Rfid

Radio frequency identification

Nitin Bhardwaj
Roll no. -16211
 An overview
 An Introduction
 History of RFID
 Components of RFID Technology
 RFID Tags and their types
 The EPC Code
 How Does It Work ?
 Its Benefits
 RFID vs Bar Code
 Its Applications
 Issues/Concerns
 RFID – What it is ?
Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is an automatic
identification method, relying on storing and remotely
retrieving data using devices called RFID tags or
transponders .
RFID (radio frequency identification) is a technology that
incorporates the use of electromagnetic or electrostatic
coupling in the radio frequency (RF) portion of the
electromagnetic spectrum to uniquely identify an object ,
animal , or a person.
An alternative to bar code.
 History of RFID
The initial application was in World War II :-
 The United Kingdom used RFID devices to distinguish
returning English airplanes from inbound German ones.
Another early work exploring RFID is the landmark 1948
paper by Harry Stockman, titled “Communication by
Means of Reflected Power”.
Mario Cardullo's U.S. Patent 3,713,148 in 1973 was the
first true ancestor of modern RFID ; a passive radio
transponder with memory.
The first patent to be associated with the abbreviation
RFID was granted to Charles Walton in 1983.
 Components of RFID Technology
 Tags (Chip + Antenna):
An RFID Tag is an object that can be stuck on or incorporated into a
product, animal or a person for the purpose of identification using radio waves.
 Interrogators (Antenna + Reader): Interrogators are used to read the Tags & in
certain cases even write on them.
 Middleware:
Middleware is the needed interface between the existing Company databases &
information management software. Middleware provides a range of functions:-
1. Data Filtering.
2. System Monitoring.
3. Multiple Reader Co-ordination.
 Business Application Software:
It is used to manage & process the collected data.
 RFID TAGS
 An RFID Tag is a transponder which receives a radio signal and in
response to it, sends out a radio signal. Tag contains an antenna, a coil
and a small chip that stores a small amount of data. Tag memory can
be factory or field programmed, partition able, and optionally
permanently locked.
 Tags can be attached to almost anything:
 pallets or cases of product .
 vehicles .
 company assets or personnel items such as luggage , laundry .
 people, livestock, or pets .
 high value electronics such as computers, TVs, camcorders .
 Types of RFID Tags
Active tags Passive tags

Tag power source Internal to tag Energy transferred using

RF from reader
Tag Battery Yes No
Availability of Power Continuous Only in field of reader
Required Signal Strength Very low Very high
to Tag

Range Up to 100m Up to 3-5 m, usually less

Multi Tag Reading 1000’s of tags Few hundred within 3m
recognized up to of reader
100mph
Data Storage Up to 128Kb or read/writ 128 bytes of read/write
e with sophisticated
search and access
EPC (Electronic Product Code)
 Each tag contains a unique code that facilitates the identification process
& is known as EPC (Electronic Product Code).
 E.g. 613.23000.123456.123456789 (96 bits).
 Header defines version of EPC(8 bits).
 EPC Manager describes originator of EPC Product manufacturer (28 bits).
 Object Class describes the product type (24 Bits).
 Serial Number defines Unique ID for that product item (36 Bits).
 Frequency of Operation
 Low frequency
 High frequency
 Ultra High Frequency

Low High Ultra High Other UHF

frequency frequency frequency

Band 130 – 150 KHz 13.456 MHz 433 MHz (UHF) 865–868 MHz
(Europe)
902–928 MHz
(North
America) UHF

Range 10 cm 10 cm – 1m 1 – 100 m 1 – 12 m

Data Speed Low Low to Moderate High

Moderate
Working Principle
 RFID reader is continuously sending radiowaves with
particular frequency. Now, the field generated by RFID reader
is coupled with antenna of RFID Tag.
 Due to this mutual coupling, voltage will get induced in the coil
of RFID Tag.
 Some part of this voltage is rectified and used as a power
source for the microcontroller and memory elements in RFID
Tag.
 The radiowaves also provide synchronization clock for
controller.
 A load is also connected across the coil and if we switch on and
off the load , a voltage signal is also produced in reader.
 If we switch on and off the load according to data stored inside
RFID Tag, then that data can be read by RFID Reader in form
Other Identification Techniques :-
 Barcode
 Biometrics

RFID BARCODE
Forging is difficult Forging is easy
Scanner not required. No need to Scanner needs to see the bar
bring the Tag near the reader code to read it
RFID is comparatively fast
Can read multiple Tags Can read only one Tag at a time
Relatively expensive as compared
to Bar Codes(Reader 1000$, Tag
20 cents apiece)
Can be reusable within factory Cannot be reused
premises Cannot be reused
Advantages of RFID
 The read-only Tag code data is 100% secure and can not be changed or
duplicated.
 Very robust Tags that can stand extreme conditions and temperatures
 Tags are available in a great range of types, sizes and materials
 No need for physical contact between the data carrier and the
communication device.
 The Tags can be used repeatedly
 Relatively low maintenance cost
 No line-of-sight necessary to read/write data. This makes it possible to use Tags
in harsh environments and in closed containers/structures. When using bar
codes- scanners have to have line of sight to read them
 An RFID Tag could identify the item (not just its manufacturer and category). Bar
codes only provide a manufacturer and product type. They don’t identify
unique items
 Extremely low error rate
 RFID technology is a labor-saving technology. This translates to cost savings.
Applications
 Passports.
 Product Tracking.
 Transportation & Logistics.
 Animal Identification.
 Libraries.
 Human Implants.
 Schools & Universities.
 Museums.
 Sports.
 Initiatives in India on RFID
 Wipro 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 one 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 transports 3.5 million
commuters per day, has implemented the use of RFID ticket cards.
 Delhi Metro:
 The underground subway or metro system implements RFID ticket coins.
Problems/Issues
 Cost.
 Global Standardization.
 Privacy And Security Concerns.
 Health Issues.
 Prone To Hacking.
 Metal and Water containing Products.
Conclusion
 The world will be very different once readers and RFID Tags are everywhere.
 In an RFID-enhanced future, the benefits would accrue not just to businesses,
but also to consumers .
 Once various limitations like lack of a global standard, security concerns, the
cost factor, etc. are overcome and this technology is fully implemented, it
can transform the way we live our lives.
 It has the potential of revolutionizing the way we travel, the way we open
the locks of our homes, the way we purchase goods, the way we do business
and much more.