Radio Frequency Identification RFID

General issues
RFID course, 10.-14.11.2014
Chitkara University Global Engineering Week
Chandigarh, India

1.11.2014
Heikki Valmu

RFID General Issues

The use of an object (tag)
applied to a product, animal or
person for the purpose of
identification and tracking
using radio waves.
RFID comprises readers and
tags.
Tag = integrated circuit +
antenna.
Three types of tags:
- active
- semi-passive
- passive

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An RFID System

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Advantages of RFID
Alignment is not necessary
High inventory speeds

Variety of form factors

Item-level tracking
(96 bits => billions of items uniquely)
Rewritability

etc
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RFID fundamental principle

(electromagnetic coupling)

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Tags (labels, transponders)

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Tag characteristics
Packaging
Coupling

Power
Information storage capacity
Standards compliance
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Tags electronic circuitry

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Selecting tags
Required read range
Material and packaging

Form factors
Standards compliance
Cost
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HF - or UHF - RFID
HF:
125 kHz, 13.56 MHz
Coils
Inductive coupling
Power decrease /
distance: -60 dB / decade
Short range
Cheap
Narrow BW => slower

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UHF:
868 MHz, 2.45 GHz
Antennas (dipoles etc.)
Electromagnetic coupling
Power decrease /
distance: -20 dB / decade
Long range
More expensive
Wider BW => faster

Tag classification
Physical characteristics:
PVC or plastic buttons and
discs.
Shaped like credit cards.

Active.

(Two-way tags).

In layers of paper, smart

labels
etc

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Passive.

Semi-passive.

In glass capsules.

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Power source:

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Tag classification
Air interface / operating frequency
LF: < 135 kHz; reading range up to 50 cm (typically much
smaller)

HF: 13.56 MHz (or 6.78 MHz, 27.125 MHz, 40.68 MHz); up to
3m (typically much smaller)
UHF: 433.92 MHz, 869 MHz, 915 MHz; up to 9 m
Microwave: 2.45 GHz, 5.8 GHz; > 10 m

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Tag classification
Communications mode
Full-duplex (FDX)

Types of Keying
Amplitude-shift keying
(ASK)

Half-duplex (HDX)

Frequency-shift keying
(FSK)

Sequential (SEQ)

Phase-shift keying (PSK)

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Modulation; ASK

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Modulation; ASK

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Modulation; ASK

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Modulation; FSK

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Modulation; FSK

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Modulation; PSK

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Modulation with subcarrier

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Modulation with subcarrier

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Tag classification
Encoding:
- biphase Manchester
- pulse interval
- biphase space
- pulsed RZ

- Miller
- etc

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Tag classification
Inductive coupling

Electromagnetic coupling
= backscatter coupling

- inductors / coils

- antennas

- short range

- longer range

- cheaper

- more expensive

- slower

- faster

- LF/HF

- UHF/Microwave

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EPCglobal tag classes

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ISO/IEC 18000 Standards

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Readers (interrogators) - HF

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Readers UHF

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Multiple Access Methods and AntiCollision

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Multiple Access Methods and AntiCollision

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SDMA / FDMA

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TDMA Anticollision procedures

Collision
NRZ/Manchester

ALOHA
Tags broadcast as soon as
they are energized.
Probability of collision is low
when the number of tags is
low.

Up to 8-12 tags simultaneously

at the reading range.
The reader does not
communicate => very simple
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Slotted ALOHA
The example with the students.

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Binary Search

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Applications

Access control
Public transport tickets
Toll roads
Asset management and
retail sales
Product tracking
Logistics
Animal identification
Inventory systems
Hospitals
Libraries

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Human implants
Passports
Museums
Race timing
Ski resorts

METROPOLIA:
Lift control
Batteries
Maintenance and
recycling of electronics

RFID Lab Finland at Metropolia

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Toll roads
USA various states
Norway AutoPASS, all
public toll roads
Toronto, Singapore,
Ireland, Malaysia, Dubai,
Turkey,

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Public Transport
HF-systems very
common all over the
world
France:
Paris, Lyon,
Bordeaux, Grenoble,
Nancy, Marseille
Helsinki =>
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Animal Tracking / Feeding etc.

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Sports

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Human implants ?

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