EE Capstone Spring 2008
Team RFID
Mike Gauthiere
Mike Loptien
Chris Reid
Kirk Spowart
Vincent Wu
What are RFID tags?
• Two different kinds: transponders and
beacons
• Passive tags or transponders are activated
when receiving a signal from a reader,
such as the toll payment system on E-470
• Powered by the RFID reader
• Range from centimeters (ISO 14443) to a
few meters (ISO 18000-6) to possibly a few
hundred meters with new Hitachi chip
• Features non-volatile, writable EEPROM to
store data
What are RFID tags?
• Beacons or active tags send a signal with
a unique identifier at preset intervals,
anywhere from once every few seconds to
once a day depending on how important it
is to know the location
• The beacon’s signal is often picked up by
at least three different reader antennas to
give accurate location information
• Powered by battery life of ~ 10 years
• Range of hundreds of meters
• Features non-volatile writable EEPROM
with more functionality inside than passive
tags
What will we do with
RFID technology?
• We will create a General Purpose Handheld
RFID reader
• This reader will be able to read RFID tags
placed in multiple locations
• The reader will look up information related
to these tags from a database stored on an
SD card
• If the information is not found in memory,
the reader will attempt to download the
information via WIFI connection
• The information will be displayed in a userfriendly format on a touch screen LCD
display
What will we do with
RFID technology?
• Audio information will also be
output through a standard
stereo jack on the reader that
can be used with headphones
• There will be an option to
select which tag’s information
to display out of all those in
proximity
• Signal triangulation could be
used to sense direction and
distance to the detected tags
Artist’s Rendering #1 of RFID Reader
Artist’s Rendering #2 of RFID Reader
Artist’s Rendering #3 of RFID Reader
Real World Applications
•
•
•
•
Museums
Zoos
Grocery Stores
GPS Trips through
State/National Parks
• Highway Signs
Required Function List
• Sense and read all RFID tags in
vicinity
• Retrieve information tied to sensed
ID’s from database
• Database stored on SD card or
downloaded through WIFI connection
• User-friendly graphical interface,
possibly touch screen controlled
Optional Function List
• Standards compliant device, works
with off-the-shelf standardized RFID
tags
• Ability to read both passive and
active RFID tags
• Ability to evaluate approximate
distance from tags using signal
strength or triangulation
• Ability to read information from
sensor type RFID tags
Block Diagram
Implementation of
Hardware
• Processor: ARM 7
– May be needed to handle high data volume for screen
• RFID transceiver: ID-12
–
125 kHz module w/ RS232 Interface & Built-in antenna
• Screen: Sharp 4.3” 24bit Sony PSP screen
– High resolution color screen for user friendlyness
• Touch sensor: 4-wire resistive layer
– Designed to match size of PSP screen
• Battery: 7.4 V 2000 mAH 2 cell LiPo
– Lightweight & space efficient, excellent capacity
– Should be able to handle power needs & give good battery life
Implementation of
Hardware
• RFID tags: 125 kHz passive (ISO 18000-2)
– Simple to get started with
– Would like to be able to read other standardized RFID tags
after success with this one. (Active tags & other passive
tags)
• Memory: 1 GB SD memory card
– Non-Volatile & ubiquitious
• To Be Determined:
– Audio controller/D to A converter
– WIFI controller
Implementation of
Software
• Operating system
– Handle RFID data, touch device data, etc.
• User Interface
– Friendly
– Graphics intensive
– Interpretation of touch information
• Local Database: XML File
– Human Readable, Standardized
• Online Database
– Web Server Running PHP Interface to MySQL Database
– Send HTTP Response, receive XML formated file
Project Budget
QTY
6
10
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
3
1
1
1
Item
Price Total Cost Part Number
Active RFID tags
20
120 varies
Passive RFID tags
2
20 EM4001
RFID Reader Chip
30
30 ID-12
ARM7 Processor
5
5 varies
LCD Screen
70
70 PSP
Touch Layer
25
25 PSP
Battery Pack
60
60 Rechargeable
SD Card 1GB
20
20 varies
PCB
60
180 varies
Dev Boards
80
240 varies
Audio Jack & Headphones
15
15 varies
Wifi Card
20
20 varies
Misc Elec Parts
180
180 varies
Total
985
Schedule
Schedule
• PDR: initial design
• CDR: order components, PCB design,
board & processor familiarization,
begin hardware modules
• Milestone 1: finish RFID transceiver,
memory and screen interface, tag ID
database
• Milestone 2: finish touch screen
interface, identify higher priority tags
• Expo: finish WIFI interface, audio
output, web database
Division of Responsibilities
• Embedded systems &
microprocessors: Mike L/Mike G
• Power & batteries: Chris/Mike G
• RF & antennas: Kirk/Mike L
• Circuit construction: Chris/Vince
• Low level software: Kirk/Mike L
• High level software: Vince/Mike
G/Chris
• Communications: Kirk
Potential Risks of Project
• Risk #1: No previous
experience with RFID
technology
• Recovery plan #1:
Professor Mihran has a lot
of experience with RFID
technology, so would be a
good resource
• Risk #2: Possible reader
confusion in presence of
many different RFID tags
• Recovery plan #2:
additional programming
may be needed to create an
anti-collision algorithm
Potential Risks of Project
• Risk #3: RFID and
GPS technology can
be expensive
• Recovery plan #3:
many possible
sources of funding
available such as
UROP grants
• Risk #4: Difficulty in
calculating the
distance between
RFID reader and tag
• Recovery Plan #4:
Use other methods
of assigning priority,
could be left out if
time is limited
Potential Risks of Project
• Risk #5: Possible
touch screen
feasibility issues
• Recovery plan #5:
use soft buttons
instead of a touch
screen
Feasibility of Project
• RFID communication is a
simple concept, so our
project can have various
degrees of complexity
depending on time
• Many different options
available such as touch
screen interface, GPS
integration, WIFI, etc.
• Many RFID peripherals and
reader chips exist and are
easy to use
Questions???