RFID Frequency Overview to Application fit

RFID Frequency Overview to Application fit 1

The Radio Spectrum RFID tags exhibit different characteristics at different frequencies and it is highly unlikely that there will ever be one tag that can be used with all applications This presentation looks at the characteristics of battery-less tags operating in the different bands and their associated International standards : RADIO FREQUENCY SPECTRUM 100 khz 1 MHz 10 MHz 100 MHz 1 GHz 10 GHz LF MF HF VHF UHF 120 ~ 134 khz Low Frequency (ISO11784/5 ISO14223) 13.56 MHz High Frequency (ISO15693/ ISO 14443/ ISO18000-3) 2.45 GHz 5.8 GHz 850 ~ 960 MHz (Europe / US / Japan) UHF (ISO 18000-6, EPCglobal) 2

Transferring Energy A battery-less tag gets its energy from the antenna s signal Reader Antenna The radio waves are generated by the reader s antenna. Tag A tag in the RF field uses energy from the radio waves to respond to the reader s commands 3

Transferring Energy to the Tag Radio Waves Radio signals are electromagnetic waves, having a magnetic component (H-Field) and an electric component (E-Field) ELECTRIC (E) FIELD LF & HF systems use the Magnetic field to transfer power by induction. This field has a well defined zone but the strength of this field falls off quickly. MAGNETIC (H) FIELD UHF systems use the Electric field to transfer power by capacitive coupling. The strength of this field doesn t fall off as quickly, so potentially longer read distances are possible. Reflections mean that the reading zone is less well defined. 4

System Configuration foil antenna Antenna Command / Data / Energy HF (FDX) Data resonance capacitor + tuning IC res. capacitor ferrite coil IC Charge up capacitor LF (HDX) Reader 5

Low Frequency Systems 100 khz 1 MHz 10 MHz 100 MHz 1 GHz 10 GHz LF MF HF VHF UHF 120 ~ 134 khz Low Frequency (ISO11784/5 ISO14223) 13.56 MHz High Frequency (ISO15693/ ISO 14443) 2.45 GHz5.8 GHz 860 ~ 960 MHz (Europe / US / Japan) UHF (Emerging standards) 6

LF Characteristics Characteristics of Low Frequency Systems Most tags operate at frequencies between 120 to 134 khz. These frequencies have wavelengths of approximately 2500 m (8200 ) LF radio waves will pass through all materials, with the exception of metals, with almost no reduction in read range. LF frequencies allow adequate power levels to be used worldwide and without special licensing. Allows compact packaged tag designs. Ferrite cores and glass housing can be used. (>10 yrs life immersed) Tags, typically designed for lifetime use, are more expensive than those at higher frequencies The magnetic field although falling off quickly, creates a reliably defined homogeneous read zone. Data-rates are relatively slow though and systems capable of reading multiple tags at the same time are rare. Information can also be written to the tags (Read/Write technology) 7

FDX System Overview READER TRANSPONDER CONTROL RX/ DECODE POWER CODE TX RX An FDX AM System Transmitter on 100% of time Response at different frequency Fighting against its own noise Raising the power raises the noise 8

HDX System Overview READER TRANSPONDER POWER CONTROL TX/ CONTROL RX/ DECODE CODE TX RX An HDX FM System Transmits in bursts Charge Capacitor Tags respond in radio silence Raising the power doesn t raise the noise 9

LF - HDX System Uplink Transmission Frequencies: 123.2/134.2 khz Modulation: FM (FSK) Coded: NRZ Bandwidth: 25 khz 10

AM vs. FM Uplink FM System AM-Noise Uses Frequency Shift keying RX Exhibits signal capture allowing the reader to discriminate between tags close together by locking onto the strongest signal. More noise immune than AM AM System Uses Amplitude Shift Keying Transmitter 100% on or Off AM-Noise Easier to implement Δa = Information f 1 f 2 Δf = Information a max a min Amplitude 11

Examples of LF tags LF Transponders 32mm and 23mm glass capsule transponders 12

LF Transponders Customized packages 13

LF Applications Typical requirements LF Applications Lifetime ID Compact robust packages Working in harsh, industrial and outdoor conditions Defined read zones 14

Livestock Applications LF Applications (1) Lifetime ID under harsh, outdoor conditions Cattle Sheep Fish and Wildlife 15

LF Applications Livestock ID Accredited Identification schemes Trace ability assurance Farm Management On Farm On the move Defined read zones 16

General Applications All weather conditions LF Applications Leisure Facility Management Waste Management Sportstiming 17

General Applications Defined read zone LF Applications Automobile Immobilisers SpeedPass 18

LF Applications General Applications Life time ID security Container terminals Rotterdam, Hamburg Automatic guided Vehicles Navigation System Tags in the surface, reader on the vehicles 19

LF Applications General Applications life time ID security Holland flower auctions Over 200.000 roll cages Floor chain readers On the fly read points On-time delivery after auction Container management Tr & Tr goods and equipment 20

LF Readers TI Standard Versions 21

LF Readers Customized packages 22

LF Antenna s TI Standard Versions 23

LF Antenna s Customized Versions 24

LF Standards LF applications utilize the strengths of this frequency. The ability to read through materials; to be able to read in wet and dirty conditions and a well defined read zone have seen these tags used in livestock, waste management applications and payment systems. For Livestock the following standards exist: ISO 11784 RFID of animals Code structure ISO 11785 RFID of animals Technical concepts ISO 14223-1 RFID of Animals Advanced transponders; Air Interface ISO 14223-2 RFID of Animals Advanced Transponders; Protocol It is likely that ISO 14223-2 will become part of the generic ISO standard:- ISO 18000-2 Physical Layer. Anti-collision and Protocol for systems less than 135 KHz (Final Committee Draft) For waste management too, standards are emerging: DIN 30745 This is currently a German national standard but is expected shortly to emerge as a European standard 25

High Frequency Systems 100 khz 1 MHz 10 MHz 100 MHz 1 GHz 10 GHz LF MF HF VHF UHF 120 ~ 134 khz Low Frequency (ISO11784/5 ISO14223) 13.56 MHz High Frequency (ISO15693/ ISO 14443/ ISO18000-3) 2.45 GHz5.8 GHz 860 ~ 960 MHz (Europe / US / Japan) UHF (Emerging standards) 26

HF Characteristics Characteristics of High Frequency Systems Tags operate at 13.56 MHz. This frequency has a wavelength of approximately 22 m (72 ) The radio waves will pass through most materials, with the exception of metals, but some reduction in read range will occur. This frequency is now available at adequate power levels worldwide and without special licensing. Tags are mainly in label (flat) format The magnetic field, although falling off quickly, creates a reliably defined homogeneous read zone. Systems are capable of reading multiple tags at the same time at this higher frequency. Information can also be written to the tags (Read/Write technology) 27

Examples of HF Tags HF Transponders Smart Label inlays CD inlays Laundry Tag Wireless Payments (ISO 14443) AMEX Express Pay 28

Product Management HF Applications (1) Tray Programming Courtesy of Intellident Multiple Tray Identification Courtesy of Intellident 29

Stock Management Defined read zone HF Applications (2) Library Systems Management On-Shelf Identification 30

Customer Loyalty HF Applications (3) Intelligent Changing Facilities 31

HF Applications (4) Payments American Express Shell Canada 32

HF Standards At 13.56 MHz standards exist for both Proximity & Vicinity applications Proximity applications are mainly concerned with ticketing and payments, where reading distances are up to 100 mm (4 ): ISO/IEC 14443 Identification cards -- Contactless integrated circuit(s) cards Proximity cards Vicinity applications include product identification and tracking, and would be capable of identifying objects up to 1m (39 ): ISO/IEC 15693 Identification cards -- Contactless integrated circuit(s) cards Vicinity cards There is also an emerging generic ISO standard for RFID systems operating at 13.56 MHz: ISO/IEC 18000-3 Physical Layer, Anti-collision and Protocol for 13.56 MHz systems Additionally there is also a proposed EPC recommendation for 13.56 MHz 13.56 MHz ISM Band Class 1 Radio Frequency Identification Tag Interface 33

Ultra High Frequency Systems 100 khz 1 MHz 10 MHz 100 MHz 1 GHz 10 GHz LF MF HF VHF UHF 120 ~ 134 khz Low Frequency (ISO11784/5 ISO14223) 13.56 MHz High Frequency (ISO15693/ ISO 14443) 2.45 GHz5.8 GHz 850 ~ 960 MHz (Europe / US /.Japan) UHF (Emerging standards) 34

UHF Characteristics Characteristics of Ultra High Frequency Systems Tags operate at slightly different frequencies in various parts of the world - 868 MHz in Europe & parts of Asia, 902 ~ 915 MHz in the USA and more recently, the 952~954 MHz band has been proposed for use in Japan. The wavelength is around 300 mm (12 ) Currently, this frequency does not have at the same power levels worldwide. In the USA the limit is 4W EIRP, in Europe the limit has been raised to 2W ERP - equivalent to 3.28W EIRP. The limits in Japan are the same as North America. UHF radio waves do not readily pass through materials and water/ice are a particular problem. Metals reflect signals, liquids absorb the signals. Tags tend to be long and are mainly applied as labels (flat format). When tags are made more compact, performance can drop. To optimise performance, tags have to be designed for each type of material they are applied too. The electric field gives extended reading performance but defining the reading zone can be problematic. Systems are capable of reading multiple tags and extracting large amounts of data in a short time, at these higher frequencies. 35

Examples of UHF tags UHF Characteristics Copyright 2005 Texas Instruments 36

UHF Applications (1) Garment-on-rail Tracking Garment distribution Marks and Spencer 37

Pallet Level Applications UHF Applications (2) Pallet Tracking Pallet load Tracking 38

UHF Applications (3) Antenna Antenna Antenna Antenna Identification at the Dock Door Pallet load Tracking 39

Emerging UHF Standards Two main bodies are currently developing standards: ISO/IEC EPCglobal ISO 18000-6 defines worldwide air-interface protocols for UHF Tag operations http://www.iso.org An EAN/UCC initiative (out of work by the MIT Auto-ID Center) to create a global Electronic Product Code structure to identify each individual item but also includes air interface (UHF) definitions http://www.epcglobalinc.org Eventually the EPC Gen 2 standard will be incorporated into ISO 18000-6 as Type C. 40

Inlay Characteristics - Moisture Influence of materials on Read Range Read Range % 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Paper Plastic Water Film Immersion Anticipated read range but actual may vary depending on manufacturer and antenna design. LF HF UHF 41

Transponder Comparative Read Ranges Size Does Matter 7000 Copyright 2005 Texas Instruments READING RANGE (mm) 5000 1100 1000 900 800 700 600 500 LF WEDGE COMPARATIVE READ RANGE LF KEYFOB LF GLASS LF DISC HF INLAY LF MOM LF 82-mm DISC UHF Single Antenna 400 Anticipated read range but actual may vary depending on manufacturer and antenna design. 42

Frequency Selection Summary Frequency LF HF UHF 125 ~ 135 khz 13.56 MHz 850 ~ 960 MHz Read Range 0.5 ~ 1 m < 1m > 3m Cost Relatively expensive Less expensive Least expensive Penetration Excellent of materials Poor Affected No To some extent Yes by water? Power source Passive (Inductive) Passive (Inductive) Passive (Capacitive) Data Rate Slower Faster Reading Poor Good Very Good Multiple tags Applications Car immobilisers, Animal Pharma, Libraries Pallet/ Case tracking, Tolls identification, POS Baggage tracking, Tickets Baggage tracking Payments, Passports 43