(R)Evolution of RFID into the supply chain

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Printing and RFID Tags Lower Costs, Greater
Flexibility, Broader Use Dan
Lawrence Director of Technology and
Commercialization
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Flint Ink

• Family Owned
• Founded in 1920
• Sales 1.5 B /year
• 2nd Largest, Largest US
• 150 Sites Worldwide
• 5000 Employees

Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Precisia, LLC

• Launched in 2003
• Wholly-owned subsidiary of Flint Ink
• Global reach and capabilities
• Conductive and advanced printing inks
• Printed electronics applications
• State-of-the art facility for prototyping,
  testing, commercialization

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Radio Frequency IDentification in the Supply Chain

• Applied Labels
• Placed Inlays
• Part of Packages

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Printed Antenna

• Whether Inlay, Label, or Integrated with
  packaging, a printed antenna can contribute to
  higher speeds and lower costs while meeting
  performance requirements

902-928 MHz
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Where to add function?
RFID or Label Converter
Slap and ship
Packaging Plant
Consumer Product Factory
Distribution/Retail
B
A
Value
Tag Cost
Integration Path
Capital cost to be determined
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How can RFID reduce shrinkage?
Factory
Distribution
Retail
Shipping
Cumulative Shrinkage
Incidents of Shrinkage
Supply Chain
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Printed Antenna Relative to Solid Metal

• Frequency Coupling Relative Range Relative
  Cost
• 125 kHz Capacitive N/A (100)
  1-25
• 125 kHz Inductive N/A N/A
• 13.56 MHz Inductive 10-25
  30-50
• 850-950 MHz Backscatter 75-100
  20-70
• 2.45 GHz Backscatter TBD TBD

13.56 MHz HF (generic coil)
125 kHz Capacitive (Motorolas Bistatix)
915 MHz UHF (Impinj Design)
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Logistic Tag Designs

• UHF/ Backscatter 850-950, 2450 MHz
• Simple, potentially inexpensive
• Printable antenna
• Substantial read range, depending on design and
  environment

Printed Antenna
Example Impinj
Matrics
Alien
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Attaining Highest Visibility
People
?
Metal
Liquids
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Privacy and Tracking
Retail
Consumer
Preferred Customer Card
RFID Protocols can provide the same level of
privacy already available in the marketplace
Bar Code/Credit Card

• Surveillance
• Physical Observation
• Waste Stream Analysis

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Closing Comments

• Versatility of Printing
• Attenuation of Printed Antenna
• Lowest Common Denominator Frequency
• Common Global Logistic Frequency Range
• Reader Antenna Testing
• Compliance Specifications