RFID Library with HF and UHF Technology

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

Wavex Technologies Pte Ltd

Our Products
Our in Libraries

Singapore: Malaysia:
• National Library Board, Singapore - 42 Public Libraries • Multimedia University
• Library Supply Centre • TPM Academy
• Singapore Management University • Palace Of Justice, Putrajaya
• Republic Polytechnic • Kementerian Kebudayaan, Kesenian dan Warisan Malaysia
• Millennial Institute • Institute of Diplomacy And Foreign Relations Malaysia (UHF)
• SAFTI Military Library • Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malacca City Campus
• Ngee Ann Polytechnic • Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Primary Campus, Johor
• INEAD Singapore Campus • National Craft Institute Malaysia (IKN)
• National Cancer Center • Bank Negara Malaysia – Central Bank Library (UHF)
• Other High School Libraries

Indonesia: Taiwan: Nigeria:

Hong Kong: Thailand:
• PNRI, National Lib • Naval Base Library • Federal College of
• City University of • Thailand Creative
• MK, Library • Fagu Library (UHF) Education
Hong Kong and Design Center
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)

UHF RFID
HF RFID Tag
Tag

HF Tag UHF Tag

Tag are bulky and obvious
Short reading distance – 1.2m
Unregulated Frequency
Orientation coverage; high
Low false read at gate
Tag cost still higher than UHF
Small and slim
Long distance – 2.5 to 5m
Regulated Frequency
Orientation coverage; high
Moderate false read at gate
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)
Well control read/write zone
CD/DVD still not good
Good location reading on shelf
No Limit, as long as reader power support
mass tags reading
Difficult to control consistence read/write
zone
CD/DVD still not good
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 ~6

RFID deployed in Libraries 500 M 3M

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 Yes

Effective on-field coverage By reader By Tag antenna

antenna design design
RF Wave Magnetic (Near Electric,
Field) Magnetic (Far
Field)
Data Transfer Speed Moderate High

Field Characteristic Homogeneous Highly reflective,

field field holes
Source: NXP Semiconductors RFID
Field Patterns
HF Wave Pattern

UHF Wave Pattern

Source: NXP CAS training material

So, which is good?

Near Field Far Field

HF NF UHF UHF

Best of both Technologies

Andrew Nathanson (Venture Development Corp), predicts that the availability of EPC Gen 2 near-field UHF
hardware 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.
NF UHF, HF 13.56MHz or UHF 860-960MHz
Technology Strengths
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
HF
Moderate data transfer

Moderate tag cost (not true)

Unregulated frequency

Read through human body
UHF
Longer read range

Small tag size

Lower tag price

Fast data transfer

EPC Gen 2
Weaknesses

Higher equipment cost

Regulated frequency

NF/FF tag limited variety

RFID Tag is too big to be
hidden

Can be shielded by metal

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
Book thickness = 2.5cm
No of Antenna = 2
Tx. power = 2W
110 x 5

120mm 120 – 170 mm 40 mm

0 mm 100mm
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

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

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

CEO
Wavex Technologies Pte Ltd
nick.lee@wavex-tech.com
http://www.wavex-tech.com