RFID and UWB Role - Technologies and Markets 2006

SUMMARY

Radio Frequencies ID (RFID) technology attracts various groups of users. Its wide range of applications covers commercial, military and homeland security areas. RFID importance acknowledged by almost all branches of the industry, and its penetration level in our economy can be compared with auto revolution at the beginning of the 20th Century.

The report stresses the:

• Necessity to address a multitude of the RFID technological issues
• Importance of UWB RFID
• Importance of RFID in Homeland Security
• Necessity to address the RFID market
• Necessity to explain the market drivers and barriers
• Necessity to explore portfolio of the market players.

The report researches the RFID landscape by examining the current state of the technology, standards, market and the industry. The study looks to provide a deeper understanding to wide audience RFID specifics, advantages and limitations. It is concentrated on the successes and limitations encountered with the current iterations of available RFID products. It also looks further, until 2010-2011, with market forecast and technologies on the horizon.

In particular, this report goal was to addresses the following RFID aspects:

• RFID market characteristics, their specifics, and market segmentation
• Technology for RFID, technological trends (UWB and other), standards and associated issues
• Sociological RFID issues
• Market barriers
• Applications
• Current implementation
• Market players and their products.

The report concentrates on a new for RFID applications technology -- Ultra Wide Band -- that promises numerous benefits, such as very low power consumption for active elements, low sensitivity to interference and others.

There are numerous publications that cover various RFID topics.

We organized this report in a way that:

• Each section can be viewed independently
• Topics are exclusively about various RFID properties, and the coverage of these properties is extensive
• All information is up-to-date, and will be updated annually
• Both marketing and technological issues are covered.

There are two major parts of this report: Technologies and Markets.

In the Technology part, the report discusses RFID standards, regulatory issues, and shows differences in regional developments of RFID. This part also researches various RFID technologies, including UWB, processes, types of these devices and their characteristics. Limitations and advantages of each type are addressed.

In the Market part, the report discusses RFID applications, market characteristics and provides the market forecasts. It also summarizes a survey of the major industry players with detailed analysis of their portfolios.

This report also provides a Summary of the authors' findings.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 Introduction 10

• 1.1 Scope10
• 1.2 Structure11
• 1.3 Importance11
• 1.4 Research Methodology11
• 1.5 Target Audience12

2.0 RFID -- What it is about 13

• 2.1 RFID Communications Channel13
• 2.1.1 Information13
• 2.1.2 Characteristics14
• 2.2 RFID and Bar Code14
• 2.3 RFID Benefits15
• 2.4 History16

3.0 Applications-RFID Everywhere 20

• 3.1 Examples: Who's using RFID?20
• 3.1.1 Application Categories21
• 3.2 Commercial22
• 3.2.1 Healthcare22
• 3.2.2 Manufacturing Processes23
• 3.2.3 Retail23
• 3.2.4 Animal identification24
• 3.2.5 Intelligent Highway25
• 3.2.6 Security26
• 3.2.7 Libraries26
• 3.3 Military27
• 3.3.1 Sensors27
• 3.3.2 Movement and Inventory27
• 3.3.3 IDs27
• 3.4 Homeland Security28
• 3.5 Summary31

4.0 Technology 32

• 4.1 Components32
  • 4.1.2 Tag33
    • 4.1.2.1 Importance33
    • 4.1.2.2 Structure33
    • 4.1.2.3 Air Interface33
    • 4.1.2.4 Types34
      • 4.1.2.4.1 Passive Tag34
      • 4.1.2.4.2 Active Tag35
    • 4.1.2.5 Memories35
  • 4.1.3 Communications Media35
    • 4.1.3.1 Inductive Coupling35
    • 4.1.3.2 Backscatter Coupling36
    • 4.1.3.3 Classifications37
  • 4.1.4 IG38
    • 4.1.4.1 General39
    • 4.1.4.2 Types39
  • 4.1.5 RFID Channel Frequencies39
  • 4.1.6 Antenna (Tag)42
• 4.2 RFID Laws: Standards and Regulatory42
  • 4.2.1 General42
  • 4.2.2 Competing Standards42
• 4.3 Examples: RFID Systems44
  • 4.3.1 Electronic Articles Surveillance44
  • 4.3.2 Disposables44
  • 4.3.3 Chipless RFID45
• 4.4 System Parameters46

5.0 RFID and Society 47

• 5.1 Privacy Concern47
  • 5.1.1 Opinion48

6.0 Ultra Wide Band Technology (UWB) 49

• 6.1 Origin49
• 6.2 Spectrum Allocation49
• 6.3 Major Features51
  • 6.3.1 Benefits52
• 6.4 Standards and Regulations53
  • 6.4.1 Multiband OFDM53
  • 6.4.2 DS-UWB54
  • 6.4.3 Standards Bodies55
  • 6.4.4 WiMedia Alliance55
  • 6.4.5 FCC and ETSI55
  • 6.4.6 ECMA International57
• 6.5 Applications57
  • 6.5.1 Home Security58
  • 6.5.2 Phones58
  • 6.5.3 Impacts on Public Safety58
  • 6.3.4 RFID59
• 6.6 Issues59

7.0 Market: Drivers, Barriers and Forecast 60

• 7.1 Market Drivers60
  • 7.1.1 Operational Expense (OPEX) Savings60
  • 7.1.2 CAPEX Considerations60
  • 7.1.3 Technological Factor60
• 7.2 Market Specifics61
• 7.3 Market Barriers and Issues61
• 7.4 Market Forecast63
  • 7.4.1 Model Assumptions63
  • 7.4.2 Equipment64
    • 7.4.2.1 Tags64
    • 7.4.2.2 Interrogators68
  • 7.4.3 Systems69
  • 7.4.4 Services70
  • 7.4.5 Regional Differences70
  • 7.4.6 RFID UWB70
  • 7.4.7 Sensitivity Analysis73
  • 7.4.8 Major Applications: Summary73

8.0 Technical and Economical Characteristics of RFID System Components: Summary 74

• 8.1 Technical74
  • 8.1.1 TAGS74
  • 8.1.2 IGs76
• 8.2 Economics78

9.0 Market Players 80

• 9.1 Applications Segmentation80
  • Allflex80
  • Argent81
  • Avante82
  • Data Technology Group82
  • Deuteron Acquisition82
  • Mannings RFID83
  • TI83
  • Philips Semiconductor84
  • Quelis ID Systems85
  • RFIDlogic86
  • ActiveWave87
  • IBM88
  • Cathexis89
  • EMS90
  • EMS Technology91
  • MVS91
  • CheckPoint92
  • PDC93
  • ST Logitrack94
• 9.2 Passive Tag Vendors94
  • Alien Technology94
  • Avante International95
  • CES96
  • Hitachi96
  • Matrics96
  • MPI Labels98
  • RFSaw99
  • UPM Rafsec100
• 9.3 Software100
  • Acumen101
  • ASC101
• 9.4 Systems102
  • Innovision102
  • Reva103
  • Savi103
  • TAGSYS105
  • TranScore107
  • RFID, Inc.108
• 9.5 IGs109
  • AWID109
  • CopyTag110
  • ID Systems110
  • RFIDGraphics111
• 9.6 Active Tags112
  • Axcess112
  • DTE115
  • Intermec116
• 9.7 ICs118
  • Atmel118
  • EM Microelectronics119
  • Infineon120
• 9.8 Electronic Articles Surveillance120
  • Unisen120
• 9.9 RFID Networks121
  • Applied Logistics121
  • Blue Vector122
  • Cisco123
  • ConnecTerra124
  • Auto-ID Center125
  • GlobeRanger127
  • iAnywhere129
  • ProdexNet131
  • Sun131
  • Suvy and HPH132
• 9.10 RFID and Homeland Security133
  • IRIS Corporation133
• 9.11 UWB RFID134
  • Aether134
  • Alereon135
  • Artimi136
  • Focus Enhancement137
  • Freescale137
  • Multispectral138
  • Parco139
  • Pulse~ Link140
  • TriQuint142
  • Staccato143
  • Time Domain144
  • TZero145
  • Ubisense145
  • WiQuest147

10.0 Sample of Patents 149

11.0 Trials and Projects 151

• 11.1 Wal-Mart151
• 11.2 Mark & Spencer151
• 11.3 Tesco152
• 11.4 Other153

12.0 Competition 154

• 12.1 General154
• 12.2 Standards155
  • 12.2.1 Proximity Cards ISO/IEC 14443156
  • 12.2.2 Vicinity Cards (ISO 15963)156
  • 12.2.3 Close-coupled Cards157

13.0 Findings and Conclusions 158

Appendix 1. RFID Standards 160

List of Figures

• Figure 1: RFID Communication Link13
• Figure 2: RFID Simplified32
• Figure 3: RFID Near-field and Far-field38
• Figure 4: RFID Channels Classification38
• Figure 5: UWB Spectrum50
• Figure 6: Tag Market Estimate ($M)65
• Figure 7: RFID Tag Market Estimate (Qty. in Millions)65
• Figure 8: RFID Passive Tag Market Estimate ($M)66
• Figure 9: RFID Passive Tag Market Estimate (Qty. in Millions)66
• Figure 10: RFID Active Tag Market Estimate ($M)67
• Figure 11: RFID Active Tag Market Estimate (Qty. in Millions)68
• Figure 12: RFID Interrogator Market Estimate ($M)68
• Figure 13: RFID Interrogator Market Estimate (Qty. in Millions)69
• Figure 14: Market Estimate: UWB Circuitry ($B)71
• Figure 15: Market Estimate: Multiband OFDM UWB Circuitry ($B)71
• Figure 16: Market Estimate: DS UWB Circuitry ($B)72
• Figure 17: Market Estimate: UWB RFID ($B)72

List of Tables

• Table 1: RFID Frequencies41
• Table 2: RFID Frequency Plans by Regions42
• Table 3: EPC Global Tag Classification43
• Table 4: Comparison: DS-UWB and MB-OFDM55
• Table 5: FCC Emission Limits56
• Table 6: Geographical Segmentation70
• Table 7: Example: Passive Tag with Small Range75
• Table 8: Example: Active Tag75
• Table 9: Required Tag Specification76
• Table 10: IG Characteristic (library applications)77
• Table 11: IG for Harsh Environment (Characteristics)77
• Table 12: Smart Cards Standards155