1. Radio Frequency Identification
Any System Identifying Objects Remotely via Radio waves
Different applications have different performance characteristics
RFID incorporate transponders (tags), readers (interrogators), network infrastructure and software
We will outline performance characteristics, standards, strengths, weaknesses and common applications for each type of RFID System.
Todd

2. 3 Major types of RFID Systems
Passive RFID Systems – A passive RFID system is one in which a transponder has no power source and cannot broadcast a signal. That is, the transponder can only reflect back a reader’s signal.
Active RFID Systems – an active RFID system is one in which a transponder has a power source and broadcasts a signal to a reader.
Battery-Assisted RFID Systems – A battery-assisted transponder is one that reflects back a signal to a reader like a passive tag, but has a power source to run the microchip and attached sensor, if exist.
Todd

3. Passive RFID Tags powered by transmitted reader energy Short range
Limited multi-read capability
Very small onboard cache (~128 kb)
Virtually infinite lifetime
High powered reader is needed
Very low cost (~20 cents)
Todd

4. Passive Low Frequency RFID Systems
Operates at 125 khz or 134 Khz
Standards: ISO & 11785
Pros: Works well around metal, and the well-defined read field can be important for some applications
Weaknesses: Very few companies now make LF systems. Short read range makes it unsuitable for most applications
Applications: Access control, animal identification, identification of metallic objects such as meat hooks and car chassis
Erildo

5. Passive High Frequency RFID Systems
Operates at MHz (Most Countries)
Standards: ISO 15693, &
Pros: Has a well-defined read field, meaning the radiated energy can be controlled. Can also work around Metal but not as well as LF. Can operate around water.
Weaknesses: Short Read Ranges unsuitable for some applications, particularly warehouse
Applications: Access control, animal identification, identification item-level inventory management, smart cards and ticketing.
Erildo

6. Passive Ultra High Frequency RFID Systems
Operates at 856 MHz and 960 MHz
Standards: ISO & C
Pros: Passive UHF systems provide a longer read range that is critical in supply-chain applications.
Weaknesses: Requires an experienced systems integrator to install a UHF system is it reliably
Applications: Tracking pallets, cases, items and totes in the supply chain; tracking IT assets, tools and parts bins; managing inventory in retail apparel stores.
Also available in a Real Time Location Systems Configuration. Made by Modix.
Erildo

7. Passive Ultra-Wideband Frequency Real Time Location Systems RFID
Operates at 6.7GHz (Transmission)
Standards: Currently no standard – “Tangent’s”
Pros: UWB RTLS are Cheaper than battery-powered tags for active systems, Small Tag size, ability to locate items to within 6 inches (Plus for small items)
Weaknesses: Read range is shorter than conventional RTLSs that use active tags & No standard
Applications: Tracking pallets, cases, items and totes in the supply chain; tracking IT assets, tools, surgical instruments, test tubes and items too small to track with conventional RTLS Systems.
Erildo

8. Chipless RFID Path to low cost RFID
TDR based versus Spectral Signature based
Use of chemicals and resonant materials
Encoding using Amplitude and Phase
Can easily printed
Applications
Nathan
-Thought to be the path to low cost RFID because: high cost of silicon compared to barcodes
-Challenge is to do traditional data encoding without a chip
-TDR - time domain reflectometry: interrogated by reader in the form of a pulse. Surface acoustic wave propagates across the piezoelectric crystal and is reflected by a number of reflectors which create a train of pulses
with phase shifts. This is converted back to EM and back to the reader. Delays using gaps in the strips can add to the signature.
Crystal is not printable but same can be done with thin film transistor circuits.
-Spectral signature-based chipless tags encode data into the spectrum using resonant structures. Can be chemical, resonant materials like fibers, use of Nanometric materials
-As signal is passed through resonator, phase and amplitude modulated and sent back to reader.
-Example: Tattoo - high frequency microwave signal
(>10 GHz) and is reflected by areas of the tattoo which have ink creating a unique pattern
which can be detected by the reader. The reading range is claimed to be up to 1.2 m (4 feet).
-Like a musical instruement right?

9. Active RFID Tags have internal power source
Larger computational capability and memory
Sensors can be added on board
Several thousand can be read by a single reader
More expensive (several dollars to >$200)
Life cycle limited by power
Long range
Todd

10. Active Dash7 RFID Systems
Operates at 433 MHz
Standards: ISO
Pros: Global Standard used since 1990, Long read range, long battery life, good penetration through materials, can be used worldwide
Weaknesses: location accuracy to within 10 feet, so it will not be suitable for applications requiring precise locations. Must beacon for location unless in range of reader.
Applications: tracking shipping containers in supply chain; locating tools, vehicles, subassemblies within a facility.
Erildo

11. Active Ultra-Wideband Frequency RFID Systems
Operates at 3 GHz to 10GHz
Standards: Proprietary
Pros: Greater location accuracy than other RTLSs available.
Weaknesses: Companies are locked in to one provider.
Applications: Tracking assets, tools, containers and individuals.
Brian

12. Active Wi-Fi Frequency RFID Systems
Operates at 2.4 MHz or 5.2 GHz
Standards: IEEE
Pros: Uses a company’s existing Wi-Fi infrastructure so it is less disruption to operations during installation
Weaknesses: Achieving full coverage might require adding more access points, and additional hardware. Relatively short battery life.
Applications: Tracking assets, tools, Containers and individuals.
Brian

13. Active RuBee Frequency RFID Systems
Operates at 131 KHz with a 4-bit CPU
Standards: IEEE
Pros: Works extremely well on metal objects and in the presence of water.
Weaknesses: More expensive than passive tags with a read range of no more than 100 feet, some companies would prefer passive tags.
Applications: Tracking metal objects, such as weapons and tools; monitoring the condition of assets via tags with sensors.
Nathan

14. Active Zigbee Frequency RFID Systems
Operates at 2.45 GHz
Standards: IEEE
Pros: Lost Cost and covers large area with many rooms good location accuracy. The Mesh network is easy to manage.
Weaknesses: Not designed to locate objects over long distances in open spaces
Applications: Tracking assets, tools, containers and individuals.
Nathan

15. Battery Assisted RFID
A BAP RFID tag is a tag that has its own integrated power source that is used to “wake” or “activate” it when communicating with a RFID reader.
They use a “Reader Talks First” approach, meaning they are only activated when scanned, then the battery takes over.
Brian

16. Battery-Assisted RFID Systems
Operates Can employ HF or UHF Tags
Standards: ISO & ISO C
Pros: Longer Read Range and more consistent reads than passive tags; the ability to power an onboard sensor.
Weaknesses: Much more expensive.
Applications: Tracking assets, tools, containers and individuals, temperature monitoring.
Brian

17. Industry Solutions
Todd

18. RFID Example Healthcare
Todd
Wi-Fi-Based RFID – Pervasive hospital-wide visibility
Chokepoints – OR/ED workflow automation (bay level separation), immediate safety and
theft alerts
Sensors – Temperature and humidity monitoring for drugs, vaccines, tissues, blood, food, etc.
Passive RFID – Specimen tracking, OR small equipment and trays

19. RFID Example Healthcare
Indoor
Location & Status
Outdoor Location & Status
Todd
Wi-Fi-Based RFID – Indoors and outdoors pervasive hospital-wide visibility
Chokepoints – Gate and dock arrivals/departures for supply chain
Sensors – Cold chain temperature and humidity monitoring of pharmaceutical products
GPS – Disaster emergency

20. Choosing the Right RFID System
Todd
10 step process:
1.) Determine whether you want to deploy RFID as a point solution to Solve one problem or as an infrastructure approach to solve multiple problems
2.) Determine which objects and/or people you would like to track
3.) Determine over what distance each object or person needs to b identified and tracked
4.) Determine the location accuracy required for each item being tracked, as well as the layout of the environment.
5.) Create a table within which you can place each item on your list
6.) Consider other factors that might influence which system is most appropriate
7.) Prioritize the benefits of tracking and managing the objects, or groups of objects, on your list
8.) Engage the service of a good systems integrator
9.) Pilot the system
10.) roll out the system and expand as needed.