The Design And Application Based On The Embedded RFID Controller

Yang Guohao, Wan Longjun

Marine Engineering Institute Jimei University Xiamen, China yghzzb@jmu.edu.cn , xnzh11189@163.com
AbstractThis thesis introduces the embedded technology, and describes the significance and necessity of using embedded technology to design RFID controller. Using embedded technology to design, with LPC2138 ARM microcontrollers as the core controller, a radio frequency chip, RC500, is used to design RF module and design the external interface circuit, then construct an RFID controller. The RFID controller has the powerful control and the rich peripherals, which has been used to design the automatic vehicle identification (AVI) management system. Keywords- Embedded; RFID; controller

Guo Jiajian
Marine Engineering Institute Jimei University Xiamen, China ajianhao999@163.com Philips LPC2138 is based on the ARM7TDMI-S core microcontroller, which has a very rich external module and a powerful management and control function, and is very easy to build embedded system. The system built by LPC2138 is not only small in size and cost-effective, but also has many merits such as being stable, reliable and powerful and with short exploitation cycle and so on. The RFID controller which relies on the powerful control and rich peripherals of ARM microcontroller, and has achieved more intelligent control and system integration, is designed by MF RC500. The controller has been used in Automatic vehicle identification management system [2]. II.
EMBEDDED TECHNOLOGY

I.

INTRODUCTION

There are two application mode of RF technology: One is the mainly applied to the mass-produced products of single function and simple structure, the design of which is to reduce the costs. The specialized products are designed by the Single Chip Micyoco, such as access control machines, attendance machines, POS machines, and so on. The other is the mainly applied to the products of diversified function and complex structure which is small yielded. The main objective of the design is to achieve the function, often using embedded technologies, such as radio frequency controllers, which must not only collect radio signals, save data, a powerful communication features, but also with output control signals. In order to cope with different applications, the system also needs programming functions and so on. With the research development and applications of RF middleware, using embedded technology to integrate a radio frequency application system becomes more convenient and is needed more and more. RFID products, in the domestic marketoriented main are reading and writing, the features of which are limited to a single function without strong communication, and can not output control signal, and do not have largecapacity data storage, and can not be achieved in-system programming, and generally do not have the controller functions [1]. With LPC2138 ARM microcontroller as the core, embedded technology is used to build a RFID controller.

A. The overview of embedded technology In the field of industrial control, it usually places the computer and related components in controlled object, to constitute a intelligent system which has the ability of management and control, called the Embedded System. The definition of embedded systems in IEE: embedded system is "the operation device of control, surveillance or auxiliary equipment, machinery and workshop." Embedded System covers two sides, the hardware and software, built on the basis of a high-performance microprocessor (as opposed to SCM), and based on a mature platform of multi-task real-time operating system (RTOS). Embedded system generally considered as non-PC systems, is the equipment or apparatus which has computer function but not a computer. It is application centric and based on computer technology. The hardware and software can reduce if necessary, such system has many merits such as hardware and software integration, low power, small size, high reliability, and technology-intensive and so on. A typical embedded system is composed of the following parts: hardware platforms; BSP (board support package); RTOS (Real Time Operating System); application procedures. Hardware platforms include embedded microprocessors and the relevant peripherals of control by required. Microprocessor is the hardware core of embedded system. Peripheral devices are the

underlying components guaranteed to achieve the assigned tasks. With the development of electronics, network and computer technology, embedded systems are developing towards networking, intelligence, standardization and integration. The rapidly developed technology of embedded systems not only becomes an important branch of the microelectronics technology and computer technology, but also applicable across the finance, aerospace, telecommunications, networks, information appliances, medical care, industrial control, military and other fields. B. The feasibility and necessity of using embedded technology to design RFID controller Embedded Controller: (EC) in a specific system, added to the fixed location, the control device that can complete certain tasks is known as embedded controllers. Embedded controller is a special-purpose CPU, usually on the non-computer system. Embedded controller is a control system with the complex data processing capabilities, which is applied in implementation of independent control [3]. Most embedded operating systems use the microkernel structure, only providing the basic functions, and the system can be cut down. The users can choose the corresponding components according to their own needs. In embedded systems, the task is threaded. Most of the embedded operating systems are supporting multi-task. The operation of multi-task depends on the CPU that switches and schedules between multiple tasks. There are two types of real-time systems: hard real-time system and soft real-time system. Embedded operating system kernel can be run directly in Flash, and also can run in the memory which loaded into. If the radio frequency controller uses SCM to design, it may not be able to achieve multi-mission operation. The memory of SCM is much smaller than embedded microprocessors, and the operating speed of embedded microprocessors is faster than the SCM. Based on the above features of embedded, it fully meets the requirements of design about RFID controller. With development of microelectronic technology, the manufacturing cost of chip has been reduced greatly, but the function of it has been enhanced greatly. In addition, 16 and 32-bit embedded microprocessors are gradually being widely used. In the high-end embedded microprocessor can run an operating system which is powerful, customizable and can be cut down. Based on the applications of embedded systems technology, software development work has become standardized, easy to test and modular programming can be realized, thus facilitate the process of software development division of cooperation, so as to shorten the system development cycle, and deal with the applications which are complex and diverse increasingly [4]. III.
THE FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND STRUCTURE OF EMBEDDED RF CONTROLLER

processing of radio frequency signals, data storage and other auxiliary functions. Communications: Controller can transmit the data rapidly. It reads the data from the electronic tags through radio frequency readers. Through the serial port, the message communication can be realized between controller and computer. In addition, the controller is also connected with a number of other devices to communicate with them. The collection and processing of RF signals: Through the RF readers, the controller obtains RF signals. After that, use CPU is used to process the signals. Data storage: The controller with its own storage devices, the collected data and the processed data are stored in the corresponding memory. Other ancillary features: The controller can display, and it has a touch screen. In addition, it has a keyboard interface to access a keyboard as an input device. It has a USB interface, which can be used as input or output equipment. B. The structure of RF controller The overall framework of design based on the embedded RFID controller as shown in Figure 1:

The achievement of various functional modules in the RF controller: CPU is LPC2138 microcontroller. Communication module has three means of communication: RS485, RS232 and USB, to facilitate debugging their systems and using site control computer when needed. In data storage processing module, 16M Flash is used as a temporary off-chip data memory with the function of a brown-out protection. The Flash without batteries can store data for more than 10 years. Other supporting modules include LCD, keyboard, touch screen, power supply, alarm instructions and so on. C. The main principle of circuit design 1) The interface circuit of CPU CPU is based on LPC2138 microcontroller. LPC2138 embedded with 512 KB high-speed Flash memory and 32 KB RAM, has rich peripheral resources: two 32-bit timers (with capture and compare channel); two 10-bit 8 spur tracks ADC; one 10-bit DAC; PWM channels; 47 spur tracks GPIO; 9 external interrupts of edge or trigger level; the RTC of independent power supply and clock; multiple serial interfaces

Fig.1. The framework of controller

A. . The functional requirements of RF controller The functional requirements of RF controller are composed of the following parts: communications, the collection and

(UART I2C SPI SSP). It includes vector interrupt controller, which can be configured interrupt priority and vector address. The process that booted loader of on-chip can be designed in the system / application (ISP / IAP). Through on-chip PLL can achieve the 60 MHz CPU operating frequency, two low-power modes of free and power-down, and can be wake-up by external interrupt. The hardware circuit principle of CPU is shown as Figure 2. XTAL1 is used for the oscillator circuit and the input of internal clock circuit; XTAL2 is used for the output of oscillation amplifier; RTCX1 is used for the input of RTC oscillator circuit; RTCX2 is used for the output of RTC oscillation amplifier. When the frequency of crystal oscillator with the range of 1 MHz ~ 50MHz, and the signal with duty cycle factor of 50-50 input from XTAL1 pin into the LPC2138, the internal oscillatory circuit of microcontrollers support the external crystal of 1 MHz ~ 30MHz. If the on-chip PLL system or boot loader to be used, the input clock frequency will be limited to 10 MHz ~ 25MHz. The output frequency of oscillator is called Fosc. The external components and the models which are used in oscillating patterns are shown in Figure 2. As on-chip integrated feedback resistor, the oscillation of basic model only needs to connect a crystal and capacitors C3, C4 in external. When oscillator devices work in the oscillation patterns, Fosc clock will be limited to 1 MHz ~ 30MHz. LPC2138 is connected with the D0 ~ D7of MF RC500 by P1.16 ~ P1.23 [2].

making MF RC500 more suitable for the development of readers and high-security terminal. The hardware circuit of RF module principle is shown in Figure 3. In order to drive the antenna, MF RC500 uses the TX1 and TX2 to provide energy carrier of 13.56 MHz. According to the enactment of register, it modulates the sent data in order to get the sent signal. RF card is responded by RF field modulation of the load. Through the antenna matching circuit, the signal that picked up by antennas is sent to RX-pin. The internal receiver of MF RC500 detects and demodulates the signal, and according to the enactment of register to deal with the signal, and then sent data to the parallel interface and the microcontroller read it. The VMID voltage that produced by internal circuitry used as the input voltage of RX-pin. In order to provide a stable reference voltage, there is a capacitor between VMID-pin and ground, and there is a resistance which can disport the voltage between RX-pin and VMID-pin. In addition, to join a series of Capacitances between the antenna and the resistance will also improve the function of circuit [5].

Fig.3. the hardware circuit RF module

D. 1:

Technical parameters The technical parameters of RF controller as shown in table

Table 1 the technical parameters of RF controller

Fig.2. the hardware circuit of CPU

2) The interface circuit of RF module RF modules is designed by MF RC500, the features of which include: MF RC500 including: MF RC500 integrated advanced modulation and demodulation concept fully in all types of passive non-contact communication of means and agreements which under the 13.56 MHz. Its internal transmitter without increasing active circuit will be able to drive directly the antenna of closed operation, up to 100 mm; receiver part has a strong and effective demodulation and decoding circuitry that is used for IS014443A compatible transponder signal; the part of figures handle with the frame of IS014443A and error detection (parity and CRC). In addition, it has many features, such as the clock frequency surveillance, the hardware of low power consumption reduction, software Power-down mode, internal address latch and IRQ lines, the type of parallel interface in microprocessor which can detect automatically and support the product of Mifare series with the encryption algorithm of Rapid CRYPTOI and so on,

CPU

LPC2138, 512K Flash memory and 32 KB RAM, two 32-bit timers; operating frequency of 60 MHz CPU 10V~ 30V DC power consumption Static consumption:2.0 W, Dynamic consumption : 3.0 W 16MB memory of FLASH

Input Power

maximal baud rate Temperature of operation

115200 bps -40 85

Memory

Humidity operation

0%90%

IV.

EMBEDDED RFID CONTROLLER APPLY IN AUTOMATIC VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION (AVI)

Automatic vehicles identification is short for AVI, that is, in the instance with nobody, sent the collected information to

designated spots automatically. Vehicles with electronic tags through the special tunnel, parking lots and highway junctions that equipped with radio frequency sensors, can pay without stopping, thereby increasing the speed of traffic greatly, improve the efficiency of passage. AVI system components: the structure of AVI system is shown in Figure 4.

with computer and controlling the gate. Computer can monitor the RF controller and transmit real-time data to the RF controller. The large-capacity data memory can store white list and the information of passing vehicles, so RF controller can work independently from the host computer. V.
CONCLUSION

RF controller uses modular design, and other agreements and radio frequency modules, as long as according with the communication protocol of RS232 or RS485, which also can be connected to the radio controller. RF controller uses embedded technology, real-time, multi-task system and program. If it is developed a little, it can be applied in industrial process control and collects information and other occasions. The RFID controller based on the embedded will have bright application prospects. REFERENCES
[1] You Zhanqing. The Theory and Application of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Electronics Industry Press, pp. 2054, November.2004 Gao Junyao. Huang Chao. The distributed system design of LPC2138 based on ARM microcontrollers, Automatic Control and Measurement, pp. 9799, May. 2007 The Embedded controller. [Online]. Available: http://baike.baidu.com/view/827852.html Ma Honglian. The Guide of Embedded System Design, Electronics Industry Press, pp. 135, December.2006 Nan Xiuliang. Lu Xiuzhu. Wang Yizhong. Li Yigao. The radio frequency reader design of RFID based on MF RC500, "Automatic Instrument" Vol.28, No. 9, September.2007

[2]

Fig.4. AVI system

[3] [4] [5]

AVI system which includes a radio frequency identification, camera, database management and so on, is a typical multi-task system that uses radio frequency controller as core controller, which can satisfy the function of AVI system. There are three RS232 used for getting radio frequency signal and camera signal and the signal of ground sense, and there are the two RS485 used for communicating