1、Designation: D 7435 08Standard Test Method forDetermining the Performance of Passive Radio FrequencyIdentification (RFID) Transponders on Loaded Containers1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 7435; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adopt
2、ion or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. Asuperscript epsilon () indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1. Scope1.1 This test method determines the readability of radiofrequency identificat
3、ion (RFID) transponders placed on loadedcontainers that are manually handled or mechanically handledby material handling equipment such as fork trucks, palletjacks, and automated guided vehicle systems. The results ofthese tests are intended to be used for qualitative purposes.1.2 Test results solel
4、y reflect the performance of the speci-fied RFID system and the specified loaded container. Resultsare not intended for performance analysis of the RFID system,in part or in whole.1.3 This test method is intended for use in laboratorysettings that simulate, as closely as is practicable, the distribu
5、-tion environment of the product being tested.1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regardedas standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematicalconversions to SI units that are provided for information onlyand are not considered standard.1.5 This standard does not purport to a
6、ddress all of thesafety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2. Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D 996 Termi
7、nology of Packaging and Distribution Environ-mentsD 4332 Practice for Conditioning Containers, Packages, orPackaging Components for TestingE 337 Test Method for Measuring Humidity with a Psy-chrometer (the Measurement of Wet- and Dry-Bulb Tem-peratures)3. Terminology3.1 DefinitionsTerms and definiti
8、ons used in these testmethods may be found in Terminology D 996.3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.2.1 critical transponder distancethe distance betweenthe transponder and the interrogator antenna at which atransponder becomes undetectable by an RFID system, whenmoving the RFID tra
9、nsponder out of the read field.3.2.2 direct line of sightan unobstructed visible path fromone object to another.3.2.3 empty containerthe shipping case of the loadedcontainer, excluding the product as well as the primary,secondary, and/or tertiary packaging shall be considered theempty container.3.2.
10、4 firmwarea series of programmable instructions,stored in read only memory (ROM), which controls thecapabilities of an interrogator.3.2.5 loaded containerthe loaded container shall consistof a production run or individually prepared packaging system,to include the product as well as the primary, sec
11、ondary, and/ortertiary packaging up through the shipping case level.3.2.6 radio frequency identification (RFID)a wirelessdata communication technology that uses radio waves totransfer data from one source to another.3.2.7 read fieldthe area in which an RFID transponder iscapable of responding to the
12、 interrogator. The outermostboundary of the read field correlates to the critical transponderdistance. The distance between the critical transponder dis-tance and the transponder acquisition distance represents anarea of RF energy that may or may not be sufficient to activatea passive transponder.3.
13、2.8 RFthe energy used by RFID systems to activatetransponders and wirelessly transfer information.3.2.9 RF enhancinga substance or material that, when inthe presence of radio waves, creates constructive interference,causing the amplitude of the radio waves to increase. Ulti-mately, the resulting wav
14、e experiences an increase in intensity1These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D10 onPackaging and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.18 on Miscella-neous Packaging.Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2008. Published September 2008.2For referenced ASTM standards, v
15、isit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org. For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information, refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.1Copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428
16、-2959, United States.and power, and thus, the wave retains higher energy at a fartherdistance from the interrogator antenna.3.2.10 RF inhibitinga substance or material that causes asignificant reduction in the effectiveness of radio waves thatreach an RFID transponder.3.2.11 RF transparenta substanc
17、e or material that haslittle or no significant impact on the performance of an RFIDsystem.3.2.12 softwarean array of logic, displayed as an applica-tion, used to access and control a device.3.2.13 transponder acquisition distancethe distance be-tween the transponder and the interrogator antenna at w
18、hich atransponder is first detected by an RFID system, when movingthe transponder into the read field.4. Summary of Test Method4.1 Read Field MappingThis procedure is used to deter-mine the read performance of the RF system inclusive of thereader/antenna and transponder with an empty container. Thet
19、esting is conducted with the RFID transponder specimenmoving both toward and away from the RFID antenna. Thestrength of signal and overall read field may vary from systemto system and differ from location to location depending uponthe various interferences.4.2 Testing the Product/Package SystemThis
20、procedure isused to determine the transponder readability in the establishedread field of the system while affixed to the product loadedcontainer. The testing involves the product/package combina-tion. The testing is conducted with the filled case of the productmoving both toward and away from the R
21、FID antenna.5. Significance and Use5.1 Many materials used in the production of goods canhave an adverse affect on the performance of an RFID system.This test method qualifies the performance of an RFID systemapplied to a loaded container relative to the performance of thesame RFID system applied to
22、 an empty case. Comparison ofthese two elements of this test method will identify thecompatibility of the RFID systems and the product beingtested.5.2 This test method is intended for systems used exclu-sively within the United States. Additional test standards fromISO or other standards bodies may
23、apply to internationallyhandled goods and may include additional test scenarios notoutlined in this test method.6. Interferences6.1 RFID systems are subject to interference from metal,water, and ambient RF energy. If significant levels of any ofthese interferences are present in the immediate testin
24、g area,the observed read field will be affected. Due to uncontrolledvariation in testing facilities, numerical values for interferencecannot be stated. Possible sources of interference shall bedocumented in the final report.6.1.1 Documentation of interference shall include informa-tion regarding, ma
25、terial, size, and location relative to interro-gator antenna.6.2 If significant levels of interference are unavoidable,testing shall be conducted in such a manner that interferencesremain unchanged throughout testing.7. Atmospheric Conditions7.1 Testing shall be conducted at the standard conditionin
26、gatmosphere of 23 6 1C (73.4 6 2F) and 50 6 2 % relativehumidity unless otherwise noted as per 13.1.1.7.2 The exact measurement of temperature and relativehumidity of the testing atmosphere shall be made as close tothe specimen being exposed as is possible. (See Test MethodE 337 for a detailed descr
27、iption of methods.) The temperatureand relative humidity indicated at the control point may not berepresentative of conditions elsewhere in the conditioned spacedue to local effects or deficiency in air circulation. Tolerancesat the controller usually must be smaller than those at thespecimen.8. App
28、aratus8.1 Case StandThe case stand shall be constructed of anRF neutral material (wood or plastic, ideally) that can supportthe weight of the full case unit load, allow for case heightadjustment, and allow for controlled movement along theradian being tested.8.2 Antenna StandThe antenna stand shall
29、be a stationarysupport constructed of an RF neutral material (wood or plastic,ideally) that can support the weight of the antenna being usedwhile allowing for antenna height adjustment.8.2.1 ProtractorA large protractor shall be placed at thebase of the antenna stand to visually guide the operator a
30、longthe radian being tested.8.3 RFID System:8.3.1 InterrogatorA manufactured device that communi-cates with RFID transponders via antennae and communicatestransponder information to the host computer.8.3.2 Interrogator AntennaA manufactured device thatemits RF energy to transponders and receives inf
31、ormation fromtransponders in the form of reflected RF energy.8.3.3 TransponderA microchip with a small conductiveantenna that receives RF energy from the interrogator antennaand reflects the information on the microchip back to theinterrogator antenna in the form of RF energy.8.3.4 Host ComputerAny
32、computer with the proper soft-ware to communicate with and operate the RFID interrogator.8.4 Empty ContainerThe shipping case of the loadedcontainer, excluding the product as well as the primary,secondary, and/or tertiary packaging shall be considered theempty container.9. Test Specimen9.1 Acase uni
33、t load test specimen shall consist of a case unitload representative of a production run package, or compo-nents of an assembled packaging system, to include primary,secondary, and/or tertiary packaging up through the shippingcase level.9.2 An RFID transponder specimen shall be a randomlyselected tr
34、ansponder from a controlled RFID transponderinventory that:D74350829.2.1 Is compatible with the entire RFID system.9.2.2 Is appropriate for the product being tested.9.2.3 Has been pre-validated as meeting a controlled mini-mum standard of transponder signal strength and efficacy.10. Conditioning10.1
35、 Test specimens shall be conditioned at the standardconditioning atmosphere of 23 6 2C (73.4 6 3.6F) for aminimum of 24 h prior to testing (see Practice D 4332) unlessotherwise noted as per 13.1.1.11. Procedure11.1 Mapping the Read Field:11.1.1 Determining the Critical Distance Read Field of theEmpt
36、y Container:11.1.1.1 Assemble RFID system.11.1.1.2 Affix RFID transponder to the empty container in amanner that approximates how the transponder will be affixedon the case in a production scenario. For example, if thetransponder will be applied flush to the packaging, it isimportant to approximate
37、this in the test versus using tape orother temporary method of affixing the transponder.(1) The location and antenna orientation of the transponderon the empty container shall be documented and held constantthroughout testing.NOTE 1Transponder placement was observed to be an importantvariable affect
38、ing the readability of the transponder affixed to theproduct/package system.11.1.1.3 Mount the interrogator antenna to the antennastand. Record the distance from the floor to the center of theinterrogator antenna.11.1.1.4 Place the empty container on the case stand suchthat a direct line of sight ex
39、ists between the interrogatorantenna and the transponder.(1) Adjust the height of the case stand such that thedistance from the floor to the center of the transponder is equalto the height recorded in 11.1.1.3.11.1.1.5 Place the case stand along the +90 radian, as closeto the antenna stand as possib
40、le.11.1.1.6 Slowly, move the case stand along the radian, awayfrom the interrogator antenna, at a consistent speed until theRFID system no longer detects the transponder.NOTE 2Transponder detection is usually indicated by the graphicaluser interface on the host computer screen.11.1.1.7 Record the cr
41、itical transponder distance.11.1.1.8 Repeat steps 11.1.1.5 through 11.1.1.7 for all radiiin the in the 690 spectrum at increments of 15.NOTE 3Testing may also be done at increments of less than 15depending upon the level of precision desired.11.1.2 Determining the Transponder Acquisition Read Fieldo
42、f the Empty Container:11.1.2.1 Place the case stand along the +90 radian at adistance that exceeds the corresponding critical transponderdistance by 5 ft.11.1.2.2 Slowly, move the case stand along the radian,toward the interrogator antenna, at a consistent speed (equal tothe speed used in 11.1.1.6)
43、until the RFID system first detectsthe transponder.11.1.2.3 Record the transponder acquisition distance.11.1.2.4 Repeat steps 11.1.2.1 through 11.1.2.3 for all radiiin the in the 690 spectrum at increments of 15.11.1.3 Determining the Critical Distance Read Field of theLoaded Container:11.1.3.1 Asse
44、mble the loaded container to include the prod-uct as well as the primary, secondary, and/or tertiary packaging,using the empty container as the shipping case.11.1.3.2 Place the case stand along the +90 radian, as closeto the antenna stand as possible.11.1.3.3 Slowly, move the case stand along the ra
45、dian, awayfrom the interrogator antenna, at a consistent speed (equal tothe speed used in 11.1.1.6) until the RFID system no longerdetects the transponder.11.1.3.4 Record the critical transponder distance.11.1.3.5 Repeat steps 11.1.3.2 through 11.1.3.4 for all radiiin the in the 690 spectrum at incr
46、ements of 15.11.1.4 Determining the Transponder Acquisition Read Fieldof the Loaded Container:11.1.4.1 Place the case stand at a distance that exceeds thecritical transponder distance by 5 ft.11.1.4.2 Slowly, move the case stand along the radian,toward the interrogator antenna, at a consistent speed
47、 (equal tothe speed used in 11.1.1.6) until the RFID system first detectsthe transponder.11.1.4.3 Record the transponder acquisition distance.11.1.4.4 Repeat steps 11.1.4.1 through 11.1.4.3 for all radiiin the in the 690 spectrum at increments of 15.11.2 Mapping the Read Field Envelope:NOTE 4Read fi
48、eld envelope testing is an optional portion of this testmethod, not required for compliance with this test method.11.2.1 Perform all steps outlined in mapping the read field(11.1), except 11.1.1.4(1), beginning with the center of thetransponder at a height of 1 ft from the floor.NOTE 5If the transpo
49、nder location does not allow the transponder tobe adjusted to this height, begin testing at 2 ft and note this change in thefinal report.11.2.2 Raise the height of the case stand by an additional 1ft and again repeat all steps outlined in mapping the read field,except 11.1.1.4(1).11.2.3 Repeat step 11.2.2 until the height from the floor tothe center of the transponder is 6 ft.12. Interpretation of Results12.1 Graphical Representation:12.1.1 The acquisition distance and the critical distance forboth an empty container and a loaded container s
