Radio Frequency
Identification Drivers
(RFID)
What is it?
A Radio
Frequency Identification Driver (RFID) is a device for the wireless communication of data, to and from portable, low cost data
carriers. It is an area of automatic identification
that has quietly been gaining momentum in recent years. RFID is now viewed as a radical means of
enhancing data handling processes, complimentary in many ways to other data
capture technologies such bar coding. A range of devices and associated systems
are available to satisfy an even broader range of applications
The
object of any RFID system is to carry data in transponders (called tags), then,
at some appropriate time, to have that data retrieved by machine-readable
means, at a location to satisfy particular needs. Data within a tag provides
some identification information for this particular item in the manufacture
and/or sale, the movement, or the identity of an item, an animal or an
individual.
RFID System Components
Transponders/Tags
The
transponder or tag is a device that responds to a transmitted or communicated
request by wireless means across an air interface between the Reader/Programmer
and the Tag/Transponder for the data carried in the tag. (A reader together with a decoder and
interface is a term that is sometimes called an interrogator.)
Transponders,
generally speaking, are fabricated as low-power integrated circuits suitable
for interfacing to external coils for data transfer and power generation
(passive mode). The transponder memory
is usually electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) to
ensure that the data is retained when the device is in its quiescent or
power-saving "sleep" state (This is the most stable from of
memory). The transponder antenna is the
means by which the device senses the interrogating field and, where
appropriate, the programming field and also serves as the means of transmitting
the transponder response to the interrogator.
The Reader/Interrogator
The reader/interrogators can differ quite considerably
in complexity, depending upon the type of tags being supported and the
functions to be fulfilled. However, the overall function is to provide the
means of communicating with the tags and facilitating data transfer. Functions
performed by the reader may include quite sophisticated signal conditioning,
parity error checking and correction.
RF Transponder Programmers
Transponder programmers are the means, by which data
is delivered to write once, read many (WORM) and read/write tags. Programming
is generally carried out off-line, at the beginning of a batch production run,
for example.
The range over which the programming can be achieved
is generally less than the read range and in some systems near contact
positioning is required. Programmers are also generally designed to handle a
single tag at a time. However, developments are now satisfying the need for
selective programming of a number of tags present within the range of the
programmer.
Usage is
expanding as great strides are being made in all areas of component
technologies. There are, however, areas of concern for the industry unrelated
to technological innovation—
·
a need for
international standards in the manufacturing, and more importantly, the
software integration problems as the new devices move into the business
processes applications area
·
social perception
concerns of wireless technologies on humans (what is a safe level )
·
social concerns for privacy rights.
Evolving standards (to overcome a
lack of open system interchangeability, and lack of frequency standards) and
high transponder costs are some
of the factors currently preventing widespread adoption of this technology. Nonetheless,
RFID does have a future; companies will gradually reinvent their processes
incorporating RFID as an enabling technology.
Web Links
Good Places to begin looking:
|
For outline information about Knowledge bases,
Organizations, Magazines and E-zines, White papers,
User groups, News, etc.: http://www.compinfo-center.com/data/data_capture.htm |
|
For good background information in the
topic area: Click here:http://www.aimglobal.org/technologies/rfid/resources/papers/rfid_basics_primer.htm |
|
For a glossary of terms in automated
information technology and an educational training source: http://www.intermec.com/datactr/glossary.htm |
|
International White Paper on RFID as part
of International Standards Setting Process: http://www.aimglobal.org/technologies/rfid/resources/RFIDCharacteristics.pdf |
|
How Stuff Works: Simple
explanation of RFID technology (EZ Pass): http://www.howstuffworks.com/e-zpass1.htm |
|
Six Technologies
: Article on six areas this technology is
commercially expanding into. Good
company sources. http://www.info-sec.com/access/access_061797a.html-ssi |
Two Research Reports to Purchase (
|
RFID End User Survey: This report reviews the current RFID market, including the latest
information concerning standards, technology evolution and common application
segments. The goal of this report is to assist managers in their ability to
quickly identify the key issues surrounding the technology. Furthermore, this
study provides an impartial view of the industry and aims to cut through the
hype typically associated with RFID technology. Profiles of select RFID
vendors and an extensive vendor directory are provided
for reference. http://www.alliedworld.com/servlets/ResearchDetails?productid=RFEU02 |
|
Technology Evolution, Market Segmentation Analysis and
Player Profiles: This report reviews the current
state of RFID technology and presents a clear discussion of the varied
approaches to radio frequency identification including standardization
efforts. Appropriate market segments are defined to better aid manufacturers
to identify those segments best applicable to their existing, and proposed,
product mix. Forecasts for transponder and reader ICs, finished transponders
and readers and software services are broken down by region, technology and
application. http://www.alliedworld.com/servlets/ResearchDetails?productid=RFID02 |
RFID Journal:
|
Recent news, and articles, and to
subscribe: http://www.rfidjournal.com/index.html |
User Associations:
|
The Association
for Automatic Identification and Data Capture Technologies: Industry group for AIM represents hardware
manufacturers, software developers, consultants, systems integrators, value-added
resellers, distributors, consumable companies, and users associated with
technologies information and development and service support in the RFID
area: http://www.aimglobal.org/ |
|
Uniform Code Council, Inc. The mission of the Uniform Code Council,
Inc., is to take a global leadership role in
establishing and promoting multi-industry standards for product
identification and related electronic communication. The goal is to
enhance supply chain management thus contributing added value to the
customer: http://www.uc-council.org/ |
|
International Organization for
Standards (Issues ISO pronouncements) Web
location and Catalogue site for standards.
http://www.iso.ch/iso/en/CatalogueListPage.CatalogueList?ICS1=35&ICS2=40&ICS3= |
For list of businesses in this area, Consultants,
Research in the applications of RFID:
http://www.ti.com/snc/docs/news/rel24.htm
http://www.mobileinfo.com/AIDC/RFID.htm
http://www.vdc-corp.com/about/index.html
http://www.imrmall.com/free-scripts/bcc_gen_toc.pl?0002&0084
http://www.businesssolutionsmag.com/Articles/1998_09/980915.htm
Social Integration Concerns:
http://www.gopusa.com/caroldevinemolin/cdm_0114.shtml
http://www.inkode.com/inkode.html
FCC Government Site to register
codes, etc.:
http://www.fcc.gov/oet/fccid/help.html
Of New Interest;
The Expansion into Payment Applications:
Click here for announcement: http://about.reuters.com/investormedia/news_releases/art_10-4-2002_id946.asp
Possible U. S. Government Regulations that may affect RFID in
Anti-terrorism legislation-Industry call for input and a link to proposed legislation:
Click
here: http://www.aimglobal.org/aboutaim/pressreleases/Foodtracing.htm
Areas of Application for RFID
Potential
applications for RFID may be identified in virtually every sector of industry,
commerce and services where data is to be collected. Principal areas of
application for RFID that can be currently identified include:
·
Transportation
and logistics
·
Manufacturing and
Processing
·
Security
·
Animal tagging
·
Waste management
·
Time and
attendance
·
Postal tracking
·
Airline baggage
reconciliation
·
Road toll management
Future Growth Areas as Standardization continues:
·
Electronic
article surveillance - clothing retail outlets being typical.
·
Protection of
valuable equipment against theft, unauthorized removal or asset management.
·
Controlled access
to vehicles, parking areas and fuel facilities - depot facilities being
typical.
·
Automated toll
collection for roads and bridges - since the 1980s, electronic Road-Pricing
(ERP) systems have been used in
·
Controlled access
of personnel to secure or hazardous locations.
·
Time and
attendance - to replace conventional "slot card" time keeping
systems.
·
Animal husbandry
- for identification in support of individualized feeding programs.
·
Automatic
identification of tools in numerically controlled machines - to facilitate
condition monitoring of tools, for use in managing tool usage and minimizing
waste due to excessive machine tool wear.
·
Identification of
product variants and process control in flexible manufacture systems.
·
Sport time
recording
·
Electronic
monitoring of offenders at home
·
Vehicle
anti-theft systems and car immobilizer