Radio Frequency Identification

A primer

Outline

1. RFID history2. A technology overview3. Passive RFID4. Semi active RFID5. Active RFID6. Applications

RFID History•Can be traced back to world war 2•For tracking friends or enemy with radar•Backscatter of the radar signal

Watson-Watt with the first radar apparatus

First RFID patent in January 23, 1973

Mid 1980s a passage system was developed at Los Alamos- widely used today

A 125 KHz system for identification of cows – 1980sHigher frequency not used at the time: 13.56 MHz mostly used in Europe for container tracking

Early 1990 IBM developed and patented a UHF (900 MHz) using backscatter.

Sold to Intermek in mid 90s

Uniform Code Council, EAN International, Procter & Gamble and Gillette forms Auto –ID center 1999

RFID Technology

What is an RFID system

A tag that can be read from a distance is identifying an object

Information can be read and stored on the tag.

Replacement for bar codes

Two basic types of systemsPassive RFID system

Powered by the radio field of the readerActive RFID systems

Powered by a power source in the tagSemi active system

Uses power source on the tag but not for sending any radio energy

Passive RFID systemsOperates in different frequencies

From 200 kHz to 5 GHzUnder 100 MHz the systems are called LFAt frequencies of 800 MHz and over the systems are called UHF system

Operation of LF RFIDOperates in the near field of the reader

There is an electromagnetic coupling between the reader and the tag

The reader incuses energy into the tag

A capacitor in the tag is charged

The tag transits information by loading a coil in the tag.

Operation frequencies for LF tags

Low frequency: 200 kHzBig reader antennasLong range: several metersNot sensitive to moisture

Operation frequency 13.56 MHz

Smaller reader antennasCheaper tag implementationsShort reader range: 0.1 m

RFID system operating in the UHF frequency bands

Operating in the far field of the reader

Uses Backscatter to send information to the reader

How it worksThe reader sends out a radio waveA capacitor in the tag is charged The tag circuitry switches a resistor on the antennaA backscatter reflection is modulated in this way

PerformanceUHF is sensitive to moistureRange of up to 2 mGood throughput performance: approx 300 Kbps

Problems

The reader radiates much energySever interference between readersVery sensitive to object material.

Key performance figuresAntenna radiation resistance: 300 OhmsMinimum input power: -16dBmOutput power: 1 µA

The ISO 18000-4 Standard

Part 1: Reference architectyrePart 2: Air interface below 135 kHzPart 3: Air interface at 13.56 MHzPart 4: Air interface at 2.45 GHz

Semi Active RFID systems

Traffic toll systems

Active RFID Systems

Tranciever Tranciever

Processor Processor

Radio Technology

Narrow band communicationBroad Band Communication

Internetor

Intranet

Tags

BluetoothRS232RS422LANWLANGPRS

System architecturePCHand ReaderMobile PhonePDA

Tag architecture

Antenna Tranceiver

Battery CPU

Temp. Sensor(or other sensor)

Optionalmemory

Tag typesDefault:• Identification

Custom options:• On-tag sensors

– Temperature logging– Temperature and humidity

logging– General I/O, e.g. push button– others on custom basis

• 2kbyte to 32kbyte memory configurations

• Tamper proof • Different battery options• Different casing options• Tag locator

IP54plastic casing

options

Moulded in epoxy

Embedded incell-foam

Cardtag

Embedded in helmet

System Properties• 2.45GHz ISM band• 40bit unique ID and User friendly device

name• Up to several years of operation• Wake up interval: 1 sec to 1000minutes• Connect over 100 tags/sec• Identification of goods with range of >30 m• Secure data transfer• Logging temperature with 0.5 deg accuracy• 1000 measurements in log memory• Measurement interval: 1 sec to 1000minutes• RTF- and TTF-mode• Adjustable output power• Highly configurable (over air)

Optional data• Bigger log memory• Other Sensors ( shock, angle, moist,

pressure etc)• Customized housing

Reader types• Connectivity options

– RS232 & RS422– Ethernet (*)– WLAN (*)– Bluetooth (*)– GPRS (*)

• Other options– GPS (*)– Read ID only, Read ID

and Data– Variety of antenna

options (omnidirectional, directional, high gain, attenuating)

• Supports remote firmware updates

• Configurable output power

• IP65 housing

PositionSpeedGoods locationAlerts

(*) available Q2 - 2006

Evaluation kit

Key applications

• Theft prevention / deterrence• Security and Zone control• Asset tracking• Materials handling• Worker safety• Workplace policy enforcement

– E.g. “minimum 5 workers on deck C at any one time”

• Productivity• Environment control

– Supply chain– Cold chain supervision– Warehouse– Storage

Supervision of Cold Chain

Producer

Transporter TransporterWholesalerRetailer

Customer

Reloading points•Temp. Drops•Logistic supervision

35 feet15 feet

Guardhouse

2nd reader

Directional antennas

1st reader

Toshiba

Asset managementKeep track of

objects

On-line Temperature monitoring &Automatic proof of delivery

GSM/GPRS

Mobile client

Bluetooth

GPS

Back office system

BluetoothWLANLANGSM/GPRS

Internet

Location serverMap server

Speech server?

Security concepts Hog-tie

— Ambition: theft deterrence— No continuous tracking— Asset not locked, but is likely to be detected

when passing a defined boundary

Zone-lock— Ambition: theft prevention— Continuous tracking— Asset locked to a zone under RFIDS monitoring

Position-lock— Ambition: theft prevention— Continuous tracking— Asset locked to it’s position by use of

RFIDS motion sensor and/or RTLS

Options for integration Security systems

— Door access systems, e.g. Siemens, ACT/Tyco, Sierra, Castle— CCTV cameras— Biometric identification— Motion sensors

Enterprise systems— Asset tracking systems— ERP— Inventory systems

ApplicationsOfficesCampusIndustrial compoundConstruction site

Data centreHigh security buildingsHospitalPharmaceuticalsEntertainment park

MuseumHigh value storage &transports

OfficesCampusIndustrial compoundConstruction site

Data centreHigh security buildingsHospitalPharmaceuticalsEntertainment park

MuseumHigh value storage &transports

— Hog-tie• Ambition: theft deterrence• No continuous trackingAsset not locked, but is likely to be detected

when passing a defined boundary— Zone-lock

• Ambition: theft prevention• Continuous tracking• Asset locked to a zone under RFIDS monitoring

— Position-lock• Ambition: theft prevention• Continuous tracking• Asset locked to it’s position by use of

RFIDS motion sensor and/or RTLS

Some use cases Siemens Malaysia – Hog-tie to each office floor and integration with door

access system Toshiba Malaysia – Hog-tie to facility with powerful gate readers Intel SE Asia – Zone locking of computers at central service and storage

zone SafeTool Scandinavia – Hog-tie concept for construction sites combined

with worker tracking Converge – Diagnosis of energy meeter

Concept – systems involved

Interior ExteriorSiPort Door AccessReaders (Mifare)

Hog-tie concept on each floor Tags embedded inside Dell laptops Readers located at all gates and doors. SiPort’s Access

Control also used for authorisation for bringing assets outside of facility – if carrying a asset which a staff is not authorised to carry, the SiPort door will not unlock

Siemens developing RFIDS features in it’s Asset Security System which is integrated with their SAP ERP.

Industrial equipment marketing

Theft deterrence Simplified asset check-in/check-out Marketable joint solution

RFIDS system involving F2M07 Readers and F2M08 Tags for 14 floors

F2M05 Linux server used as additional CU Project will be followed by Siemens-

Free2move technology alliance for marketing the joint solution

Consulting during design of procedures and field live runs

Concept – systems involved

Interior ExteriorFree2move F2M05 seriesLinux control unit withF2M07 series RFIDSreader

Concept – systems involved

Interior ExteriorDirectional antennaswith attenuation for reduced range

Concept – systems involved

Interior ExteriorSiPort Door-lock and Control Unit withdoor control, emergency and alarm features

Concept – systems involved

F2M08 series tags for insertion inside notebook or attaching via Kensington lock

Inside Lock-tag

Concept

Interior Exterior

RFIDS system will continuously monitor tagged notebooks in the exit area

Concept

Interior Exterior

If notebook event in the exit area, the door will remain locked until a person authorised to carry the notebook has authenticated him/herself on Mifare door access reader and/or biometric sensor

A.S.S. SERVER

Legends

TCP / IP

TTL <> RS232

TTL <> RS485

TTL <> RS485

F2M07

SiPort DoorAccess Reader

K24 Control Unit

F2M05Embedded Linux

Hardware components

Other functions within the Siemens-Free2move SiPort-RFIDS concept

Policy settings, e.g.— Some assets are never allowed to leave facility— Some assets only allowed to leave between 9 to 5— Active search for return of exited asset— Some assets can only be taken out after formal check-out

Asset movement log trail Tag management, e.g.

— Personnel ID ↔ Asset ID— Range settings of tag— Automated battery replacement

Use case: Major Japanese Consumer ElectronicsManufacturer (SE Asia)

Hog-tie concept applied to facility perimeter Tags embedded inside laptops Readers positioned at all gates and doors. Gate readers

configured to 30-50 degrees sectors and for 15 metres range

Monitoring movement and checking in andout of computers & valuable equipment

Standalone application with event reporting to ERP

Consumer Electronics Manufacturing

Reduced theft Improved asset utilisation

Free2move provider of RFIDS system Free2move’s system integration partner is

prime contractor Consulting during design of procedures and

field live runs Includes the F2M08 and F2M07 series

RFIDS tags and readers

35 feet15 feet

Guardhouse

High gain antennas

Reader

ReaderTests conducted to ensure that tagged items hidden inside vehicle (including the booth of sedan cars) will be detected when vehicle passes the gate

Tags embedded inobjects

Tracking system withalarm

Use case: Silicon manufacturer inPenang, Malaysia

Zone locking concept Tags locked to notebooks using Kensington lock-tag Readers positioned throughout the central storage and

service area Standalone application with event reporting to

corporate asset tracking and ERP system

Semi conductor manufacturing

Asset location and usage visibility Multi-facility tracking Improved asset utilisation

Free2move provider of RFIDS system Free2move’s system integration

partner is prime contractor Consulting during design of procedures

and field live runs Includes the F2M08 and F2M07 series

RFIDS tags and readers

Locus A

Locus CLocus B

Location & time trail

Use case: SafeTool

Long range RFID technology Tags embedded in silicon attached to tools & equipment Tags also carried by construction workers Monitoring movement and checking in and

out of tools & equipment

Construction industry

Reduced theft Improved worker safety Control of illegal/grey labour Control of access to construction site Optimisation of asset usage

OEM supplier of active RFID system to SafeTool

Consulting during design of procedures and field live runs

Includes the F2M08 and F2M07 series active RFID tags and readers

Additional features

Positioning of objects

Technical principals

• Time of Flight• Receiver Strength

Indication (RSSI)• Zoning

Time of flightT1

T2

T3

RSSIRSSI1

RSSI2

RSSI3