2. Contents
2
What is RFID?
History
Types of Tags
Design & Working
Applications
Scope
Conclusion
References
3. What is RFID?
3
Radio-frequency identification (R FID) is the use
of a wireless system that uses radio frequency
electromagnetic fields to transfer data from a tag
attached to an object, for the purposes of
automatic identification and tracking.
RFID is only one of the numerous technologies
grouped under the term Automatic Identification
(Auto ID), such as bar code, magnetic inks,
optical character recognition, voice recognition,
touch memory, smart cards, biometrics etc.
The latest RFID market research from IDTechEx
finds that in 2012 the value of the entire RFID
market will be $7.67 billion, up from $6.51 billion
in 2011.
4. History
4
Radar is invented in 1935 by Scottish physicist Sir Robert Alexander Watson-
Watt. Under him the British developed the first active identify friend or foe (IFF)
system, during World War II.
In October 1948, Harry Stockman, presented paper on Communication by Means
of Reflected Power, Proceedings of the IRE, pp1196-1204.
Mario W. Cardullo received the first U.S. patent for an active RFID tag with
rewritable memory on January 23, 1973.
Alfred Koelle, Steven Depp and Robert Freyman of Los Alamos Laboratory, USA
presented work on Short-range radio-telemetry for electronic identification using
modulated backscatter in 1975.
In1999, the Uniform Code Council, EAN International, Procter & Gamble and
Gillette put up funding to establish the Auto-ID Center at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology.
5. Components of a RFID tag
5
The IC is a small microprocessor, which has a
logic unit that makes decisions and provides
memory to store data. The IC needs power to
operate.
The antenna is connected to the tag IC. It
receives the signals from the interrogator and,
depending on tag type, it either transmits or reflects
the received signal back. The geometry of an
antenna determines the frequency at which the tag
operates.
The substrate holds all other tag components IC
together. The tag antenna is deposited or printed
on the substrate, and the IC is then attached to this Antenna
antenna. Substrate
7. Passive
7
Passive RFID tags have no internal power supply.
A small electric current is created in the antenna when
an incoming signal reaches it.
This current provides enough power to briefly activate
the tag, usually just long enough to relay simple
information, such as an ID number or product name.
Because passive RFID tags do not contain a power
supply, they can be very small in size, sometimes
thinner than a piece of paper.
These tags can be activated from a distance of ten
millimetres to over 6 meters away.
8. Active
8
Active RFID tags do contain an internal power source,
which allows for a longer read-range and for a bigger
memory on the tag itself.
The power source also makes it possible to store
information sent by the transceiver.
Active RFID tags are larger than passive tags, usually
slightly bigger than a coin.
They can be read from many meters away, and
generally have a battery life of about ten years.
Advantages of active tags include accuracy, reliability,
and superior performance in adverse environments,
such as damp or metallic.
9. Types of RFID tags
9
Type of tag EPC Memory R adio Power Reading
Class Type frequency Bits Source Distance
used (meters)
138 Khz Reader
RFID Passive 0 ROM 13.95 Mhz 64 EMF 0.04-3
RFID Active 4 ROM 13.85 Mhz 64 Battery 3-10
RFID Passive 1 EEPROM 138 Khz 96, Reader 0.04-3
Programmable 13.95 Mhz 128 EMF
RFID Active 2, 3, 4 EEPROM 138 Khz >128 Battery 3-10
Programmable 13.95 Mhz
13.85 Mhz
Data Tag 2, 3, 4 CMOS 985 Mhz(UHF) >128 Battery 3-10
RAM
10. Electronic Product Code
10
01.0000A89.0016F.000169DC0
Header: EPC Object Class: Serial number:
identifies the Manager: similar to a specific instance
length, type, identifies the stock of the Object
structure, version company. keeping unit. Class being
and generation 8-35 bits 36-59 bits tagged.
of EPC. 0-7 bits 60-95 bits
13. RFID vs Barcode
13
RFID BARCODE
Data capacity is more. Several Data capacity is very less. Upto
thousand characters. 24 characters.
Line of sight not required. Line of sight required.
May last several years, depending Paper labels are subject to wear
upon the type of tag. and damage, hence less durable.
Allows unattended identification. Only a single barcode can be
Several tags can be read scanned at a time.
simultaneously. No memory storage possible.
Some tags can store memory.
..but RFID are not only for identification scope..
But unlike Barcodes, RFID is not merely for identification purposes..
15. Supply Chain Management and
15 RFID
•Information about the contents to be loaded from a factory
can be written onto the tag, e.g. quantity, weight, serial
number, date, time etc.
•This allows the information to be easily checked after transit,
without having access to an on-line database. This can be
very useful to check if items have gone "missing" during
transit.
•Using the tag on the shipment and RFID readers on each of
the loading bays, it is possible to identify the shipment, as it
is loaded.
•The advantage is that the reading and verification is done
completely automatically, therefore manual labour is
17. Healthcare
17
All patients admitted to the hospital are given
an RFID-based wristband with a passive RFID
chip in it.
This chip stores a unique patient ID number
and relevant medical information.
The caregiver uses a handheld computer with
an RFID interrogator to read the data encoded
on the patients ID bracelets.
Over a wireless LAN connection, the hospital
staff can access the patient’s medical history
as well as treatment record.
18. Passports
18
• The first RFID passports ("E-passports")
were issued by Malaysia in1998. In
addition to information also contained on
the visual data page of the passport, they
record the travel history (time, date, and
place) of entries and exits from the
country.
• Italian passports have a RFID tag since
26th October 2006.
• Throughout Europe, RFID passes
conforming to the Calypso (RFID)
international standard are used for public
transport systems.
19. Objects become self
19
discovering
Each tag is augmented with a photo sensor to significantly extend the
functionality and support radio frequency identity and geometry (RFIG)
discovery
20. Livestock and Animal Tracking
20
A tag is inserted through a Single Use
Disposable syringe into the animal. It remains
under the skin of the animal.
The number of the RFID tag is unique and
cannot be altered.
When an animal is to be scanned, it is either
brought near RFID reader or scanner or a
hand-held reader is used.
The reader is connected to a remote database
which correlates the unique RFID tag number
on the animal with other data on the animal.
This helps in easily maintaining electronic
records of vaccination and medication, health
checkups, etc.
21. Other applications…
21
The Texas Instruments Digital Signature Transponder (DST) is a
cryptographically-enabled RFID device used in a variety of
wireless authentication applications.
The largest deployments of the DST include the Exxon-Mobil
Speedpass payment system (approximately 7 million
transponders), as well as a variety of vehicle immobilizer systems
used in many late model Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Toyota, and
Nissan vehicles.
22. RFID reader integrated mobile phones
22
Mobile phones will be integrated with
RFID reader powered by mobile phone’s
battery.
RFID tags can be read through these
mobile phones and information can be
sent to the mobile phone service provider
for many types of transactions.
This functionality can provide many
services like banking, billing, purchasing,
electronic payment etc.
23. Initiatives in India on RFID
23
W ipro Technologies: Member of the Electronic Product Code (EPC).
Setting up a lab to study RFID. Working on pilot projects
Infosys Technologies: RFID consulting on logistics player in the
RFID space.
TCS: Tied up with Hyderabad University to produce RFID tagged
mark sheets & degrees to deter use of fake degree.
Patni Computer Systems Lab: Implemented Animal Tracking
System.
Intellicon: Pilot project for BEL Bangalore, Tags installed on
employee buses. Buses inside the BEL campus were tracked with the
aim of gauging employee punctuality.
Mumbai: The busiest Suburban Rail Transport in the world, which
24. Conclusion
24
•The real value of RFID technology stems from the insight that
stands to be gained from the identification, location and subsequent
control of that item and applying that insight to business.
•RFID is not industry specific—it’s business value specific. RFID is
more than a locator beacon.
•RFID is an enabling tool that is not only a source of powerful
information, but a source of true business innovation.
25. References
25
K Finkenzeller, RFI ha nd bo o k: fund a m e nta ls a nd a p p lic a tio ns in
D
c o nta c tle s s s m a rt c a rd s a nd id e ntific a tio n, 2nd ed., R. Waddington, Ed.
West Sussex, England: John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2003.
Q. Z. Sheng, X. Li, and S. Zeadally, "Enabling next-generation RFID
applications: Solutions and challenges," Co m p ute r, vol. 41, pp. 21-28, Sept.
2008.
A. Juels, RFID Security and Privacy: A Research Survey, Selected Areas in
Communications, IEEE Journal. Publication Date:Feb. 2006 Volume: 24,
Issue: 2 On page(s): 381- 394
R. E. Sorace, V. S. Reinhardt, and S. A. Vaughn, “High-speed digital-to-RF
converter,” U.S. Patent 5 668 842, Sept. 16, 1997
ISO website. http://www.iso.orgl
The EPCglobal website. http://www.epcglobalinc.orgl
The RFID Journal website www.rfidjournal.com
HowStuffWorks www.howstuffworks.com