my_research

Here is what I´ve done as my own research regarding RFID and NFC technology. (hopefully still constantly updated)

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RFID

RFID stands for Radio-Frequency IDentification. The acronym refers to small electronic devices that consist of a small chip and an antenna. The chip typically is capable of carrying 2,000 bytes of data or less.

How does RFID work?

A Radio-Frequency IDentification system has three parts:

• A scanning antenna
• A transceiver with a decoder to interpret the data
• A transponder – the RFID tag – that has been programmed with information.

The scanning antenna puts out radio-frequency signals in a relatively short range. The RF radiation does two things:

• It provides a means of communicating with the transponder (the RFID tag) AND
• It provides the RFID tag with the energy to communicate (in the case of passive RFID tags).

This is an absolutely key part of the technology; RFID tags do not need to contain batteries, and can therefore remain usable for very long periods of time (maybe decades). The scanning antennas can be permanently affixed to a surface; handheld antennas are also available. They can take whatever shape you need; for example, you could build them into a door frame to accept data from persons or objects passing through.

When an RFID tag passes through the field of the scanning antenna, it detects the activation signal from the antenna. That “wakes up” the RFID chip, and it transmits the information on its microchip to be picked up by the scanning antenna.

In addition, the RFID tag may be of one of two types. Active RFID tags have their own power source; the advantage of these tags is that the reader can be much farther away and still get the signal. Even though some of these devices are built to have up to a 10 year life span, they have limited life spans. Passive RFID tags, however, do not require batteries, and can be much smaller and have a virtually unlimited life span.

RFID tags can be read in a wide variety of circumstances, where barcodes or other optically read technologies are useless.

• The tag need not be on the surface of the object (and is therefore not subject to wear)
• The read time is typically less than 100 milliseconds
• Large numbers of tags can be read at once rather than item by item.

( http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Technology-Article.asp?ArtNum=1 )

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NFC

NFC stands for Near Field Communication and uses the same technology as RFID, except some small differences. And as the name allready indicates it is only used for short distances and thus mainly in mobilephones or cards. For a quick impression you should watch this:

..otherwise read on for more details:

NFC_Specifications

short-range wireless connectivity technology

Operating at 13.56 MHz and transferring data at up to 424 Kbits/secon

Within 4 – 20 cm

a simple wave or touch can establish an NFC connection which is then compatible with other known wireless technologies such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi

( www.nfc-forum.org )

Works by magnetic field induction.

Speed: 106 kbit/s, 212 kbit/s or 424 kbit/s

ISO, ECMA, and ETSI standards

Based on RFID and wireless communications network

Communication can be active – passiv or active – active (in opposition to RFID which is only active – passive)

-Passive Communication Mode: The Initiator device provides a carrier field and the target device answers by modulating existing field. In this mode, the Target device may draw its operating power from the Initiator-provided electromagnetic field.

-Active Communication Mode: Both Initiator and Target device communicate by generating their own field. In this mode, both devices typically need to have a power supply.

Active tags can store more data, have a longer range, stronger signal and thus can handle water barriers better(usually fluids stop the signals, because of acting like a prism, which scatters and reflect the waves). Range to hundreds of meters and a battery life of 10 years.

NFC can be used to configure and initiate other wireless network connections such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or Ultra-wideband.

NFC technology is currently mainly aimed at being used with mobile phones. This could mean many new applications and uses for a mobile phone thanks to NFC such as the ability to be used as:

• Electronic keys – car keys, house/office keys, hotel room keys, etc
• Electronic money
• Electronic wallet/smart wallet
• Electronic tickets – plane tickets, concert/event tickets.. etc
• Travel cards
• Identity documents
• Mobile commerce
• used as a new form of “barcode”(readable out of every directions)

• Animal tracking tags, inserted beneath the skin, can be rice-sized.
• Tags can be screw-shaped to identify trees or wooden items.
• Credit-card shaped for use in access applications.
• The anti-theft hard plastic tags attached to merchandise in stores are also RFID tags.
• Heavy-duty 120 by 100 by 50 millimeter rectangular transponders are used to track shipping containers, or heavy machinery, trucks, and railroad cars.

( www.wikipedia.org )

NFC is based on contactless and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) solutions, which consist of a tag and a reader. The reader, when activated, emits a short-range radio signal that powers up a microchip on the tag, and allows for reading a small amount of data that can be stored on the tag.

NFC integrates read/write devices and the transponder in one integrated circuit. By software the different functions of this chip can be controlled and activated.

( http://smartnfc.com )

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How small can it get?

As of 2006, Hitachi, Ltd. has developed a smaller RFID measuring 0.05×0.05mm, and thin enough to be embedded in a sheet of paper.

Hitachi µ-Chip can wirelessly transmit a 128 bit (10^38) unique ID number which is hard coded into the chip as part of the manufacturing process. The unique ID in the chip cannot be altered, providing a high level of authenticity to the chip and ultimately to the items the chip may be permanently attached or embedded into. The Hitachi µ-Chip has a typical maximum read range of 30 cm (1 foot).

BUT tags need an external antenna which is 80 times bigger than the chip in the best version thus far developed.

( http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6389581.stm )

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How much is a RFID_tag and how do they appear?

lowes coast tags are available from SmartCode at a price of 5 cents each.

( http://www.rfidjournal.com/article/articleview/2295/1/128/ )

If successfully commercialized, polymer tags will be roll-printable, like a magazine, and much less expensive than silicon-based tags. The end game for most item-level tagging over the next few decades may be that RFID tags will be wholly printed – the same way a barcode is today – and be virtually free, like a barcode.

smallest active tags are about the size of a coin and sell for a few dollars.

( www.wikipedia.org )

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Downsides_critiques

There are a lot of people who are afraid of RFID_technology used in products. There are several reasons why they are afraid and because of some of them I can pretty much understand the fear.

Along these reasons are the possibility of RFID_tags used as “Spy_chips”. If not properly protected RFID_tags can be read within quite a large distance and thus help to “see” what is in your house, room or wallet. What kind of products you use and even, where they are situated.

Another reason is the electricity_radiowaves_polution. With RFID tags in all of your products you´ll be surrounded by a constant electromagnetic energy.

If you want to read more about these downsides or “join the resistance”..

http://spychips.com/what-is-rfid.html

and that´s only one example of an ongoing resistance against RFID!

RFID can be easily corrupted!

Since RFID systems make use of the electromagnetic spectrum (like WiFi networks or cellphones), they are relatively easy to jam using energy at the right frequency. Although this would only be an inconvenience for consumers in stores (longer waits at the checkout), it could be disastrous in other environments where RFID is increasingly used, like hospitals or in the military in the field. Also, active RFID tags (those that use a battery to increase the range of the system) can be repeatedly interrogated to wear the battery down, disrupting the system.

Reader collision

Reader collision occurs when the signals from two or more readers overlap. The tag is unable to respond to simultaneous queries. Systems must be carefully set up to avoid this problem; many systems use an anti-collision protocol (also called a singulation protocol. Anti-collision protocols enable the tags to take turns in transmitting to a reader.

Tag collision

Tag collision occurs when many tags are present in a small area; but since the read time is very fast, it is easier for vendors to develop systems that ensure that tags respond one at a time.

Contents of a RFID_chip can be read after it leaves the supply chain

An RFID tag cannot tell the difference between one reader and another. RFID scanners are very portable; RFID tags can be read from a distance, from a few inches to a few yards. This allows anyone to see the contents of your purse or pocket as you walk down the street. Some tags can be turned off when the item has left the supply chain, they are called Zombie_tags ;-)

RFID_tags are difficult to remove 

RFID tags are difficult to for consumers to remove; some are very small (less than a half-millimeter square, and as thin as a sheet of paper) – others may be hidden or embedded inside a product where consumers cannot see them. New technologies allow RFID tags to be “printed” right on a product and may not be removable at all.

( http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Technology-Article.asp?ArtNum=20 )

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