RFID Library with HF and UHF Technology

NICK LEE 李诚荣李诚荣李诚荣李诚荣 (CEO) - WAVEX TECHNOLOGIES PTE LTD

Wavex Technologies Pte LtdWavex Technologies Pte Ltd

Our Products

Our in Libraries

Singapore:• National Library Board, Singapore - 42 Public Libraries• Library Supply Centre

• Singapore Management University

• Republic Polytechnic

• Millennial Institute

Malaysia:• Multimedia University

• TPM Academy

• Palace Of Justice, Putrajaya

• Kementerian Kebudayaan, Kesenian dan Warisan Malaysia

• Institute of Diplomacy And Foreign Relations Malaysia (UHF)• Millennial Institute

• SAFTI Military Library

• Ngee Ann Polytechnic

• INEAD Singapore Campus

• National Cancer Center

• Other High School Libraries

• Institute of Diplomacy And Foreign Relations Malaysia (UHF)• Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malacca City Campus

• Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Primary Campus, Johor

• National Craft Institute Malaysia (IKN)

• Bank Negara Malaysia – Central Bank Library (UHF)

Thailand:• Thailand Creative

and Design Center

Taiwan:• Naval Base Library

• Fagu Library (UHF)

Hong Kong:• City University of

Hong Kong

Nigeria:• Federal College of

Education

Indonesia:• PNRI, National Lib

• MK, Library

Our HF Libraries (60+ sites)

• Frequency – 13.56MHz

• Tag uses

• NXP ICode1, ICode SLi

• Infineon MyD, Tag-it

• EAS Bit, AF bit

• Read Range: 1.2m

• Operation: Multiple and Single

Item reading

• Stations:

Self-Check, Staff Station, EAS

Gate, Bookdrop, Sorting, Tagging,

Stocktake, Smart Shelf…

Our UHF Libraries (3 sites)

• Frequency – 850 - 960MHz

• Tag uses

• NXP Gen2 XM

• Alien Higgs

• EAS – Defined Bit set

• Read Range: 2.5m – 5m

• Operation: Multiple and Single

Item reading

• Stations:

Self-Check, Staff Station, EAS

Gate, Bookdrop, Tagging,

Stocktake…

Tagging Challenge (1)

HF RFID

Tag

UHF RFID

Tag

HF Tag UHF Tag

Tag are bulky and obvious Small and slim

Short reading distance – 1.2m Long distance – 2.5 to 5m

Unregulated Frequency Regulated Frequency

Orientation coverage; high Orientation coverage; high

Low false read at gate Moderate false read at gate

Tag cost still higher than UHF Lower tag cost

Tagging Challenge (2)

HF Tag on Book UHF Tag on Book

Good No Good Moderate

Self-Check Challenge

HF Station UHF Station

Limited multi items check due to limit in

dist (4-6)

No Limit, as long as reader power support

mass tags reading

Well control read/write zone Difficult to control consistence read/write

zone

CD/DVD still not good CD/DVD still not good

Good location reading on shelf Difficult to identify item location on shelf

EAS Gate Challenge

HF Gate UHF Gate

Limited detection range 1.5 to 3.5m depend on tag orientation

Well control read zone Difficult to control consistence read zone

CD/DVD still not good CD/DVD still not good

Close body reading – good Close body reading – poor

Low false read Moderate false read especially items

within 3-5 meter range

Bulky Panels Antennas can be easily hide (wide

walkway)

Market Implementations

HF UHF

Number of Libraries implementation on RFID ~ 3000 ~ 15

System integrators specialized in Library ~ 50 ~ 6System integrators specialized in Library ~ 50 ~ 6

RFID deployed in Libraries 500 M 3 M

Label Manufacturers for Library Tag 20 4

ISO Data Model for Library Yes Not yet

Source: NXP Semiconductors RFID

Frequency Fields Characteristic

HF UHF

Reading range Moderate High

Environmental influence and fluid Less affected Easily affected

but near-field

can resolve

National Regulatory No YesNational Regulatory No Yes

Effective on-field coverage By reader

antenna design

By Tag antenna

design

RF Wave Magnetic (Near

Field)

Electric,

Magnetic (Far

Field)

Data Transfer Speed Moderate High

Field Characteristic Homogeneous

field

Highly reflective,

field holes

Source: NXP Semiconductors RFID

HF Wave Pattern

Field Patterns

Source: NXP CAS training material

UHF Wave Pattern

Far FieldUHF

Near FieldHF

So, which is good?

NF UHF UHFHF

Andrew Nathanson (Venture Development Corp), predicts that the availability of EPC Gen 2 near-field UHFhardware will change that scenario, since the technology operates well in liquids and metals and reads more

items at a faster rate (about 500 percent faster) than HF. It can encode RFID tags at a rate 75 percent faster

than HF, Nathanson said, but the technology has not caught up with science.

Best of both Technologies

NF UHF

NF UHF, HF 13.56MHz or UHF 860-960MHz

Technology Strengths Weaknesses

NF UHF � Works good in metal fluid

� Low tag cost

� Good protocol, anti-collision

� Fast data transfer

� Less interference by noise

� Can be both near and far field

� EPC Gen 2

� Higher equipment cost

� Regulated frequency

� NF/FF tag limited variety

EPC Gen 2

HF � Moderate data transfer

� Moderate tag cost (not true)

� Unregulated frequency

� Read through human body

� RFID Tag is too big to be hidden

� Can be shielded by metal

UHF � Longer read range

� Small tag size

� Lower tag price

� Fast data transfer

� EPC Gen 2

� Sensitive to tag orientation

� Regulated frequency

� Sensitive to liquid and metal

� Higher equipment cost

� UHF signals can be reflected by environmental objects

A Simple NF UHF Test

110 x 5

Book thickness = 2.5cm

No of Antenna = 2

Tx. power = 2W

120mm

100mm

120 – 170 mm 40 mm

0 mm

My 5 cents worth comments

� NF UHF - higher advantage than HF and UHF on Item Tagging� Potential of NF UHF still not fully explore;

� lower cost with more adoptions,

� (NF) distance still short,

� not too many players in market,

� limited tags applicable for library

� Lack of market knowledge on NF UHF� Lack of market knowledge on NF UHF� No one Tag fix all items; thickness, material, characteristic will

affect its effective read/write distance� Patented technology but still ok� Lack mature application, coming development of NF UHF

determine market share of item tagging� Lack of Tag suppliers� Lack of additional functions on NF UHF, sure as security, EAS,

memory space

Conclusion

� HF is still currently most mature and popular solution for Library

� HF still have wider range of products and vendor choices, largely proven in term of operation and cost saving

� UHF faces many challenge in RFID library

� NF UHF potential, but need more time, sites implementation to prove its capabilities

� NF UHF potential, but need more time, sites implementation to prove its capabilities

� Although UHF/NF UHF tag is slightly cheaper than HF, later will have cheaper or same

� HF will still be dominate in library for few more years, with NF UHF technology getting mature then, will see the shift of market

� Users need to be more receptive and patient to give space for such technology to mature

Thank You! See u at Booth 15

Nick Lee 李诚荣李诚荣李诚荣李诚荣

CEO

Wavex Technologies Pte Ltd

nick.lee@wavex-tech.com

http://www.wavex-tech.com