee Draft)

■ DIN 30745

This is currently a German national standard but is expected shortly to emerge as a European standard

26JB Jan 2006

High Frequency Systems

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

2.45 GHz5.8 GHz

LF MF HF VHF UHF

13.56 MHz

High Frequency (ISO15693/ ISO 14443/

ISO18000-3)

120 ~ 134 kHz

Low Frequency(ISO11784/5 ISO14223)

860 ~ 960 MHz (Europe / US / Japan)

UHF (Emerging standards)

27JB Jan 2006

HF Characteristics

● Characteristics of High Frequency Systems

– The radio waves will pass through most materials, with the exception of metals, but some reduction in read range will occur.

– This frequency is now available at adequate power levels worldwide and without special licensing.

– Tags are mainly in label (flat) format

– The magnetic field, although falling off quickly, creates a reliably defined homogeneous read zone.

– Systems are capable of reading multiple tags at the same time at this higher frequency.

– Information can also be written to the tags (Read/Write technology)

– Tags operate at 13.56 MHz . This frequency has a wavelength of approximately 22 m (72’)

28JB Jan 2006

HF Transponders● Examples of HF Tags

Smart Label inlays CD inlays

Laundry Tag Wireless Payments (ISO 14443) AMEX Express Pay

29JB Jan 2006

HF Applications (1)● Product Management

Multiple Tray Identification

Tray Programming

Courtesy of Intellident

Courtesy of Intellident

30JB Jan 2006

HF Applications (2)● Stock Management

– Defined read zone

On-Shelf Identification

Library Systems Management

31JB Jan 2006

HF Applications (3)● Customer Loyalty

Intelligent Changing Facilities

32JB Jan 2006

HF Applications (4)● Payments

American Express

Shell Canada

33JB Jan 2006

HF Standards

● At 13.56 MHz standards exist for both Proximity & Vicinity applications

– Vicinity applications include product identification and tracking, and would be capable of identifying objects up to 1m (39 “):■ ISO/IEC 15693 Identification cards -- Contactless integrated circuit(s)

cards – Vicinity cards

– Proximity applications are mainly concerned with ticketing and payments, where reading distances are up to 100 mm (4 “):■ ISO/IEC 14443 Identification cards -- Contactless integrated circuit(s) cards

– Proximity cards

– There is also an emerging generic ISO standard for RFID systems operating at 13.56 MHz:■ ISO/IEC 18000-3 Physical Layer, Anti-collision and Protocol for

13.56 MHz systems

– Additionally there is also a proposed EPC recommendation for 13.56 MHz■ 13.56 MHz ISM Band Class 1 Radio Frequency Identification Tag Interface

34JB Jan 2006

Ultra High Frequency Systems

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

2.45 GHz5.8 GHz

LF MF HF VHF UHF

13.56 MHz

High Frequency (ISO15693/ ISO 14443)

120 ~ 134 kHz

Low Frequency(ISO11784/5 ISO14223)

850 ~ 960 MHz (Europe / US /.Japan)

UHF (Emerging standards)

35JB Jan 2006

UHF Characteristics

● Characteristics of Ultra High Frequency Systems

– Currently, this frequency does not have at the same power levels worldwide. In the USA the limit is 4W EIRP, in Europe the limit has been raised to 2W ERP -equivalent to 3.28W EIRP. The limits in Japan are the same as North America.

– UHF radio waves do not readily pass through materials and water/Ice are a particular problem. Metals reflect signals, liquids absorb the signals.

– Tags tend to be long and are mainly applied as labels (flat format). When tags are made more compact, performance can drop. To optimise performance, tags have to be designed for each type of material they are applied too.

– The electric field gives extended reading performance but defining the reading zone can be problematic.

– Systems are capable of reading multiple tags and extracting large amounts of data in a short time, at these higher frequencies.

– Tags operate at slightly different frequencies in various parts of the world - 868 MHz in Europe & parts of Asia, 902 ~ 915 MHz in the USA and more recently, the 952~954 MHz band has been proposed for use in Japan. The wavelength is around 300 mm (12”)

36JB Jan 2006

UHF Characteristics● Examples of UHF tags

Copyright © 2005 Texas Instruments

37JB Jan 2006

UHF Applications (1)● Garment-on-rail Tracking

Garment distributionMarks and Spencer

38JB Jan 2006

UHF Applications (2)● Pallet Level Applications

Pallet Tracking Pallet load Tracking

39JB Jan 2006

UHF Applications (3)

Pallet load Tracking

Identification at the Dock Door

Antenna

Antenna

Antenna

Antenna

40JB Jan 2006

Emerging UHF Standards

● Two main bodies are currently developing standards:

■ ISO/IEC ISO 18000-6 defines worldwide air-interface protocols for UHF Tag operations http://www.iso.org

– Eventually the EPC Gen 2 standard will be incorporated into ISO 18000-6 as Type C.

■ EPCglobal An EAN/UCC initiative (out of work by the MIT Auto-ID Center) to create a global Electronic Product Code structure to identify each individual item but also includes air interface (UHF) definitions http://www.epcglobalinc.org

41JB Jan 2006

Inlay Characteristics - Moisture

● Influence of materials on Read Range

0102030405060708090

100

Rea

d R

ange

%

Paper Plastic Water Film Immersion

LFHFUHF

Anticipated read range but actual may vary depending on manufacturer and antenna design.

42JB Jan 2006

Transponder Comparative Read Ranges

HF

INLA

Y

Size Does Matter

7000

5000

1100

1000

900

800

700

600

500

400

LF W

EDG

E LF K

EY

FOB

LF G

LAS

S

LF D

ISC

LF M

OM LF

82-

mm

DIS

C

RE

AD

ING

RA

NG

E (m

m)

COMPARATIVE READ RANGE

UH

F Si

ngle

Ant

enna

Anticipated read range but actual may vary depending on manufacturer and antenna design.

Copyright © 2005 Texas Instruments

43JB Jan 2006

Frequency LF HF UHF125 ~ 135 kHz 13.56 MHz 850 ~ 960 MHz

Read Range 0.5 ~ 1 m < 1m > 3m

Cost Relatively expensive Less expensive Least expensive

Penetration Excellent Poorof materials

Affected No To some extent Yesby water?

Power source Passive (Inductive) Passive (Inductive) Passive (Capacitive)

Data Rate Slower Faster

Reading Poor Good Very GoodMultiple tags

Applications Car immobilisers, Animal “Pharma”, Libraries Pallet/ Case tracking, Tollsidentification, POS Baggage tracking, Tickets Baggage tracking

Payments, Passports

Frequency Selection Summary