Rfid Tutorial

The Cutting Edge of RFID Technology and Applications for Manufacturing and Distribution

Susy d’Hont Texas Instrument TIRIS

ABSTRACT RFID (Radio Frequency ID) is a varied collection of technical approaches for many applications across a wide range of industries. As with its much simpler, older brother, bar coding, this technology used primarily for automatic data capture has the potential tosignificantly alter how processes occur and how companies operate. Any application of RFID needs to result in obvious business benefits. The last few years have seen several developments that have sped up the adoption of this technology. 1) The emergence of major consumer applications that bring RFID from an experimental technology into the mainstream. As it gains understanding and credibilitythrough highly visible consumer applications that prove its effectiveness, its place as a solution in supply chain automation also grows. 2) The development of “smart labels”—a lower cost, easily integratable version of RFID tags that is beginning to take off on paths where bar codes can not travel. This paper includes both theoretical information about RFID and real life application profiles—allintended to make clear how the technology can be applied successfully. HOW RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID) WORKS There are a many uses of this technology around us today, although they are often invisible to users. You may find that you are already carrying and using a RFID tag, or even several. For instance, are you a MobilExxon Speedpass™ user? Do you drive a new model Ford? Have you worn achip on your shoe while running in a marathon? At its most basic level, RFID is a wireless link to uniquely identify objects or people. It is sometimes called dedicated short range communication (DSRC). RFID systems include electronic devices called transponders or tags, and reader electronics to communicate with the tags. These systems communicate via radio signals that carry data eitheruni-directionally or bidirectionally. As the following graphic shows, when a transponder enters a read zone, its data is captured by the reader and can then be transferred through standard interfaces to a host computer, printer, or programmable logic controller for storage or action.

1

Once a link is established with a unique ID on an item, then automation of an assortment of processes ensues.One example is the sortation of packages moving along a conveyor system. At read points in a distribution system, the boxes can be ID’d as to their location in their path to their destination. This information can be immmediately known to a central monitoring operation. It is realtime information that can be shared with the sender, with forwarders, and with the customer waiting for the shipment.The shipment can be automatically directed to the appropriate dock door, truck, carrier, etc. The shipment can be redirected while in transit if plans change; all without human intervention. This puts real time decision-making power into the hands of many functional operations up and down the suppy chain.

2

Having this vital information readily available enables management to respond rapidlyto changing patterns of demand, and allows a company to provide superior service to customers. RFID tags come in a wide variety of size, shapes, and forms. Reader electronics can be bare boards, electronics modules, or fully enclosed boxes. Tags come with and without batteries, they can be read only or read/write. Typically, tags without batteries (passive) are smaller and lighter than those thatare active, and less expensive. They are maintenance free and will last almost indefinitely. There are more than 100 suppliers of these systems ranging from large semiconductor companies like TI, Motorola, and Philips down to 1-man entrepreneurial businesses. Today, all systems are proprietary, but standards are beginning to emerge. Prices of tags range from 50 cents to $150.00 depending upon...