RFID System Lifecycle

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RFID System Lifecycle

• Vlad Krotov
• University of Houston
• RFID Programming
• Presentation Source CompTIA (www.comptia.org)

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RFID-Enabled Change

• Facilities impact
• IT systems impact
• Business process change

3
Key Steps

• Site Survey
• Installation Procedure
• Safety of People and Equipment

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Site Survey
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Site Survey Primary Objectives

• Identify sources of interference
• Since the signal coming from the tag is very
  small, it can be swamped by the signal from other
  RF Sources
• Obtain a Facility diagram
• Places for interrogators
• Sources of interference
• WLAN AP
• Cordless phones
• 2-way radios
• Other RF Sources

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Initial Sources of Information

• Blueprint
• Engineering drawings

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Getting Ready to Measure

• Determine the target locations (interrogation
  zones) for installing RFID Systems
• Measure the strength and frequency of waves that
  propagate through your potential interrogation
  zone
• Measure ambient environmental noise (AEN) over
  24h period
• Full Faraday Cycle Analysis

8
Testing Equipment

• Spectrum analyzer
• Dipole 915 MHz antenna
• Tripod stand
• Laptop computer
• Moving cart

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Site Survey

• To identify all sources of interference, you may
  need to collect RF interference data for a 24-h
  period
• Spectrum analyzer can be used to capture the
  sources of interference

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Site Survey

• Spectrum analyzer measures power (voltage) versus
  frequency
• An antenna needs to be attached and tuned to the
  needed frequency to measure field strength

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alyzer.gif
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Site Survey

• The analyzer will sweep across frequencies
• The antenna has to be placed in the middle of the
  interrogation zone
• The monitoring procedure should be performed for
  24 hours
• Spikes mean RF interference

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RF Path Loss Contour Mapping
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Installation
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Installation

• RFID equipment must be tested before installation
  begins
• Obtain copies of the latest firmware and any
  application software
• Compare the location with the previously obtained
  diagram and see whether new sources of
  interference were added

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Installation

• Make sure the radiation patterns of antennas
  cover the needed interrogation zones
• Proper cables must be used to connect the
  interrogator to each antenna
• A cable of wrong length and configuration can
• Prevent operations
• Damage equipment
• Illegal

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Installation

• Record cable locations on the site diagram
• After all the hardware and software is installed,
  test the system.

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Safety

• Equipment
• Human

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Safety

• In any industrial environment there are many
  source of Electro-Static Discharge (ESD)
• ESD can occur when two surfaces rub or separate
  repeatedly
• Example conveyor belt

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Safety

• ESD can damage the tag (IC)
• ESD is a common cause of tags not working
  properly
• ESD can also damage interrogator, but this is
  less likely
• However, is an interrogator is not properly
  grounded, ESD can also damage the IC of the
  interrogator

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Safety

• In order for any electrical system to work
  properly, it must be grounded
• Most modern facilities have an earth ground with
  the AC power line
• The earth ground is required for electrical
  safety to give a safe path to ground for any AC
  power short that might occur as well as for ESD
• Lack of proper grounding and equipment is
  dangerous of people and equipment

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Human Safety

• RF Signals contain energy the same type of
  energy used in microwave ovens so there is the
  potential of injury if power level is high enough
• Regulations establish the maximum power that can
  be safely used

25
Human Safety Some Rules

• Do not exceed the recommended power level do not
  try to customize a system
• Do not use an antenna that has not been
  recommended by a manufacturer
• A highly directional antenna can concentrate RF
  energy so that it exceeds safe limits
• Do not intentionally permit long exposure to the
  RF energy

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Human Safety Some Rules

• Local regulations mat require signs that inform
  people that RF equipment is in use
• Make sure that RF equipment does not interfere
  with other mission critical systems
• Some medical implants can be damaged by RF
  equipment

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Equipment Safety

• Mount RFID equipment in such a way that it wont
  get damaged by people and other processes