by Adi Tedjasaputra

Water and metal objects are the most known factors that can decrease the performance of air interface Ultra High Frequency (UHF) communication between RFID passive tags and readers. Depending on RFID applications, several options to alleviate the material effect include the use of active tags, additional tag spacer or insert material, and specific tag or antenna design.

Two other factors that can also influence the performance of UHF RFID applications, yet less known, are mobility and tagging position. These two factors can be very significant in several applications, such as RFID vehicle and conveyor belt tracking systems.

Mobility is a critical factor for RFID tagged objects or readers that are moving or mobile. Depending on the configuration of a particular RFID system and environment, a significant change in mobility path (direction) and also speed (velocity) within a specified time can influence the successful identification rate of RFID tags.

Tagging position, on the other hand, is related to the position where RFID tags are embedded, attached or injected (in the case of animal or human tagging). In many cases, optimum power from RFID reader is not required to operate passive tags.

However, in cases where the Effective Radiated Power (ERP) level and distance between reader and tags are fixed, such as in manufacturing setting, it is important to know the location in a tagged object where a passive tag can operate optimally. Such location is defined as R-Spot or Resonance Spot.

R-Spot is a location in a tagged object where a passive tag can operate optimally within specified Effective Radiated Power (ERP) level and certain distance from a reader.

During RFID tagging, R-Spots are usually the reference tagging locations where the identification of tags will result in optimum performance.

In some cases, such as pallet and case tagging with different contents and materials, R-Spots are likely to be variably diverse. Such cases may introduce the difficulty in automation, because a fixed tagging location on all tagged objects may become a requirement to achieve an efficient automation. This situation introduces the importance of L-Spot or Live Spot, which is the location in a tagged object where a passive tag can still obtain power from a reader to operate within specified ERP level and certain distance from a reader.

L-Spot is the location in a tagged object where a passive tag can still obtain power from a reader to operate within specified ERP level and certain distance from a reader.

L-Spot includes R-Spots as well, but L-Spot does not always guarantee that the tagging position will result in optimum performance.

The opposite of L-Spot is D-Spot or Dead Spot, where tags can still receive power from a reader, but the obtained power is insufficient to operate tags within specified ERP level and certain distance from a reader, resulting in identification failures.

D-Spot is the location in a tagged object where passive tags can still obtain the power from a reader, but the obtained power is insufficient to operate tags within specified ERP level and certain distance from a reader.

There are still many areas in RFID tagging that are yet to be explored. This introduction to RFID tagging has shown that there is still room for improvement, while the art and science of RFID tagging advances along with the increasing adoption of RFID technology in diverse applications.


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Labels: antenna, d-spot, erp, l-spot, mobile, r-spot, reader, rfid, tag, technology, tracking

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MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR
No.: 03-08-2006
SUBJECT: USE AND OPERATION OF RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID) WITHIN THE 13.553-13.567 MHz, 918–920 MHz, and 2446–2454 MHz BANDS

Whereas, pursuant to EO 546 series of 1979, Act 3846, RA 7925 and to Rule 600 of Memorandum Circular 8-9-95 (Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 7925), the radio spectrum allocation and assignment shall be subject to review in the interest of public service and in order to keep pace with the development in the wireless technology with the view of insuring a wider access to the limited radio spectrum and the use of cost effective technology;

Whereas, the Commission had received several interest from stakeholders, local and international, regarding the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID);

Whereas, the use of RFID is gaining popularity and the widespread adoption of RFID systems on a regional level will reduce the cost implementation for such systems through economies of scale;

Wherefore, the National Telecommunications Commission, hereby issues the following rules and regulations:

1. DEFINITION OF TERMS

1.1 RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Systems) are intended to carry data in suitable transponders, generally known as tags, and to retrieve data, by hand- or machine-readable means, at a suitable time and place to satisfy particular application needs. Data within a tag may provide identification of an item, goods in transit, a location, the identity of persons and/or their belongings, a vehicle or assets, an animal or other types of information.

RFID (radio Frequency Identity) systems employ tiny chips and wireless antennas that can be embedded into products and used for unique identification purposes. It is a contact- less solution that works with proximity readers and RFID tags.

1.2 Proximity readers – a device which transmits an interrogating/querying signal to an RFID tag and receives unique information from the tag. Readers
have two high level versions- those that store data and those that simply store a reference key for look-up on a host system. Readers maybe classified into:
a) low power with erp not exceeding 500 milliwatts, and
b) high power with erp not exceeding 2 watts (or 4 watts eirp).

1.3 RFID tag – a microchip attached to an antenna that picks up signals from and sends signals to a reader. A tag contains a unique number, but may have other information, such as customers’ account number.
RFID tags maybe classified as:
a) active tag - used for long distance purposes such as in toll highways, parking areas, gas stations. This tag uses small batteries which enable it to send signals at a longer distance, and
b) passive tags - used very near or in close proximity to a reader and does not use any internal battery.

2. OPERATING PARAMETERS

2.1 The use and operation of RFIDs shall be allowed in the following frequency bands:
13.553 - 13.567 MHz
918 – 920 MHz
2446 – 2454 MHz

2.2 The maximum effective radiated power for readers is a) low power: 500 milliwatts, and b) high power: 2 watts (or 4watts eirp).

3. TYPE APPROVAL/ACCEPTANCE, REGISTRATION AND LICENSING

3.1 Only type approved/accepted RFID proximity readers shall be allowed for use in the country.

3.2 RFID proximity readers shall be subject to one time registration prior to use and shall bear NTC registration number issued by the Commission for proper identification. The Commission shall device a standard numbering scheme for the registration of RFID proximity readers.

3.3 Only duly accredited radio dealers/manufacturers shall buy, sell and carry on stocks RFID proximity readers that are legally imported, type-approved/accepted and registered with the Commission. However, any individual/entity intending to use, purchase, import RFID proximity readers may be allowed provided that the equipment are type-approved/accepted and shall be registered with the Commission.

3.4 Duly accredited radio dealers/manufacturers shall register with the Commission all imported RFID proximity readers not later than Five (5) days upon release from the Bureau of Customs.

3.5 A report of registered RFID proximity readers shall be submitted by the Regional Offices to the RRLD along with monthly regional licensing report.

4. FEES AND CHARGES

4.1 Proximity readers shall be covered by a certificate of registration to be issued upon one-time payment of the following fees:
a. low power readers, PHP 100.00
b. high power readers, PHP 300.00

4.2 Imported RFID tags shall be covered by Permit to Import to be issued upon payment of Permit fee of PHP 100.00 per 1,000 units.

5. TRANSITORY PROVISION

5.1 RFID proximity readers purchased and/or operated prior to the effectivity of this circular shall be registered after type approval/acceptance within Ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this circular.

6. ADMINISTRATIVE SANCTIONS:

6.1 Violations of any provisions of this circular shall be dealt with in accordance with law.

6.2 The following fines shall be imposed:

6.2.1. Sale of unregistered RFID proximity reader, PHP 5,000.00 per unit or with forfeiture of equipment

6.2.2. Selling of RFID tags not covered by Permit Fee, PHP 2,500.00 for the first offense, PHP 5,000.00 for the second offense, PHP 7,500.00 for the third offense, and so on.

6.2.3. Illegal acquisition of RFID reader, PHP 5,000.00 per unit and/or with forfeiture of equipment

6.2.4. Sale of illegally acquired RFID reader, PHP 5,000.00 per unit or with forfeiture of the equipment.

6.2.5. Non-registration of imported RFID readers within Five (5) days from released from the Bureau of Customs, PHP 1,000.00 per unit.

6.2.6. Selling of RFID proximity readers by non-NTC accredited radio dealers/manufacturers, PHP 5,000.00 per reader, PHP 1,000.00 per 1,000 tags.

6.2.7. Operating RFID proximity reader without valid registration, PHP 5,000.00 per reader

7. The use and operation of RFIDs shall be on an unprotected and non-interference basis i.e. operators cannot claim protection against interference and are not permitted to cause harmful interference to other radio services to which the bands are also allocated. It shall not constrain the operation of other radio services to which the band is also allocated.

This Circular shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in a newspaper of general circulation and three (3) copies furnished the UP Law Center.

Quezon City, Philippines, August 14, 2006.

The original document release can be downloaded from: http://www.ntc.gov.ph/whatsnew/RFID%20memo.pdf


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Labels: antenna, payment, reader, rfid, tag, technology

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Edited Press Release.

HP today announced that its researchers have developed a miniature wireless data chip that could provide broad access to digital content in the physical world.

The tiny chip could be stuck on or embedded in almost any object and make available information and content now found mostly on electronic devices or the Internet.

Some of the potential applications include storing medical records on a hospital patient’s wristband; providing audio-visual supplements to postcards and photos; helping fight counterfeiting in the pharmaceutical industry; adding security to identity cards and passports; and supplying additional information for printed documents.

The experimental chip, developed by the Memory Spot research team at HP Labs, is a memory device based on CMOS (a widely used, low-power integrated circuit design) and about the size of a grain of rice or smaller (2 mm to 4 mm square), with a built-in antenna. The chips could be embedded in a sheet of paper or stuck to any surface, and could eventually be available in a booklet as self-adhesive dots.

"The Memory Spot chip frees digital content from the electronic world of the PC and the Internet and arranges it all around us in our physical world," said Ed McDonnell, Memory Spot project manager, HP Labs.

The chip has a 10 megabits-per-second data transfer rate – 10 times faster than Bluetooth™ wireless technology and comparable to Wi-Fi speeds – effectively giving users instant retrieval of information in audio, video, photo or document form. With a storage capacity ranging from 256 kilobits to 4 megabits in working prototypes, it could store a very short video clip, several images or dozens of pages of text. Future versions could have larger capacities.

Information can be accessed by a read-write device that could be incorporated into a cell phone, PDA, camera, printer or other implement. To access information, the read-write device is positioned closely over the chip, which is then powered so that the stored data is transferred instantly to the display of the phone, camera or PDA or printed out by the printer. Users could also add information to the chip using the various devices.

“We are actively exploring a range of exciting new applications for Memory Spot chips and believe the technology could have a significant impact on our consumer businesses, from printing to imaging, as well as providing solutions in a number of vertical markets,” said Howard Taub, HP vice president and associate director, HP Labs.

The chip incorporates a built-in antenna and is completely self-contained, with no need for a battery or external electronics. It receives power through inductive coupling from a special read-write device, which can then extract content from the memory on the chip. Inductive coupling is the transfer of energy from one circuit component to another through a shared electromagnetic field. A change in current flow through one device induces current flow in the other device.

Memory Spot chips have numerous possible consumer and business-based applications.

Some examples are:

* Medical records: Embed a Memory Spot chip into a hospital patient’s wrist band and full medical and drug records can be kept securely available.
* Audio photo: Attach a chip to the prints of photographs and add music, commentary or ambient sound to enhance the enjoyment of viewing photos.
* Digital postcards: Send a traditional holiday postcard to family and friends with a chip containing digital pictures of a vacation, plus sounds and even video clips.
* Document notes: A Memory Spot chip attached to a paper document can include a history of all the corrections and additions made to the text, as well as voice notes and graphical images.
* Perfect photocopies: A Memory Spot chip attached to a cover sheet eliminates the need to copy the original document. Just read the perfect digital version into the photocopier and the result will be sharp output every time, no matter how many copies are needed, and avoiding any possibility of the originals jamming in the feeder.
* Security passes: Add a chip to an identity card or security pass for the best of both worlds --- a handy card with secure, relevant digital information included.
* Anti-counterfeit tags: Counterfeit drugs are a significant problem globally. Memory Spot chips can contain secure information about the manufacture and quality of pharmaceuticals. When added to a drug container, this can prove their authenticity. A similar process could be used to verify high-value engineering and aviation components.


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Labels: antenna, business, circuit, rfid, security, technology

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Edited News Release.

Ontario ’s Information and Privacy Commissioner, Dr. Ann Cavoukian, yesterday released privacy Guidelines for the growing field of radio frequency identification (RFID).

These Guidelines flow from her earlier work in 2003 when the Commissioner first identified the potential privacy concerns raised by RFID technology. Following a history of ground-breaking work on building privacy into the design of emerging technologies, these Guidelines are a natural progression of this pragmatic approach.

“I have always found it beneficial to assist those working on emerging technologies, and to be proactive whenever possible – to develop effective guidelines and codes before any problems arise,” said Commissioner Cavoukian. “These made-in-Canada Guidelines provide guidance and solutions regarding item-level consumer RFID applications and uses.”

EPCglobal Canada, an industry association that sets standards for electronic product codes, has been collaborating with the IPC in the development of these Guidelines, and will be seeking Board approval by its member companies to signify the association’s endorsement of the Guidelines.

“ This technology offers exciting benefits to consumers and businesses alike. As the trusted source for driving adoption of EPC/RFID technology for increased visibility within the supply chain, privacy is as important as anything else we are doing,” said Art Smith, President and CEO, EPCglobal Canada. “We promote an environment that encourages ongoing innovation while respecting privacy issues.”

RFID tags contain microchips and tiny radio antennas that can be attached to products. They transmit a unique identifying number to an electronic reader, which in turn links to a computer database where information about the item is stored. RFID tags may be read from a distance quickly and easily, making them valuable for managing inventory but pose potential risks to privacy if linked to personal identifiers. RFID tags are the next generation technology from barcodes.

Although RFID technology deployed in the supply chain management process poses little threat to privacy, item-level use of RFID tags in the retail sector, when linked to personally identifiable information, can facilitate the tracking and surveillance of individuals. The goal of these Guidelines is to alleviate concerns about the potential threat to privacy posed by this technology and to enhance openness and transparency about item-level use of RFID systems by retailers.

The Guidelines address key privacy issues regarding the use of RFID technology at an item-level in the retail sector, said Commissioner Cavoukian.

The Guidelines are based on three overarching principles, including:

* Focus on RFID information systems, not technologies: The problem does not lie with RFID technologies themselves, but rather, the way in which they are deployed that can have privacy implications. The Guidelines should be applied to RFID information systems as a whole, rather than to any single technology component or function;

* Build in privacy and security from the outset – at the design stage: Just as privacy concerns must be identified in a broad and systemic manner, so, too, must the technological solutions be addressed systemically. A thorough privacy impact assessment is critical. Users of RFID technologies and information systems should address the privacy and security issues early in the design stages, with a particular emphasis on data minimization. This means that wherever possible, efforts should be made to minimize the identifiability, observability and linkability of RFID data; and

* Maximize individual participation and consent : Use of RFID information systems should be as open and transparent as possible, and afford individuals with as much opportunity as possible to participate and make informed decisions.

A companion piece to the Guidelines – Practical Tips for Implementing RFID Privacy Guidelines, is also being released by the Commissioner to help organizations put the Guidelines into practice.


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Labels: antenna, business, epcglobal, privacy, reader, rfid, scm, security, tag, technology, tracking

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The PDF version of this article is downloadable at:
http://rfid-asia.info/rfid_antenna_design_innovation.pdf

Adi Tedjasaputra
RFID Asia Founder


RFID system design has never been about plug-and-play. As a matter of fact, according to the recent survey conducted by Larstan Business Reports, “deployment” and “complexity” were the specific reasons cited by the respondents with a total of 13.2% compared to the “cost” at 16.6% (3).

Reader Antenna Design is a component that contributes to the complexity because reader antennae may vary greatly in size and dimension, depending on their particular applications requirements. As the conduit for data communication between chip-based RFID tag and reader, the design and placement of antennae are crucial in determining the coverage zone, range and data communication reliability.

Basically, the data transmission between tag and reader antennae is based on inductive coupling, in which the reader antenna generates a magnetic field that couples with the antenna on the tag.

During the generation of a magnetic field, there is a chance that the propagated electromagnetic waves arrive at a tag in different phases due to different paths taken by the waves. Attenuation resulted from the combined waves at the tag is known as the multipath interference problem. The increasing distance between reader and tag will increase the probability of multipath interference occurrence in a non-controlled environment, which often happens in Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band applications.


Verification and Evaluation

The recent press release from OMRON Corporation claims that its embedded antenna technology can reduce multipath interference by using the reader to control the antenna propagation directivity, and thus improving the RFID tag reading performance (1).

The wishful thinking of gaining improvement in tag-reader data communication reliability for various RFID applications through this technology should be balanced with some thorough and objective verification and evaluation. Otherwise, the vision of improvement will only become another hype that impedes the acceleration of RFID technology innovation and adoption.


References

(1) OMRON Corporation (2006). OMRON Develops World's First Antenna Technology That Boosts UHF RFID Tag Read Performance. OMRON Corporation, Tokyo, Japan.

(2) OMRON Corporation (2006). ScanAntenna Whitepaper. OMRON Corporation, Tokyo, Japan.

(3) Persinos, J. (2006). RFID: The Future is Now!. Larstan Business Reports, Potomac, MD, USA.

(4) Tedjasaputra, A. and Sari E. (2006). RFID Solutions for Business. TRANSLATE-EASY, Jakarta, Indonesia.


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Labels: antenna, business, indonesia, japan, reader, rfid, tag, technology

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Tokyo (JCN) Jan 20, 2006 - Hitachi announced on January 20 that it has developed radio frequency identification (RFID)-based technologies applicable to nuclear power plant construction.

Specifically, the company has developed two new systems, an RFID tag system used in the processes of manufacturing and installing pipes, and an RFID-based cable connection navigation system.

With the RFID tag system, RFID tags are attached to construction materials as they are delivered so they can be efficiently monitored in distribution management. Subsequently, it will lead to preventing human errors and ensuring the traceability of the materials used.

The navigation system uses RFID tags attached to both cable cores and end terminals to simplify cable connection work and help workers easily check for errors when they connect cables.

Going forward, Hitachi plans to proceed with research, focusing on the establishment of rules of using RFID tags, the integration of the tags into the existing systems, and the development of basic technologies including metal-compliant antenna. Through these means, Hitachi aims to contribute to the development of next-generation nuclear power plants.

By jcn, JCN Staff Writer


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Labels: antenna, hitachi, nuclear, rfid, tag, technology

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One of the privacy issues in the application of RFID technology in the retail industry is related to RFID tag deactivation. Several latest attempts, such as the support of deactivation feature (KILL) in EPCglobal's Gen 2 tags and Zero-knowledge approach, both rely on technology embedded in RFID tags to ensure the "preservation" of privacy.

Tackling the privacy issues from a different angle, two IBM researchers, Guenter Karjoth and Paul Moskowitz, recently proposed the use of Clipped Tags to deactivate RFID tags. In the usage scenarios of these tags, retail consumers have an opportunity to scratch off the specially designed antenna, tear off perforated rfid tags or peel off antenna sandwiched between two layers of packaging material.

Labels: antenna, kill, privacy, rfid, scratch, tag, technology

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The newly developed technology enables Hitachi's µ-Chip to send data wirelessly from less than 30cm to about 70cm. The appealing benefit of the new technology is the possibility to attach the chip to a special thin-film antenna-embedded label without having to redesign it for longer operating distance than the conventional RFID chips.

Recently, Silicon Craft Technology in Thailand claimed its readiness to work on the world's smallest microchip with a competitive price of 2 Thailand Bath each, which is comparable to Hitachi's µ-Chip.

Labels: antenna, hitachi, label, rfid, technology

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NEC Tokin Corp has started marketing its wireless (RFID) tag reader/writer devices, the ICM-3002 series. The devices use the 13.56MHz band for communications and support the international standard ISO/IEC15693. A package including a reader/writer module, its controller API, an antenna and an interface module, is priced at 35,000 yen.

Labels: antenna, nec, reader, rfid, tag

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