ICOP Technology Inc. - RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) - Access control/meeting room booking demo with ICOP's 4.3

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) has been described as one of the ten most critical technologies of this century. RFID has been used in more areas, such as identifying and sorting goods in logistics companies, access control, personnel management in general enterprises, merchandising, and record-keeping in major supermarkets. However, the rapid identification of items is already a must-have technology for all industries, so how can we quickly identify goods? RFID technology is one of the answers.

What is RFID means?

RFID technology introduction

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) uses radio waves to transmit data from RFID tags' chip that can record a unique number or information, can be used in a wider range of applications than barcodes. For example, the chip in the identification card records attendance records, the location, time, and other information.

Three devices of RFID system:

Tags / Transponder: Contains antenna and IC microchip, which comes in various forms. Tags usually have not built-in power (Passive), and power required comes from the electromagnetic field of the Reader.
Reader: Reads the data in the Tags by transmitting radio waves, and some have the write function.
Host: The device communicates with Reader, can parse the returned data.

RFID system uses wireless operation, so the connection between Tags and Reader does not need to face each other to be detected. RFID sensing distance is longer than bar codes and easily penetrates the fabric, plastic, paper and other obstacles. The following is a schematic diagram of the RFID system operation.

Radio waves are transmitted digital signals on the RFID reader, which need to be modulated into a carrier wave. After activation, the reader will continuously emit electromagnetic waves, when received by the Tags’ antenna, will convert them into electrical energy and send back the tags data via radio waves.

Introduce of RFID Types

RFID uses the internal microchip to access data, which chip-size is only grain size, and can store more data.

► RFID Tags – Common Packaging Forms:

Smart Label: Paper thickness, can be adhered to the outer packaging.
Key Fob: Sealed with resin.
Glass Tube: About 2mm in length.

► RFID Tags – Power Systems:

Active Tags: With battery and longer radio transmission distance.
Passive Tag: No battery required.

► RFID Tags – Memory Types:

Unique: A unique identification code that cannot be modified is written at the factory.
Write once, read multiple times: With the "writable" data reader, you can write data once by yourself.
Re-readable and re-writable: re-write the data and recycle the tag (with authentication and encryption processing to prevent data tampering)

► RFID – Non-contact Types (Sensing Distance):

Close-coupled: Requires proximity to the sensor.
Proximity: Within 10cm
Vicinity: Within 50cm

RFID Frequency

RFID has different frequency specifications and communication frequencies as well as communication protocols. The following table lists the common RFID frequencies and their uses.

	Low Frequency (LF, 30KHz ~ 300KHz)	High Frequency (HF, 3MHz ~ 30MHz)	Ultra-High Frequency (UHF, 300MHz ~ 1GHz)	Microwave (1GHz and above)
Frequency	125KHz	13.56MHz	860MHz ~ 960MHz	2.45GHz
Max. reading range (Passive)	< 0.5m	< 1m	3m	> 4m
Tab Type	Passive	Passive	Passive / Active	Passive / Active
Note	Data Transfer-speed slow	Used for short distance reading of multiple tags	Fast access speed	Highest access speed and longest transfer distance
Applications	Anti-theft system, access control, store sales management	Library asset management	Production Line, Inventory Management, Electronic Payment System	Logistics, baggage management

How Demo Meeting Room Booking System with RFID technology on HMI-043T-BF?

The HMI-043T-BF is used as RFID reader. When this device scans the RFID tags, if the UID inside the tag is not used yet, it can be registered through the user interface and the UID, name and password will be recorded in the database using the server (HeidiSQL); if the UID is already registered, the meeting room can be booked, and cannot be selected on the time slot which other users chose.

Project Name	HMI-043T RFID Meeting Room Booking System Demo Project
Functions	1. Connects to the Server via LAN 2. RFID Functions Support 3. Light Control System
Prepare	1. RFID Tags x2 (A Company / B Company) 2. HMI-043T (Built-in RFID Reader + Linux) 3. Simple Lighting Device 4. Server (HeidiSQL_9.4.0)
Work Procedure	1. Set an administrator RFID account on the server 2. Set RFID accounts for members on the server 3. Login as the user using the browser via cellphone or computer. The server address should be http://[IP Address] on HMI-043T/Login Ex: http://192.168.3.15/Login 4. Logging into the account and select the time you want to use the meeting room. 5. The system will be unable to be accessed if the user has not scheduled a meeting during specific time. 6. Logging into the meeting room system by RFID card, and the user can control the lights.