Integrating New Technologies & Design

RFID: technologies, applications, future

Future Technology Center

Steven Schilthuizen Jan 31 2005 1

Contents presentation RFID

10 Connective technologies Tracking & tracing What is RFID? Frequencies RFID-tags
Silicon RFID Printed RFID Polymer RFID Nano RFID

Costs of RFID RFID-roadmap RFID-readers Sensors Applications Options and challenges Discussion / questions
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10 connective technologies

institute for the future

18 Oct 2004

What is RFID.
R(adio) F(requency) ID(entification) ~~~~ radio waves RFID is contactless / wireless

RFID is ranked among the top 10 of dominant future technologies RFID has also limitations

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Technology components of RFID.

RFID-tags: IC/ -processor+antenna+packaging RFID-reader: antenna+coupler+C

Software:
Embedded protocol handling in reader Data management and connection RFID-system to ERP and other software

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Working principle RFID Working principle RFID

Interface to host computer (RS485, RS232/422, ethernet, 802.11, etc)

ID: 01.43200B9.23AE1F.345C4D012

tag

RFID RFID reader reader

01.43200B9.23AE1F.345C4D012

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RFID is based on radio waves

Physical description of a rf-wave

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Spectrum of the (Radio) Waves

Band Frequencies RF(ID) Technology name Used Frequencies

VLF

3~30 kHz

(EM - EAS electro magnetic)

2-4 kHz

LF

30~300 kHz

(First RFID Proximity Standard)

125-135 kHz

HF

3~30 Mhz

(RF-EAS / ISO RFID Range)

8.2 / 13.56 Mhz

UHF

300~3000 Mhz

(UHF / EPC RFID Range)

330 /868968 Mhz

SHF

3~60 Ghz
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Wireless LAN and Telecom

(micro, radar waves)

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Passive vs active RFID-tags

ATTRIBUTE PASSIVE ACTIVE

Power Frequency

Inductive

Battery

LF (125 KHz), HF (13.56 MHz), HF (303, 433 MHz), UHF (868-968 MHz), Microwave (2.4 GHz) Microwave (2.4 GHz) <1m 128 bits 32 kbits Unlimited ~ $0.15 to $10 ~ 2 to 500 m 64 bites - ? 2 to 7 years $10 to $20

Read Distance Memory Life Cost

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Barcode vs RFID-tags
Barcodes RFID / EPC
No Line of Sight Large Memory Data Moves with Product / Asset Dynamic Data Reads

+ -

Low Cost Broad Utilization Human Readable Integrated in printed mat.

Data Transfer Requires Line of Sight Data Storage is Limited Environmentally Sensitive

Higher Costs Read Sensitive to Product Attributes (metal, H2O) Limited Adoption

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RFID-TAGS
Smart CARDS (13.56 MHz) CAR KEY TAGS / HARD TAGS GLASS TAGS (125 KHz)

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RFID-TAGS
Silicon RFID -tags
Silicon chip (IC or C): thickness 120 m- 500 m Tag: IC-antenna-polymer carrier-packaging 13.56 MHz- UHF-2.45 GHZ RO and RW ICs Al, Cu and screen/rotoprinted antennas Price level too high for most primary packaging (0.15-0.30 EUR)

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RFID-TAGS
Chip-antenna connection + antenna:
Expensive Vulnerable (P, T) Bonding necessary

Solutions:
Coil on chip: rf-link to label antenna (Microsensys) Use chipmodules Develop new bonding materials and methods Flexible Si-chip with integrated antennas (Philips)

Microsensys

Philips

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UHF RFID-labels
Frequency 868-968 MHz up to 2.45 GHz. Some companies use two antenna lines connected to UHF IC, creating by this a di-pole antenna Some use other shapes for better performance

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Examples UHF RFID-labels

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RFID-labels, TNO competence

TNO models and designs various RF-antennas for RFIDtags (13.56 MHz, UHF, 2.45 GHz), reader and detection systems We use other shapes for better performance We improve chip-antenna connections We use other materials (Cu, Al, conductive inks and polymers etc.) We integrate antennas in labels, products (clothing, sails) etc. We will start developing all polymer RFID-tag

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RFID-labels, UHF-antennas and 13.56 Mhz labels (design&protoyping TNO)

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RFID-TAGS, standards
ISO 15693 ISO 14443 A/B ISO 18000 (13.56 MHz-UHF) See www.nen.nl

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RFID-TAGS
EAS-tags
Anti-theft tags RF or magnetic Al or other metals Low costs: 0.01 EUR Options to use as sensor or authenticity tag

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RFID-TAGS
Printed RFID-tags
Antenna: ink filled with silver parts RF-parts: connection pads, capacitor element Printed EAS/authenticity tags

Printed fuse in EAS-tag

Printed EAS-tag (TNO)

UHF RFID-tag

13.56 MHZ RFID-tag

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RFID-TAGS
Polymer / plastic RFID-tags
Replace silicon with polymer logic circuitry Basic elements are: FET, antenna, rectifier Use inkjet and/or lithographic technology Integrate tags in printed labels/packaging Ultra low cost tags

Photo Philips

Plastic wafer
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RFID-TAGS
Polymer / plastic RFID-tags
Focus at: production technology, accuracy of FETs, antenna/rectifier (speed) Integration of low cost polymer sensor possible

All-Polymer Field-Effect Transistor

- - - - gate -----insulator semiconductor ++++++++++ substrate source

source drain

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RFID-TAGS
Polymer / plastic RFID-tags
Focus at upgrading operating frequency: 50-60-125 KHz. Aim at 13.56 MHz for first prototypes.

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RFID-TAGS
Nano and molecular RFID
Molecular FETs to make molecular logic circuitry Use of nanoparticles (CNTFET) for logic and nanowires Smaller and cheaper than CMOS chips

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RFID-TAGS
SMART DUST
Micro/nano devices Integrated MEMS+ID+power+rf antenna

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Passive RFID-tags roadmap

2002
Hitachi 0.4 mm 2.45 GHz tag

2005
POLYMER FET

2010

2015

---------insulator semiconductor ++ ++++++++ substrate source

source drain

gate

Cost/size reduction

Smart Dust (ID+sensor+pos+power+rf)

Hybrid SiAll Plastic 13.56 polymer tag MHz tag

Nano/Molecular electronics

868 Mhz-2.45 GHz UHF passive tag 13.56 MHz passive tag

Data rate

125 Khz 13.56 MHz UHF-tag 868 MHz 2.45 GHz

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Frequency
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Costs of RFID

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Silicon RFID vs Plastic RFID

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RFID READERS
Fixed:
Gate readers Industrial readers on forklift trucks, transport lines

Handheld:
Mobile scanner/PDA PDA with RFID-card reader module Mobile phone?
SAMsys

Dialoc ID

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RFID READERS
Basic construction
Antenna, amplifier, coupler, C, battery, user-interface

RFID-reader coupler (C/PIC/FPGA)

interface

13.56 /UHF Antenna

Protocol Management
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RF interface
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RFID READERS, FUTURE

RFID coupler chipset in mobile phones: R2R, R to Tag (for payment, access control, info etc.)

Credit card sized microreaders for consumers with display, battery

RFID -tag

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POLYLED (RF)ID-card
Fine maskpattern in polyLED Optical cardreader and/or RFID-reader Store biometric info also in IC Supply power to polyLED via reader Integration biometric data: fingeprint, irisscopic, facial etc.

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SENSORS
Optical RF Acoustic Passive vs active Integration in packaging to monitor:
T Humidity B/C influences Tampering

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Conductive and active polymers for sensors

All plastic optical sensor

Senstenna

RF-antenna with reactive polymer parts

POLYLEDs
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BIOSWITCH SENSORS
Bioswitch sensor for B/C detection in materials/packaging Nanosensor with protective/reactive coating (RF or optical reading)

Nanosensor B/C element

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RF antenna sensor, wireless reading

RF antenna resonator sensor with reactive nanotubes or reactive dielectric substrates:
autonomous condition sensor also possible: B/C sensor, RF wireless DNA-array for food, health care etc.

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RFID APPLICATIONS
Services:
Loyalty and membership cards Payment (with car, at vending machines, automatic cash machines etc.) Library

Safety & security:

Access control, passports Identification of soldiers, military equipment

Logistics:
Supply chain management of returnable transit items (pallets, kegs, containers) Wharehouse control Automatic ID of products

Production of hardware / components:

Tagging of products under manufacturing or assembling (smart factory) Wharehousing Service supply / maintenance
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RFID APPLICATIONS
Retail:
Pricing / automatic payment Individual item tagging of food, pharma packaging, FMCG (EPCcoding vs EAN-barcode) Smart shelf EAS and authenticity tagging Liability, traceability Info supply to consumer

Clothing:
EAS Find right size, colour etc Find matching clothing

Pharma/ healthcare:
ID, traceability, authenticity of pharmaceuticals ID-tagging of blood bags Diagnostic packaging.

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RFID APPLICATIONS: HEALTH

Diagnostic and talking packaging: electronics to give info to consumer + feedback on dosis/use/need for medication

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RFID APPLICATIONS: HEALTH

Blisters and dispensers with RFID tag or capacitor system Containers with RFID tag Personal Medical RFID card with prescription RFID-tagging of pharmaceuticals

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RFID APPLICATIONS: LOGISTICS

Inmoulded RFID-tags in plastic crates/trays

t
M ain Goal
Development of integration method for RFIDtags in injection moulded and blowmoulded packaging and development of read/write system

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RFID APPLICATIONS: LOGISTICS

Inmoulded RFID-tags in plastic crates/trays/drums/pallets

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RFID APPLICATIONS: LOGISTICS

Inmoulded magnetic or polymer RFID-tag in mineral water PET-bottle

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RFID APPLICATIONS: LOGISTICS

RFID-tagging of transport packaging, boxes, bags

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RFID APPLICATIONS: RETAIL

Printed EAS or authenticity tags on expensive goods (anticounterfeit)

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RFID APPLICATIONS: RETAIL

Payment (via EPC) EAS, tr&tr info for consumer, smart shelf (for pricing, info, inventory control)

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RFID APPLICATIONS: RETAIL

Anti-allergic or anti-obesity indicator tag on packaging (scan with handheld pen in supermarket)

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RFID APPLICATIONS: SAFETY & SECURITY

Identification, access control, passports

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RFID APPLICATIONS: SERVICES

Payment, library, loyalty cards

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RFID APPLICATIONS: PRODUCTION

Identification of parts in automotive , aerospace, electronics production, professional equipment

Identec /VW

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RFID APPLICATIONS: CLOTHING

Identification, EAS, find right size, colour, matching clothing, dressing up

Prada store NY

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RFID: OPTIONS, CHALLENGES

OPTIONS
Tag every product/item Combine RFID+sensor Supply info via tag and web Improve efficiency Improve quality &safety Develop new services Integrate in printed materials

CHALLENGES
Reduce costs Privacy aspects of tagging Readability, long distance reading Multiple tag reading > 500 t/s Printable plastic tags Memory capacity chips Universal protocols and frequencies Positioning with RFID-tags

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Thank you for your attention!

steven.schilthuizen@tno.nl Future Technology Center TNO Science & Industry

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