Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

Radio frequency identification (RFID) is becoming increasingly popular as a complement to bar coding or as a stand-alone solution. RFID's flexibility, batch read capabilities, rewrite functionality and durability provide added value to users who are facing tough automatic identification and data collection (AIDC) challenges. Newbury Data offers RFID capabilities to users in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality, retail, security, and warehousing.

Smart Labels: Take the intelligent approach to smart label printing.

Smart labels are an exciting, emerging type of data carrier that combine the read range and unattended processing capability of radio frequency identification (RFID) with the convenience and flexibility of on-demand label printing. A smart label is an adhesive label with an RFID tag embedded inside. The tag can be encoded with variable data and tested before label is being printed, while the label can contain all the bar codes, text and graphics used in traditional applications. This powerful combination provides unmatched data capacity, security and flexibility for enhancing and extending identification and data collection applications.

Here are a few of the reasons Newbury Data is the intelligent choice for smart label printing:

• All our smart label printers’ feature integrated encoding, so there is no fragile, external device to plug into the printer.
• Newbury Data offers RFID tags from multiple leading manufacturers, including products that conform to the ISO 15693 international RFID standard.
• All chips are verified before labels are printed. If there is a problem with the chip, a "VOID" message is printed on the label so it won't be used.
• We offer numerous media options, including thermal-transfer and direct-thermal tags, labels and wristbands.
• Our compact, desktop smart label printer can produce wristbands for patient identification, patron tracking, electronic wallet, event management and other emerging applications.
• RFID ready Print & Apply engines

Advantages of RFID technology:

As RFID uses radio waves it can do things that optical technologies can't do. Key advantages include:

• Line of sight: Tags can be read without being physically seen as long as they pass through the electromagnetic field emitted by the reader
• Range: Tags can be read at very long range; many hundreds of metres in the case of very specialised tags. RFID devices used in mass logistic applications need a range of a least a metre and up to 4 or 5 metres. Write range is generally much less than read range
• Bulk Read: Many tags can be read in a short space of time, typically hundreds of tags per second
• Selectivity: Potentially, specific data can be extracted and read from a specific tag
• Durability: Tags can be weather and tamper proof
• Read/write (RW): Data tags can be updated to accommodate simple change in status (eg. ‘paid for’ or ‘not paid for’ in retail electronic article surveillance tags) or more complicated information such as a car’s warranty and service history

Limitations of RFID technology:

Your business requirements will determine whether RFID tags are a viable option. The following points list several limitations associated with the technology.

• Cost: RFID tags will always be more expensive than bar codes, however they are able to deliver more benefits in some applications
• Moisture: Depending on the technology used, radio waves may be absorbed by moisture in the product or the environment
• Metal: Radio waves are generally reflected by metal. This means that tags can be hidden by metal in the environment or their signal may be attenuated
• Electrical interference: Electronic noise (eg. Fluorescent light or electric motors) can sometimes interfere with radio frequency communications
• Accuracy: It can be difficult to identify and read a specific tag from all the others that are within the range of a reader. For example when reading the tag on a pallet the reader may also read the tags on all the packs on the pallet too. Failure to read a tag is not picked up by the reader
• Over compensation: Storing a lot of data on a tag may be useful, however this will increase both the cost of the tag and the time required to read it. Often, a simple identity number is sufficient
• Security: Being able to update the tag is useful, but ensuring that the update has been done correctly and by an authorised party is important

RFID tags:

Like a bar code or an electronic data interchange (EDI) network, an RF tag is a data carrier. A bar code carries data in a visible symbol and is read at optical or infrared wavelengths; an RFID device (or tag) carries data programmed into a chip and operates at a wide range of radio frequencies. Essentially all tags comprise a semi-conductor chip with memory, processing capability and a transmitter connected to an antenna (aerial). Memory can vary with simple tags having a small amount of fixed memory (c 64-128 bytes) and more complex tags ranging up to 64 kilobytes

Passive and active tags

Some tags have onboard batteries to increase range, and are known as active tags. These tags are more expensive, and only used for specific applications. The great majority of tags in supply chain management will be passive, taking their energy from the electromagnetic field emitted by the reader.

Read only and read/write tags

The information on read only tags cannot be changed. A suitable interrogator can change the information in read/write tags.

RFID readers:

An RFID reader comprises an antenna and a controller. The controller codes, decodes, checks and stores the data, manages communications with the tags and communicates with the host. Strictly speaking a “reader” only reads data from the tags whereas an “interrogator” reads data from the tags and writes data to them. The reader and tag communicate wirelessly across what is known as the air-interface. The information is then passed from the reader to the host system. In the case of read/write systems information can be passed back through the system from the host to the reader over the air-interface and stored in the memory of the tag.

Frequently Asked Questions About RFID

What is RFID?

RFID stands for radio frequency identification. It is an automatic identification technology whereby digital data encoded in an RFID tag or "smart label" is captured by a reader using radio waves. Put simply, RFID is similar to bar code technology but uses radio waves to capture data from tags, rather than optically scanning the bar codes on a label. RFID does not require the tag or label to be seen to read its stored data-that's one of the key characteristics of an RFID system.

What is an RFID tag?

RFID tags consist of an integrated circuit (IC) attached to an antenna-typically a small coil of wires-plus some protective packaging (like a plastic card) as determined by the application requirements. RFID tags can come in many forms and sizes. Some can be as small as a grain of rice. Data is stored in the IC and transmitted through the antenna to a reader. RFID tags are either "passive" (no battery) or "active" (self-powered by a battery). Tags also can be read-only (stored data can be read but not changed), read/write (stored data can be altered or re-written), or a combination, in which some data is permanently stored while other memory is left accessible for later encoding and updates.

What is a "smart label"?

"Smart labels" are a particularly innovative form of RFID tag and operate in much the same way. However, a smart label consists of an adhesive label that is embedded with an ultra-thin RFID tag "inlay" (the tag IC plus printed antenna). Smart labels combine the read range and unattended processing capability of RFID with the convenience and flexibility of on-demand label printing. Smart labels also can be pre-printed and pre-coded for use. In on-demand applications, the tag inlay can be encoded with fixed or variable data and tested before the label is printed, while the label can contain all the bar codes, text, and graphics used in established applications. Smart labels are called "smart" because of the flexible capabilities provided by the silicon chip embedded in the tag inlay. A read/write smart label also can be programmed and reprogrammed in use, following initial coding during the label production process.

What is an RFID reader?

A reader is basically a radio frequency (RF) transmitter and receiver, controlled by a microprocessor or digital signal processor. The reader, using an attached antenna, captures data from tags then passes the data to a computer for processing. As with tags, readers come in a wide range of sizes and offer different features. Readers can be affixed in a stationary position (for example, beside a conveyor belt in a factory or dock doors in a warehouse), portable (integrated into a mobile computer that also might be used for scanning bar codes), or even embedded in electronic equipment such as print-on-demand label printers.

How does RFID work?

Information is sent to and read from RFID tags by a reader using radio waves. In passive systems, which are the most common, an RFID reader transmits an energy field that "wakes up" the tag and provides the power for the tag to operate. In active systems, a battery in the tag is used to boost the effective operating range of the tag and to offer additional features over passive tags, such as temperature sensing. Data collected from tags is then passed through familiar communication interfaces (cable or wireless) to host computer systems in the same manner that data scanned from bar code labels is captured and passed to computer systems for interpretation, storage, and action.

Where is RFID used?

Currently, the most common uses are found in work-in-process tracking, security and access control systems, closed-loop asset management, and car immobilizers, as well as pay-at-the-pump and freeway toll passes. For example, the Ford Motor Co. uses RFID to track engine blocks through its harsh production process; Gap Inc. has used RFID to track denim jeans through its supply chain to the in-store display shelf; Exxon Mobil Corp.'s Speedpass cashless payment system uses RFID technology; and RFID tags are applied to the shoelaces of all competitors in the Boston Marathon to track them at points throughout the course and to identify them the instant they cross the finish line.

How does RFID differ from bar coding?

Conceptually, bar coding and RFID are quite similar; both are intended to provide rapid and reliable item identification and tracking capabilities. The primary difference between the two technologies is that bar coding scans a printed label with optical laser or imaging technology, while RFID scans, or interrogates, a tag using radio frequency signals. Because of the low cost of bar code labels, established standards, and global deployment, bar coding is widely accepted while, in general, RFID has been limited to niche applications. Furthermore, just as there are different bar code symbologies in use today, there are different RFID standards regarding the way data is captured from tags-the RF communications protocol.

What information is stored on a smart label or tag?

Data stored in a tag will be determined by the application of the system and appropriate standards. For example, a tag could provide identification for an item being manufactured, goods in transit, or even the short-range location and identity of a vehicle, animal, or individual. This fundamental data often is referred to as a "license plate code," similar to the information that is stored on a bar code label. When linked to a database, additional information may be accessed through the reader such as item stock number, current location, status, selling price, and batch code. Alternatively, an RFID tag may carry specific information or instructions immediately available upon reading, without the need to reference a database to determine the meaning of a code. For example, the desired colour of paint on a car that is entering the paint assembly area on the production line, or a manifest to accompany a shipment of goods.

Can RFID track me?

At the retail level, RFID is no more invasive than the bar code is today. Even though RFID uses radio frequency, the relatively short read ranges do not make it practical for use as a remote surveillance device. RFID is not-and should not be compared to-the Global Positioning System (GPS).

Will RFID replace bar codes?

No. RFID and bar coding are considered complementary data capture technologies. Even with large-scale adoption of RFID, there will be a continued need for bar coding to co-exist with RFID into the foreseeable future. The unique attributes of RFID make it an enabler of new applications, especially where the technical fit and operational benefits of the technology make it a better solution than what is in use currently.

What are some of the key attributes of RFID?

Key attributes of RFID include:

• Because tag data is transmitted and received by radio frequency, RFID does not require line-of-sight to read and write the tag data. RF signals also are capable of travelling through a wide array of non-metallic materials.
• Most RFID systems can simultaneously capture data from many tags within range of the antenna. This unique feature is known as "simultaneous identification."
• RFID tags can be read very rapidly. RFID readers are capable of capturing tag identification codes at a rate of up to 1,000 tags per second.
• RFID tags can be encased in hardened plastic coatings making them extremely durable and able to be tracked through harsh production processes. They can be read through grease, dirt, and paint.
• RFID tags can store large amounts of data. High-end RFID tags can contain up to one megabyte of memory (one million characters), although most tags only contain a small fraction of this memory, perhaps as little as 64 bits.
• Some RFID tags are able to support read/write operations, enabling real-time information updates as a tagged item moves through the supply chain.

What is EPC RFID?

The Electronic Product Code (EPC) is a new product numbering standard under development by the Uniform Code Council and EAN International that can be used to detect, track, and control a variety of items using RFID technology. The initiative started as an end-user driven research project at the Auto-ID Center of MIT. The EPC structure can distinguish unique items of the same type. For example, two DVD videos have the same standardised Universal Product Code (UPC) for the purposes of trade. Typically represented in a bar code, the UPC allows computer systems to determine the manufacturer of the DVD, the title of the film, and apply prescribed business rules to facilitate the trade or sale. EPC essentially extends the UPC code so that two DVD videos of the same title can be distinguished one from another, allowing the individual item to be uniquely identified.

Associated with EPC RFID developments are new Internet services that enable individual items to be tracked and traced globally across traditional industry boundaries. This approach to a standardised, RFID-based, Internet-connected data capture system is called the EPC Network, and is being commercialised by EAN and UCC. For more information about EPC RFID;

visit www.uc-council.org/autoid/index.html