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step 5: Variations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
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http://www.instructables.com/id/RFID_Reader_Detector_and_Tilt_Sensitive_RFID_Tag/
intro: RFID Reader Detector and Tilt-Sensitive RFID Tag
The 'rub'
Want to detect the presence of RFID readers? Want to control when a RFID tag is active or readable? We describe how to do both using bits of copper and card, and
some readily available electronics hardware.
Longer preamble
Radio frequency identification ( RFID) is rapidly growing in popularity. RFID tags are found everywhere. They're attached to container freight, in those funny-looking white
labels you find in newly purchased books, embedded in many corporate ID cards and passports, etc. The tags have a few common properties: they transmit a unique ID
number, are optimized to be 'read' from predefined distances, and are usually small so they can remain unobtrusive or hidden.
RFID readers are used to track nearby tags by wirelessly reading a tag's unique ID (see Figure 4); a tag simply has to be brought into physical proximity with a reader to
be read. Readers are mostly used for industrial or commercial purposes, e.g. asset tracking or electronic payment. Wal-mart use RFID tags and readers in their supply
chain. The technology is also used in mass transit systems in cities like London and Hong Kong. In Japan, many mobile phones incorporate readers to enable e-money
payments in shops and vending machines.
For those of us who want to experiment with RFID, the problem is that the technology is almost always black boxed. That is, the inner workings of a tag and its interaction
with a reader is hidden from view, and thus difficult to have much control over.
In the two exercises that follow (building a RFID reader detector and a tilt-sensitive RFID tag), we offer an example of how you can start revealing some of the workings
of RFID and thus gain some control over the technology. The two exercises also hopefully show that the technology is relatively simple and how it can be extended to
support some interesting interactions. We offer some other possibilities that build on our examples at the end.
Image Notes
1. Small RFID stickers
Image Notes
2. RFID tag in the form of a credit card
1. Tilt-sensitive RFID tag
3. Inside of RFID tags: antenna and connected chip
2. RFID reader detector
http://www.instructables.com/id/RFID_Reader_Detector_and_Tilt_Sensitive_RFID_Tag/
step 1: Material and Tools
This section provides an overview of the necessary materials and tools.
Image Notes
1. Insulation tape
Image Notes
1. Conductive copper tape
2. Capacitors (e.g., SMD) 82pF
3. Cardboard, around 100x70 mm
4. LED (light-emitting diode)
Image Notes
1. Antenna of the Sonmicro RFID reader
2. Sonmicro 13.56 MHz RFID Module
http://www.instructables.com/id/RFID_Reader_Detector_and_Tilt_Sensitive_RFID_Tag/
Image Notes
1. Micro tilt switches
2. RFID ICs (MIFARE Standard 1k)
Now we have created our RFID tag antenna, and we will add the "RFID reader detection" functionality in the following step.
A little background
RFID readers transmit an electromagnetic (EM) field with their reader antenna. This EM field induces a current in the antenna for all RFID tags within reading distance.
This induced current activates the RFID chip that is connected to the tag's antenna. This chip then modulates a response (usually the unique ID number) that is
transmitted back to the reader. The antenna of an RFID tag is usually a thin copper wire that is arranged in loops. The loops allow the emitted EM field of the RFID reader
to induce current to the antenna of the tag.
http://www.instructables.com/id/RFID_Reader_Detector_and_Tilt_Sensitive_RFID_Tag/
Image Notes Image Notes
1. Three loops of the antenna 1. Soldering the copper tape connections
2. Soldering the copper tape connections
Antenna connection
First, we add a small piece of insulation tape for the connection of the inner end of the antenna loop (as illustrated in Figure 1). This is to insulate the outer loops. Then
we add another copper tape strip to the inner end of the antenna as shown in Figure 2. Here again we solder the two ends of the conductive copper tape together.
Testing
With these simple steps, our RFID reader detector is finished! By bringing our DIY RFID detector close to an RFID reader (as shown in Figure 5), the connected LED
lights up. With the Sonmicro reader hardware the distance to the reader has to be below 8-10 cm; however, there are RFID readers available with a stronger EM field and
therefore a higher maximum reading distance.
In the next step of the instructable we will show how to extend a basic RFID tag and make it tilt-sensitive.
Image Notes
1. Adding insulation tape for the connection
Image Notes
1. Adding connection to the inner end of the antenna loops
2. Soldering connection again
http://www.instructables.com/id/RFID_Reader_Detector_and_Tilt_Sensitive_RFID_Tag/
Image Notes Image Notes
1. 82pF Capacitor 1. Soldering connections
2. Low current LED 2. Soldering connections
Image Notes
1. RFID reader is near the tag
2. LED lights up
Antenna
The antenna for this second RFID tag is similar to the first antenna we built. We thus need another piece of cardboard and to repeat the steps described earlier in STEP 2
of this instructable.
Tilt-sensitive tag
Next, we add additional copper tape connections to the tag, as shown in Figure 1. These connections allow us to connect three tilt switches, a capacitor, and the LED to
the antenna. Again, all the connections of the copper tape are soldered together.
We add the three tilt switches to the tag as shown in Figure 3. The tilt switches are soldered to the copper tape, and it is important to connect them in a slight angle
(around 5-10 degrees) as shown in Figure 4. This makes sure that the silt switches are in a closed state while the RFID tag is in a horizontal position, and in a open state
while the tag is in a vertical position.
Again, we also add an LED and a capacitor to the antenna as shown in Figure 3 (we use a different form factor of the capacitor here just to illustrate the alternative
options).
http://www.instructables.com/id/RFID_Reader_Detector_and_Tilt_Sensitive_RFID_Tag/
Image Notes Image Notes
1. Additional copper tape for connecting the tilt switches, the capacitor, and the 1. Again we use insulation tape for the connection
LED with the antenna. 2. Soldering all copper tape connections
http://www.instructables.com/id/RFID_Reader_Detector_and_Tilt_Sensitive_RFID_Tag/
Image Notes
1. Using the MIFARE RFID chips to create a tilt-sensitive RFID tag
step 5: Variations
This section concludes our instructable of how to build custom RFID tags. Here are a few additional tags to show the possible variations.
- Variable length of the tag antenna, and therefore also variable reading distance of the tag (Figure 1).
- Experiments with the tag size and material (Figure 2)
- Switching between the LED and an RFID chip (Figure 3)
- Light-sensitive tag: the tag is active in daylight, and inactive in darkness (Figure 4)
- Touch-sensitive: tag is active when someone touches the tag with a finger (Figure 5)
- Different material for antenna by using conductive silver ink (Figure 6)
- Stamped layout of an RFID tag antenna (Figure 7) that is in fact working!
http://www.instructables.com/id/RFID_Reader_Detector_and_Tilt_Sensitive_RFID_Tag/
Image Notes Image Notes
1. Button to switch between LED reader detection and the RFID tag 1. Light sensitive tag
2. RFID chip MIFARE 1k
Image Notes
1. This antenna layout is stamped with conductive silver ink (and the antenna is in
fact working!)
http://www.instructables.com/id/RFID_Reader_Detector_and_Tilt_Sensitive_RFID_Tag/
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Comments
50 comments Add Comment view all 51 comments
How are "stored" the informations into the tag and how is it possible to modify (interact with) them ? You say that The technology is also used in mass transit
systems in cities like London and Hong Kong. In Japan, many mobile phones incorporate readers to enable e-money payments in shops and vending
machines.
Do they need a distinct "writer" and a distinct "reader" ? How come the reader can not also write ?
If a Faraday cage would "shield" the tag from the reader, why shoplifters don't simply coat the tags with some metal (aluminium foil) ?
What if I put two (or several) tags close to each others ? Will the reader get confused ?
Thanks again.
@reader/writer: the reader hardware for this 13.56 MHz RFID standard can usually read and write. You can connect these readers to you computer, and
by using a special software you can then read the ID numbers of the tags, and also write small data packages onto the tags (between 200 and 3000
byte; sometimes a bit more, depending on the tag hardware you use - I mainly use the Phillips MIFARE tags). Some RFID readers that you can buy can
only read and not write new data to the tags. I'm sorry, but there is no easy answer to this question; there exists far too many different RFID hardware. If
you have questions about a particular RFID hardware you can of course send me a message. By the way, all this information is only for the 13.56 HF
RFID standard; but there are many other standards available (125 kHz or the UHF standards).
@faraday: depending on the thickness and material of the metal shield this would work in general. but the security tags in shops use many different
frequencies, stronger EM fields, and also sometimes active tags (i.e., with a battery inside). I assume aluminium foil would not work; maybe other metal
shields. Maybe it is good that we don't know for sure how this works ;-)
@multiple tags: yes, you're right, they interfere with each other. Therefore, usually the RFID readers can only detect one tag at a time. More advanced
hardware (with included "anti collision detection") can detect multiple tags at the same time; they cycle through frequency variations and protocols to
address different tags at the same time. There is unfortunately not much information available about this anti collision detection for RFID.
@teaching: interesting question :-) I'm not a teacher for electronic engineering. I'm currently a PhD student (originally from Germany, now studying in
http://www.instructables.com/id/RFID_Reader_Detector_and_Tilt_Sensitive_RFID_Tag/
Canada), and worked with RFID technology in a side project of my PhD and during an industry internship. I continue this research at the moment, and I
will try to create a few more instructables about it in the next months.
Here is the picture of the RFID detector I built. It lies over a mass transit system card. I tried to bring both card at the same time from the reader, and
the bip was much louder than usual and the LED fully lit up (normally it flashes) !
I also tried with my cellphone in the same hand, and it acts like a shield so the LED didn't lit.
Then, I carefully pay attention to the reader during the rush hour. People were swiping their card all at the same time, but the reader didn't seem to
get lost...
Can I compare the MIFARE you are talking about to some kind of (computer) ROM ?
And BTW, you are right about not getting too much infos about the Faraday process !
I am fascinated by this technology. Thank one more time for your Instructable and your many answers. :-)
would it possible to use a thin copper wire(0.1-0.5 mm) i pulled out of a small mooter ?
from my understanding if i were to be near a shop with RF reader(those that prevent stealing)will it light?
About your second question: you're right, a few of the security systems in stores use the 13.56 MHz RFID technology, so the LED of our simple detector
would light up (I tested it :). However, quite many stores use different (sometimes proprietary) technology, that also uses a different frequency and
protocols. In this case, the detector in its current form would not work, but you can modify the design (antenna, capacitor) to work with different RFID
hardware and frequencies.
http://www.instructables.com/id/RFID_Reader_Detector_and_Tilt_Sensitive_RFID_Tag/
zimmemic25 says: Nov 29, 2008. 1:54 AM REPLY
there are some rfid stickers which have just 3 different shaped metal sheets laying on each other, how do they work?
another Q if the led will light will the RFID reader will beep too(in the shop)?
i went down the mall to a clothing shop and saw a rectangular plastic attached to a clothe,only the cashier can separate it with a sort of a
device, do you know what is the technology of the this(-the separation- i know there is RFID chip inside the plastic).
and btw. is it ac or dc? cause the beepers i use only work on dc.
http://www.instructables.com/id/RFID_Reader_Detector_and_Tilt_Sensitive_RFID_Tag/
aballen says: Nov 19, 2008. 8:44 PM REPLY
This is a great article on inductive coupling. I see how to power an led via inductive coupling, and then switch it with the rfid tag, how do I read the id on the
tag?
~P.S. For anyone else printing their circuit be sure to give some thickness to the antenna, for some reason there is a drastic difference in the signal it
picks up with a thinner antenna.
Thanks for the instructible BTW, there's a lot of really good ideas in there.
http://www.instructables.com/id/RFID_Reader_Detector_and_Tilt_Sensitive_RFID_Tag/
static says: Nov 12, 2008. 9:31 AM REPLY
This device is mostly for detecting the presence of RFID readers, right? Wouldn't a conventional radio receiver, that activated a surplus cell phone vibrator,
be constructed smaller, and give an alert without watching an LED? Not to mention a better range(distance) of detection?
I would like to hear more about this active device youve created... another instructable perhaps?
could also add a switch that controlled an array of filters. switch between filters and youll be able to look for multiple different kinds of RFID (i.e.,
different frequencies)
you dont need much energy anyway so maybe precharged capacitor is enough
I enjoyed reading it, well documented and step by step, it was a pleasure to learn how to build a rfid detector
also i think it lacks (imho) a bit of 'black magic', like how did you simulate the behaviour of the antenna ( what kind of software) , what knowledge is required
to do this kind of stuff ( works the first time, needs tuning ) , or if it is possible to glue some CMOS logic ( or something analog) to the antenna to reproduce
an rfid response.
thanks again,
cheers
http://www.instructables.com/id/RFID_Reader_Detector_and_Tilt_Sensitive_RFID_Tag/
rblee says: Nov 12, 2008. 4:07 AM REPLY
RFID readers are usually quite (and unjustifiably!) expensive - The one mentioned in this instructible is nearly $150 for the USB version.
They do a starter kit of tags and reader for about $50. It looks a bit proprietary, but it does work at 13.56MHz, and reading s/w is available for Windows,
MacOS and Linux (Debian/Gnome only, as far as I can tell).
The reader must be detecting all 13.56MHz chips, although possibly filtering non-Tikitags out, so it may just be a software problem.
Be warned though - The reader's firmware is held on a smartcard, reputedly to keep the cost down, so if the filtering is done in the reader itself this might
take a LOT of work to hack.