User's Manual

Rev 1.1 (April 2009) 2 © DLP Design, Inc.
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Note: The retail boxed version of this product includes the DLP-RFID-UHF1B reader, a
retractable USB cable, a small loop antenna, 3-foot coax and two UHF RFID tags.
The DLP-RFID-UHF1B is a low-cost, USB-powered module for reading from and writing to ISO
18000-6a, -6b and -6c intelligent RFID transponder tags. It has the ability to both read and write
data in addition to reading the unique identifier (UID). All of the DLP-RFID-UHF1B’s electronics
reside within the compact unit, and all operational power is taken from the host PC via the USB
interface.
2.0 RFID BASICS
RFID stands for Radio Frequency IDentification. It is an electronic technology whereby digital
data encoded in an RFID tag (or transponder) is retrieved utilizing a reader. In contrast to bar
code technology, RFID systems do not require line-of-sight access to the tag in order to retrieve
the tag’s data, and they are well suited to harsh environments.
An RFID tag consists of an integrated circuit attached to an antenna. In the case of the tags
used with the DLP-RFID-UHF1B, the antenna is in the form of conductive ink “printed” onto a
material that allows for connection to the integrated circuit. This type of passive (battery-free)
tag is commonly referred to as an “inlay”.
The RFID reader (or “interrogator”) is typically a microcontroller-based radio transceiver that
powers the tag with a time-varying electromagnetic radio frequency (RF) field. When the RF
field passes through the tag’s antenna, AC voltage is generated in the antenna and rectified to
supply power to the tag. Once powered, the tag can receive commands from the reader. The
information stored in the tag can then be read by the reader and sent back to the host PC for
processing.
The data in the tag consists of a hard-coded, permanent serial number (or UID) and user
memory that can be written to, read from and locked if desired. Once locked, user data can still
be read but not changed.