asia technologies
Invites you for a
Walk Thro’
The land of
“RFID”
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Auto Identification Technologies
Help machines
to identify
Objects, People and Animals.
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Other Auto Id Technologies
• Bar code
• OCR
• Voice Recognition
• Biometrics (retinal scan, Fingerprint,etc)
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What is RFID?
Radio waves
People
Objects &
to identify
animals
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How to identify?
•
Storing Serial number of “subject” to be identified on
an attached microchip equipped with antenna
•
This Serial number is termed as
“Unique Identification Code”
(UID)
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Barcode
Most pervasive Auto ID Technology is Barcode
BARCODE VS RFID
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE
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Barcode Vs RFID
BARCODE
RFID
LOS is needed
No need for LOS
Requires Physical
contact
Individual scanning
Physical contact with the
reader is not required
Several tags can be read at a
time
Withstands harsh environment
Affected by moisture
Limited storage capacity Higher storage capacity
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RFID Components
• Reader or Interrogator
• Tag or Transponder
• Host computer (Back-end system)
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Elements of RFID System
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Reader Functions
• Queries the tag
• Obtains information (about product)
• Decodes the message received from the tag
• Conveys tag information to the back-end system
for processing
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Reader – What’s inside?
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Tag
Microchip
+
Antenna
}
Transponder (or) Tag
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Passive Transponder
What’s inside ?
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Types of tag
Passive tag - Draws power from the reader signal.
Active tag
- With battery on board.
Semipassive -Passive tag with small battery.
It usually incorporates onboard
SENSOR to monitor state of item
such as temperature. Sleeps until
awakened by reader.
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Classification of tag
• Read Only
- Programmed by the manufacturer
• WORM
- Write Once-Read Many
User initialized after manufacture
• Read/Write
- Information read from or written
into the tag by the reader/Writer
- Asymmetric read and write
operating range
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Transponder Examples
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HOW RF BEHAVES?
METAL
– Metals reflect RF
Radio waves bounce off metals
WATER/LIQUIDS– RF Waves are absorbed to
varying degrees
“RFID using LF(<150 KHZ) exhibits better
performance and stability in above environments”
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Interference
• Metal interferences
Metal packaging blocks / corrupts signal
some tags may not be read when attached to metal
• Frequency interferences
Limits identification of a particular tag when
surrounded by other tags operating at same
frequency.
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Data Rate Vs Frequency
•
The larger the quantum of data to be read in given
time, the higher the frequency to be deployed in
RFID
•
For reading bulk data in short span of time, higher
frequencies are used.
E.g.. multiple tags in mobile environments.
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RFID Frequencies
RFID is characterized by the frequencies used for
identification.
 Low Frequency - < 135 KHZ
 High Frequency - 13.56 MHZ
 UHF Frequency - 860-960 MHZ
 Microwave (SHF) - 2.4 & 5.9 GHZ
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LF Advantages
• Free from regulatory limitations
• Well suited for applications requiring reading small
amount of data at slow speeds and minimum distance.
• Penetrates material well (water, tissue, wood)
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LF Disadvantages
•
•
•
•
•
Does not penetrate or transmit around metals
Handles only small amount of data
Slow read speeds
Large antennas
Minimum range
Tag Construction
• Thicker (compared to 13.56MHz)
• More complex (more turns required)
• More expensive (compared to 13.56MHz)
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HF Advantages
• Well suited for applications requiring reading small
•
•
•
•
•
amount of data and minimum distance
Penetrate water/tissue well
Simple antenna design
Less expensive
Higher data rate
Thinner tag construction (compared to LF)
This is popularly known as
“smart card frequency”
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HF Disadvantages
• Does not penetrate or transmit around metal
• Large antenna size (compared to UHF/Microwave
frequencies)
• Larger tag size than at higher frequencies
• Read range < 0.7 m
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UHF Advantages
•
•
•
•
•
•
Effective around metals
Ideal for range > 1m
Tag size smaller than HF
Smaller antenna
Higher data rate
Controlled read zone (thro’ antenna directionality)
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UHF
Disadvantages
• Does not penetrate water/tissue
• Regulations (different frequency bands in different
countries)
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Tag Reading Capability
Anti collision
-- Ability to communicate with several
transponders simultaneously
-- Important in longer range readers
-- Implemented at silicon chip design
stage
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STANDARDS – Why?
•
•
•
•
•
To increase customer confidence in new technology
To promote worldwide RFID acceptance and
technology advancement
To broad base market for manufacturers stimulate
competition and reduce costs for end users.
To facilitate application development by
encouraging interoperability & by reducing
customization
To provide development platform for
complementary products (software translators,
hardware accessories)
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RFID STANDARDS
Two international standards making bodies
ISO
EPC Global
Conflicting
EPC Objectives:
• Primary Mission Low cost tag standard
• Standard to be open for tracking purposes
• Open Network architecture
to enable anyone to access the information from
database using unique ID.
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EPC – Tag Data Format
• Size
-- 96 bits
• Header
-- Defines data types(8 bit)
• EPC Manager-- Details of orginator(34 bit)
• Object Class -- Describes Product type(20 bit)
• Serial number -- Unique ID for Product(34 bit)
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UHF RFID standard for India
• India adopts 865-867 MHz for RFID
• Wireless Planning and Co-ordination (WPC) Under
Ministry of Communication assigned the 865867MHz band for RFID
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Applications
Broad Classes
• Proximity
or Short Range
•
or Long Range
Vicinity
Proximity – E.g.. Access control
Mass transit ticketing
Vicinity –E.g.. Railcar tracking
Highway toll collection
Supply chain management
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RFID Applications
Broadly applied to five market segments
•
•
•
•
•
Track &Trace
Manufacturing
Asset management
Security & access control
Consumer applications
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Track & Trace
•
Track and trace is a broad umbrella concept
popularly known as SCM
•
The right label can take the labor out of track and
trace processes
Includes Parcel and postal application
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Supply chain management
Tagging pallets, cases & returnable containers
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Supply chain management
•
Gives total asset visibility
•
Date of manufacture written into tag memory
to facilitate selling by date & avoiding
spoilage and out of stock
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Parcel and post
•
Improves tracking
during sorting and
delivery processes
Features:
• Line of sight not
required
• Orientation of items is
not a concern
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Manufacturing
•
Most technologically advanced element of supply
chain
•
•
Sophisticated IT system geared for real time data
Manufacturer assumes responsibility for product
life cycle management
•
Potential gains in terms of cost reduction & added
value
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Manufacturing
Features on assembly line:
• Read/write tags
• High accuracy
• Real-time inventory of raw material, WIP & finished
goods.
• Enables tracking of product genealogy
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Manufacturing
•
Monitoring of
post production
performance
•
Simplifies
product recall
•
Realization of JIT
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Asset management
For high value items in
• Warehouses
• Manufacturing plants
• Offices
• Complexes
Using
• RFID tag – transmitting periodic signals
• Intelligent locators
• Central computer
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Asset management
Common Applications:
•
Library management
•
File & document tracking
•
Gas cylinder management
•
Warehouse management
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Library management
Features:
 Automates issues and returns
 Provides real time inventory visibility
 Scanners on shelves for automated inventory
 Minimizes labor cost
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File and document tracking
Important and valuable document files can be
RFID tagged to facilitate security, location
tracking and filing.
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Gas cylinder management
• Reduction of gas
•
•
•
cylinder losses
Delivery warranty
Personalized
invoice
Automation of
processes
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Warehouse management
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Warehouse Management
Manages
Warehouse,Inventor
y
Special equipment,
Labor resources
To direct flow of
material & information
Receiving, Put-away
Light assembly
Order pick-up &
Shipment
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Security & access control
•
•
•
•
Data from smartcard sent to control zone computer
After authentication door/gate is released for entry/exit
For high security areas, biometric feature is included
Operates with long range antenna controlling turnstile or
revolving door
• Data display system to facilitate supervision
Common Applications:
 Access control
 Airline baggage tagging
 Parking lot access
 Vehicle identification
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Access control
• Involves identity card with RFID tag
Feature:
• Contactless, secure & tamper-proof
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Airline Baggage tagging
Airlines have successfully
run. RFID trials
• Improved read rates(99%)
with RFID
• Rewriting feature on tag
provides additional
functionality at
checkpoints
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Parking Lot Access
RFID Provides
 Quick identification of
vacant lots
 Automatically records
entry/exit data
 Provides complete
vehicle history
 Automated collection of
parking tolls
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Vehicle identification
Environment:
• Fleet and vehicles in
facility
Features:
• Determines current
position of each vehicle in
facility
• Information stored in
database for integration
with fleet MIS
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Consumer applications
Typical
 Garments
 Laundry
 Healthcare
 Automatic ticketing
 Retail
 Jewellery management
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Garments
• Value for brand owners
• Authentication of
garments by unique
identity
• Facilitates detection of
counterfeit
• Minimizes shrinkage
and out of stock
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Laundry
• Most reliable automation
• Increased productivity &
profitability because of 100% read
rate
• 100% Tracking from laundry to
customer premises
• Reduction of losses - Optimum
inventory management
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Healthcare
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Automatic ticketing
• Contactless card / ticket
used
Feature:
• Minimal reader
maintenance
• Eliminate fraudulent use
of counterfeit tickets
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Jewellery management
•
Designed to manage &
track at retail level
Feature:
•
Increases operational
efficiency, security and
accuracy of inventory
management
•
Avoids theft and loss of
jewels
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Miscellaneous applications
 Animal tagging






Waste management
Road toll management
Sports time recording
Paper reel tracking
People tracking
Ore tracking
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Animal identification
•
Mandatory in US & Canada
consequent to mad cow disease
• provides information regarding
identity and lineage of animals
Technology Features:
• 135KHz LF used (ISO 11784, ISO
11785)
• Read rates 90% max, short range
& directional sensitivity
• UHF system with better read rates
under consideration.
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Waste management
•
•
•
Facilitates Real time monitoring of operations
Optimization of Waste collection
Accurate billing for the citizen
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Automatic toll collection
Benefits:
•
•
•
•
•
Increases patron convenience
and safety with nonstop
payment
Improves traffic flow/reduces
commute times
Reduces traffic congestion
Lowers operating costs for toll
operators
Provides proven reliability and
unparalleled accuracy
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Sports Timing
•
Records or collect the perfect
timing data of athletes in
marathon
Features:
•
Withstand harsh weather
condition because the glass tag is
packaged in specially designed
plastic
•
Guards against Fraud
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Paper reel tracking
•
•
•
•
Tracking paper reel thro’
production & further
through global paper
supply chains
Paper reels are moved on
conveyer belts and by
clamp trucks
Provide 100% multi read capability
RFID reader positioned on conveyor belt, clamp trucks
& docking doors
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People tracking
Used in
• Entrance management for
security
• Contact management at events
• Monitoring physical movements
• Baby tags in hospitals
Goals:
• To obtain real time location of individual within tracking zone
• Provide value added services with same infrastructure
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Ore tracking
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Ore tracking
•
Tracking of wet ores on conveyor belt in rugged
mining environment
•
Reliable reading at conveyor speeds up to 5m/sec
•
Tag with primary flexible packaging and
secondary packaging of PU
•
Reader height: 30-50cm above are.
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RFID in the pharmaceutical
industry
•
Pedigree reporting: Track medications from
component parts to distribution
•
Anti-counterfeiting: Identify counterfeit drugs
before they are distributed
• Anti-diversion: Improve the distribution of drugs
according to need
•
Cold chain management: Verify the proper
transport of temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals
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What is the limit...
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What happens to the RFID data
gathered by readers?
This data is processed by
“MIDDLEWARE”
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What is middleware?
Software layer residing between
RFID hardware
&
Existing back-end system application software
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System Infrastructure
Reader
..
..
m
i
d
d
l
e
w
a
r
e
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Ent
erp
rise
Ap
plic
ati
on
What does it do?
Extracts data from readers
Filters
Aggregates the information
Routes data to enterprise system (WMS, ERP
etc)
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What does RFID cost
Fixed costs
• Readers
• Antenna
• Printers
• Network infrastructure
• Data collection software
• Business middleware
• Integration, installation and training
Variable costs
• Tag
• Tag application (labor support and maintenance)
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Hardware Cost Trends
Initially
High Costs inhibited adoption of RFID
Now
• With advances in Technology
• Standardization efforts
There is steady decline in costs.
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Prices will plummet
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Benefits of RFID
•
•
•
•
•
•
Facilitates process automation
Improves security & prevents theft through access
control
Determines real time location of tagged objects
Improves management of tracked objects
Authenticates products and protects brand name &
know-how
Promotes enterprise- wide innovation
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Omron rfid
RFID Hardware
Vendors
symbol
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RFID is
Simply NOT a PRODUCT
But
an Enabled Technology
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RFID - as a technology
•
Changes old ways of doing things
Alters competitive position
•
Create new industry
Changes work practices
Expands the role of system integration
•
Brings a fundamental different value proposition
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RFID - as a technology
• Leads to emergence of
new products
Redefinition of industry
Shake-up of competitive structure
• Fundamentally changes market for products
and services of companies
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RFID is not hype
It is
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