Future Technology Center Jan 31 2005 1

Integrating New Technologies & Design RFID: technologies, applications, future

Steven Schilthuizen

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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

18 Oct 2004 3

10 connective technologies institute for the future

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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/ μ-processor+antenna+packaging• RFID-reader: antenna+coupler+μC

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

software

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Working principle RFID

RFID readerRFID reader

tag

01.43200B9.23AE1F.345C4D012

Interface to host computer (RS485,

RS232/422, ethernet, 802.11, etc)

ID: 01.43200B9.23AE1F.345C4D012

Working principle RFID

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RFID is based on radio waves• Physical description of a rf-wave

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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 /868–968 Mhz SHF 3~60 Ghz Wireless LAN and Telecom (micro, radar waves)

Spectrum of the (Radio) Waves

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Passive vs active RFID-tags

$10 to $20~ $0.15 to $10Cost

2 to 7 yearsUnlimitedLife

64 bites - ?128 bits – 32 kbitsMemory

~ 2 to 500 m< 1 mRead Distance

HF (303, 433 MHz), Microwave (2.4 GHz)

LF (125 KHz), HF (13.56 MHz), UHF (868-968 MHz), Microwave (2.4 GHz)

Frequency

BatteryInductivePower

ACTIVEPASSIVEATTRIBUTE

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Barcode vs RFID-tags

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

•Limited Adoption

•Data Transfer Requires Line of Sight

•Data Storage is Limited•Environmentally Sensitive

RFID / EPC

•No Line of Sight•Large Memory – Data Moves with Product / Asset

•Dynamic Data Reads

Barcodes

•Low Cost•Broad Utilization•Human Readable•Integrated in printed mat.

+

-

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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 μC): thickness 120 μm- 500 μm

• Tag: IC-antenna-polymercarrier-packaging

• 13.56 MHz- UHF-2.45 GHZ• RO and RW IC’s• 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)

© Philips

© Microsensys

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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 RFID-

tags (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 silverparts

• RF-parts: connection pads, capacitor element

• Printed EAS/authenticity tags

Printed EAS-tag (TNO) 13.56 MHZ RFID-tagUHF RFID-tag

Printed fuse in EAS-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

PlasticPlastic“wafer”“wafer”

Photo Philips

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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

sourcesubstrate

gate

insulatorsemiconductor

source drain

- - - - - - - - - -+ + + + + + + + + +

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RFID-TAGS• Polymer / plastic RFID-tags

• Focus at upgrading operatingfrequency: 50-60-125 KHz. Aimat 13.56 MHz for firstprototypes.

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RFID-TAGS• Nano and molecular RFID

• Molecular FETs to makemolecular logic circuitry

• Use of nanoparticles (CNT-FET) for logic and nanowires

• Smaller and cheaper thanCMOS chips

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RFID-TAGS• SMART DUST

• Micro/nano devices• Integrated MEMS+ID+power+rf

antenna

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2002 2005 2010 2015

Passive RFID-tags roadmap

13.56 MHz passive tagC

ost/s

ize

redu

ctio

n

Frequency

Nano/Molecular electronics

868 Mhz-2.45 GHzUHF passive tag

All Plastic 13.56 MHz tag

POLYMER FET

sourcesubstrate

gate

insulatorsemiconductor

source drain

- - - - - - - - - -+ + + + + + + + + +

Hybrid Si-polymer tag

Hitachi 0.4 mm 2.45 GHz tag

125 Khz 13.56 MHz UHF-tag 868 MHz 2.45 GHz

Data rate

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

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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?

©Dialoc ID

©SAMsys

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RFID READERS• Basic construction

• Antenna, amplifier, coupler, μC, battery,user-interface

interface

Protocol Management RF interface+

RFID-reader coupler (μC/PIC/FPGA)

13.56 /UHF

Antenna

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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 sizedmicroreaders forconsumers 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 forsensors

RF-antenna with reactivepolymer parts

All plastic opticalsensor

Senstenna

POLYLEDs

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BIOSWITCH SENSORS

• Bioswitch sensor for B/C detection in materials/packaging

B/C element

Nanosensor

Nanosensor withprotective/reactive coating(RF or optical reading)

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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 (EPC-

coding 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

Main GoalMain Goalt

Development of integration method for RFID-tags in injection moulded and blowmouldedpackaging and development of read/writesystem

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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 (anti-

counterfeit)

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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, CHALLENGESCHALLENGES

•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

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

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Thank you for your attention!

steven.schilthuizen@tno.nlFuture Technology CenterTNO Science & Industry