Radio Frequency Identification: Technology, Types, and Applications

This report provides a detailed overview of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology and its applications. It begins by introducing automatic identification and the extensive use of RFID within logistics across various economic sectors, highlighting its advantages over barcoding, such as the ability to accurately read vast quantities of data quickly and without line of sight. The report distinguishes between three main types of RFID technologies: active RFID, passive RFID, and Near Field Communication (NFC), explaining their fundamental differences in the use of radio signals. Active RFID, which requires a power source, is further divided into devices used in buildings for real-time location systems (RTLS) and external devices that utilize GPS and cell net transmitters. Passive RFID, on the other hand, does not require its own power source and relies on the reader for power. NFC, a specific form of passive RFID, is designed for short-range communication and is commonly used in contactless payment systems. The report concludes by emphasizing the increasing use of NFC chips in mobile phones for payment purposes.

KDR DR HANI KALSOM BINTI HASHIM

oAutomatic identification in general and radio frequency identification (RFID) in particul
extensive use within logistics in all economic sectors.
oRFID has the ability to accurately read vast quantities of data, from any tags within ran
quickly, without line of sight and whilst the items are moving.
oThese advantages over barcoding open up the ability to employ track-and-trace techn
where previously they were impossible or at least impractical.

oRFID is one of a series of technologies available for automating the collection of data.
oAutomating data capture is a goal that has been sought in most sectors of industry an
for many years.
oRadio frequency identification (RFID) applies to three technologies:
o Active RFID
o Passive RFID
o Near field communication (NFC).
oWhilst they share the fact that they all use radio signals as a means of communication
differ fundamentally in their use of that technology.
oRFID readers will read continuously and will read any tags within range.
oThe main advantages of RFID tags are that they can be read ‘many at a time’ without
sight and can be modified during use, which overcomes the disadvantages of barcodes

oActive RFID requires a power source with which to transmit its signal.
oThe device contains as a minimum an individual identity, and a transmitter.
oEven within this classification there are two significantly different technologies, those t
in or near a building, and those that can be tracked remotely.
oWhilst these technologies can have varying uses, a component of almost all systems is
location (RTLS).
Principles of active RFID

Devices in buildings
oThe main application for this type of device is real-time location systems (RTLS), which requires fairly
devices with little in the way of extra electronics.
oThere are a range of differing systems in use including ultra wave band (UWB) and ZigBee. However,
common is based on wireless local area networks (WLAN).
oThese devices transmit their unique identity according to some predetermined time interval, on a freq
2.45 GHz (the usual wide area network frequency).
oTheir broadcast range is approximately 30–50 metres.
oTwo or more wireless nodes will pick up the transmission and by using a series of algorithms based on
received, signal strength and direction will trigonometrically calculate the position of the tagged devic
accuracy of about 1 metre.
oUsually this will be overlaid on a floor plan of the building to allow the device to be located.
oThis technology can be used to determine the current location of critical equipment, for example a de
a hospital, or even personnel if they are wearing active tag badges, within warehouses and/or factory
oSome more sophisticated systems include motion sensors to switch off the battery when static, in ord
preserve battery life.

External devices
oThese devices are more complex electronically than those used internally.
oThey require as a minimum a unique identity, a global positioning satellite (GPS) recei
cell net transmitter.
oThis combination allows the geographical position of the tag and the object (eg lorry) t
deduced (GPS) and transmitted back to some monitoring system (cell net).
oIt is common for these devices to contain other electronics such as speed calculators,
revolution monitors, temperature recorders for chilled and frozen goods etc, and to tra
such data along with position to monitors.
oThis capability forms the basis of telematics systems.

External devices
oPassive RFID tags do not require a power source of their own.
oWhat power they need comes from the special reader required for their use.
oThe reading device is a transceiver that both transmits a radio signal to ‘wake up’ the
receives the reply also as a radio signal from the tag.
oThe tags consist of an integrated circuit chip, which as a minimum contains a unique w
identity ‘burned in’ during manufacture, together with an antenna used for both receiv
transmitting the signal.

oNFC is a relatively new and very specific form of passive RFID.
oIt uses a frequency of 13.56 MHz but conforms to very different ISO standards to conventio
frequency chips.
oIt is specifically designed for very short-range communication between devices (up to 10 c
but often thought of as ‘contact’).
oIn its simplest form an NFC chip is carried within a card assembly (like a credit card).
o Some of these such as bank cards can be used for payment at suitable EPOS systems, without the
PIN number.
o The value of the transaction is limited up to a maximum, usually about £20, and there is a limit of t
of times it can be used before a PIN number is required as validation.
oIncreasingly mobile phones are capable of reading NFC chips, as well as containing an NFC
identity.
oThe chip allows the phone to behave in the same way as a card, ie used for payment at su
terminals.