Radio Frequency IDentification TechnologyMichelle CassinelliAndrew JonesJennifer LandisTable of Contents2. Basic RFID Technology1. Supply Chain ManagementHistory of RFID TechnologyBasic RFID TechnologyThe RFID SystemTypes of RFID TagsUnlike its counterparts, active RFID tags are internally powered. Usually, active RFID tags are beacon or broadcast tags because they transmit their ID and data at a fixed interval. On the other hand, active RFID tags can also be response tags, which only respond when requested by an active RFID reader to trasmit data. Active tags have substantially longer ranges, larger memories and a battery life of up to 5 years. Therefore, they are capable of more advanced features like temperature recording and lights to guide a person to the product. Also, active tags can store additional information trasmitted by the transceiver. The smallest active RFID tag is the size of a coin and yet it has the ability to perform more complex functions.Current Uses of RFID TechnologySupply Chain ManagementAdditional Uses for RFID TechnologyTracking PropertyPeople TrackingThe Future of RFID TechnologyRFID Regulation and StandardizationRFID LegislationRFID ControversyClosingRadio FrequencyIDentification TechnologyMichelle CassinelliAndrew Jones Jennifer LandisBA 471Spring 2006Dr. Reitsma05-30-2006Table of Contents1. History of RFID Technology2. Basic RFID Technology1. The RFID System2. Types of RFID Tags3. Current Uses of RFID Technology1. Supply Chain Management 2. Additional Uses for RFID Technology3. Tracking Property4. People Tracking4. The Future of RFID Technology5. RFID Regulation and Standardization 6. RFID Legislation7. RFID Controversy8. ClosingHistory of RFID TechnologyMany people assume that radio frequency identification technology is a recent innovation; however, this pioneering technology is not as recent of a development as some may think. On the contrary, the roots of RFID technology can be traced back to radar systems used during World War II. In 1935, Scottish physicist Sir Alexander Watson-Watt discovered radar and this technology was adopted by the major world powers during World War II. The Germans, Japanese, Americans, and British all employed radar systems to warn ofapproaching airplanes, but they had no way to determine if the aircrafts were friends or foes. The Germans discovered that the radio frequency signal changed if the pilots rolled their planes, indicating to the ground crew that a German plane was approaching. This technology was essentially the first passive RFID system. Shortly thereafter, the British funded a secret project, directed by Sir Watson-Watt, which resulted in the development of the first active identify friend or foe (IFF) system. Transmitters placed on British planes would receive signals from radio stations and then broadcast signals back to the ground stations, identifying their planes as friendly aircrafts. RFID technology is based on this same concept in thata signal is sent to a transponder which reflects the signal back to the transponder or broadcasts a new signal to the transponder.Scientists in the U.S., Europe, and Japan continued to develop RFID technology throughout the 1950s and 1960s. During this period, companies beganto use RFID systems for commercial purposes. Electronic article surveillance tags were used in stores to prevent theft. The 1-bit tags were either on or off, switching to off after being purchased. If the tag was not deactivated at the point of sale, thereaders at the door would detect the tag when the person tried to exit the store withthe stolen item and accordingly activate the alarm.Mario W. Cardullo claims to have been awarded the first U.S. patent for an active RFID tag with rewritable memory on January 23, 1973. Later that year, Charles Walton received a patent for his passive transponder, which was used to unlock a door without a key. During the 1970s, scientists at the Los Alamos National Laboratory developed a system for tracking nuclear materials, which involved the placement of a transponder in trucks and readers at the gates of secure sites. In the 1980s, some of these scientists left Los Alamos to form their own company and develop automated toll payment stations. Since this time, this technology has been adopted in countries all over the world. Scientists continued to expand RFID technology during the 1980s and 1990s. One notable event was the development of an ultra high frequency (UHF) RFID system by IBM engineers in the early 1990s. UHF RFID systems have a longer read range and faster data transfer and thus, can be used for more complexfunctions. IBM later sold the patent for the UHF RFID system to Intermec which applied the technology to a number of applications. Initially, its progress was slowed by the sheer cost of using UHF RFID systems and the lack of international standards; however, it has become more popular in recent years. Since the turn of the century, scientists have continued to develop RFID technology and try to bring down production costs so that it can be used in a greater number of applications. Some of these innovative uses for RFID tags will be discussed later in the paper.Picture 1: The RFID SystemBasic RFID TechnologyThe RFID SystemThe typical radio frequency identification system consists of three main parts: tag, reader and application software. This system is used to transmit data from a tag to a reader soit can be processed tomeet the needs of acertain application. TheRFID tag, sometimesreferred to as atransponder, is a mobiledevice which containsan antenna and amicrochip with a distinctive electronic product code (EPC). An EPC is a serial designated by the Auto-ID center which functions like a barcode, providing information about the manufacturer, product category and individual item. An RFIDtag is activated when it detects a signal emitted by a reader, also known as an interrogator. A reader consists of an antenna, transceiver and decoder, which are used to read the RFID tag and write data to it. The data can then be passed on to the host computer where it will be processed by application software.Types of RFID TagsThere are three types of RFID tags: passive, semi-passive and active. Eachvaries in its size, power source, range, lifetime, general capabilities and uses.Passive RFID tags do not have an internal source of power; rather, they obtain power from the reader. The reader emits a radio frequency signal that is
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