A Copper Alliance Member
Edition #9
Tag, You're It — Tomorrow's ID Is An RFID
High-resolution version of this photo.
Imagine walking into an unfamiliar store and, within seconds, you are handed a personalized list of items to match your size, color preferences and current wardrobe. At home, your refrigerator and pantry let you know which foods have spoiled, and what items need to be replenished. At work, a pocket computer tells you the life history, location and operating status of every item in your company's inventory.
This was once the stuff of science fiction. Today it's fact — or soon to be reality — thanks to a little tag attached to your clothing, imprinted on your food packaging, or embedded in virtually all products inventoried and sold by businesses worldwide. It's all possible because of radio frequency identification or RFID, a technology that has been around for more than 20 years but is now about to revolutionize our lives. Copper plays a critical role in itsdevelopment.
RFID is an electronic identification system that recognizes objects tagged with a unique code or serial number. This code is similar to a bar code label, but an RFID tag contains a microchip that can store up to 2 kilobytes of data. Its copper circuitry and attached radio antenna transmit the information to a reader or monitoring system. Because RFID uses radio waves to send this data, line-of-sight visibility from tag to reader is unnecessary.
One day soon, many — if not most — of the items we use in our lives will be embedded with RFID tags. Chances are you may already have one or more RFID devices in your possession. They are the brains behind smart card technology used in credit card and mass transportation systems worldwide. They enable the identification cards that grant access to buildings and office doors. Encapsulated in a sliver of glass and implanted under the skin, they allow veterinarians, farmers and animal control personnel to identify missing and wayward animals.
The potential of RFID is enormous. Not only will the tags provide inventory, security and logistical information, they will also provide retailers with an individualized marketing tool. In the future, we are likely to see this technology used in ways we have not anticipated. As pharmaceutical companies have recently discovered, they are an ideal way to prevent international counterfeiting in medicines. The same methods eventually will help secure and identify other illegally trafficked products, from DVD's to automobiles to exotic pets.
Help From a Giant
Until now, widespread adoption of RFID technology has been limited due to cost, as well as a lack of universally accepted radio frequency standards. But its prospects took a giant leap forward in 2004 when Wal- Mart, the world's largest retailer, announced it would require suppliers to integrate RFID technology into their inventory supply chain. Wal-Mart's goal is to create a system where pallets of merchandise are monitored from the moment they leave the vendor to the moment the merchandise arrives on the shelf. In other words, this technology offers accurate highspeed merchandise tracking and logistical support while it reduces or eliminates problems due to human error. Wal-Mart's embrace of RFID has created the critical mass of users needed to reduce manufacturing costs and create a global marketplace for the RFID technology.
 Typical RFID chip Photo courtesy of Texas Instruments |
Copper is the cost-effective choice for RFID antennas and circuits. It allows for the quick and easy manufacture of the tags and has played a key role in making RFID a vital and money-saving tool for a variety of applications. Since its commercialization, manufacturing costs for most RFID tags have dropped from more than five dollars per tag to less than 40 cents each, depending on features and attributes.
Like bar codes, most RFID tags are "passive," waiting to be analyzed, and do not transmit radio signals until accessed. Tags do not contain batteries; instead, the reader emits a signal that activates the tags by an inductive coupling mechanism, which provides enough current to momentarily power the chip. Once powered, the tag "responds" to the reader with its digitally encoded information, all in just a few milliseconds.
Commercial RFID systems have an operating range of up to 10 feet, though more powerful systems can work up to 20 feet. This distance is determined by a combination of the frequency used, the antenna system, and the materials used to construct the antenna. Copper antennas, which may be wound from wire, etched through a lithography process or soldered, offer the longest active range of any antenna material. As a result, copper is favored by RFID users for its unequaled performance and reliability when compared to competing materials.
An Engine of Progress
The goal for RFID manufacturers is to reduce manufacturing costs to less than five cents per unit. Increased production volume will help, but the greatest advances will come through technology - where copper plays a key role. Recently, two European RFID manufacturers have developed processes for electrodepositing (plating) copper onto the substrate material at very high speeds. Pilot tests have shown that several billion tags a year could be produced by this method at costs far lower than by conventional etching. Another British-based firm is examining the potential of electroless plating, a chemical process that plates copper on areas preprinted with conductive ink. The manufacturer claims this process can produce dense copper antennas at one-half the cost of conventional methods. Electroless plating also eliminates the manufacturing step required to join the antenna to the printed contacts on the microchip, helping to reduce costs further.
Other new advances include depositing copper inks using an inkjet printer, and the creation of a high-speed process to combine copper RFID tags to self-stick labels. These advances in copper processing are not the entire solution to reducing costs, but they will play a vital role in bringing RFID to the mainstream. Cu
RESOURCES
Association for Automatic Identification and Mobility - RFIDHow Green Is Copper?
Copper drainwater heat recovery system for sinks and washing machines.Photo courtesy of WInston Works Inc.
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Being "green" isn't always the most economical option for residential and commercial buildings, but it can help reduce your overall operating expenses and costs over the long term. Now, however - thanks to Uncle Sam - it can begin saving you money right away.
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 provides homeowners with a variety of tax credits that reduce the amount of taxes paid to implement green or energy saving practices. Homeowners can qualify for up to $500 in tax credits for home improvements to windows, doors, HVAC systems, roofing, insulation, heat pumps and water heaters. Tax credits up to $2,000 are also available for qualifying solar water heating and photovoltaic systems.
One green system that qualifies for energy tax credits is a direct exchange, or DX, geothermal heat pump that uses copper tubing to harvest the earth's thermal energy for heating and cooling. The system consists of an underground heat exchanger connected to a network of copper pipes filled with a refrigerant. Heat in the ground is transferred by the refrigerant and released throughout the system by an in-home air handler and heating coil. The exceptional heat transfer properties of the copper tubing make it an integral part of the direct exchange thermal system, which translates into a 30- to 60-percent reduction in heating and cooling costs for homeowners.
Another home heating system that qualifies for tax credits uses copper-intensive passive solar collectors. Designed to heat water, this technology has been in widespread use for more than three decades. A new solar technology that uses copper-based photovoltaic (PV) cells is poised for commercialization in the near future. Unlike the passive units, PV systems convert sunlight directly into electricity. The cells are a complex alloy of copper and rare elements such as indium and selenium. Highly efficient and much less expensive to manufacture than traditional silicon-based cells, they are completely silent, require no fuel and minimal maintenance and, most importantly, are powered by the world's largest and least-expensive renewable energy source, the sun.
Copper roofs are valued for their aesthetic beauty, durability, low maintenance and high recycled content. Copper tubing is the preferred choice for plumbing systems, and copper is also the best material for electrical performance. Copper wiring, motors, magnet windings and transformers help make energy production, transmission and use more efficient.
Green Building and Copper
The construction industry is going green for good reason. Residential and commercial buildings are responsible for 40 percent of the world's energy use and 16 percent of the world's water consumption. In this country, the residential and commercial building industry is the largest manufacturing sector, encompassing more than 13 percent of our gross domestic product.
As energy and raw material costs continue to skyrocket, building owners, architects, developers and contractors are searching for ways to incorporate green or "sustainable" building practices into their programs. Their goal is to reduce energy consumption and the environmental impact of their buildings while providing long-term economic returns on this important investment.
 Copper-intensive passive solar collectors. |
Green building promotes structures that are healthier for occupants as well as for the environment in general. This goes well beyond energy and water conservation. Through such practices as environmentally sensitive site planning, attention to indoor environmental quality, and the use of resource-efficient building materials like copper, these initiatives can also help to lower utility operating costs, enhance community health and increase overall workforce productivity, all while minimizing the negative effects that construction and energy consumption may have on the environment and global climate change.
At the forefront of the green building movement is the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), which has created the "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design," or LEED, point-rating system. This voluntary standard was developed to help propel the mainstream home and commercial building industry toward sustainable practices while creating a common format for their measurement. For example, a typical home needs to obtain 30 of a possible 108 LEED points to achieve certified status, and 90 out of 108 to achieve LEED platinum — the highest performance level.
Copper can be found making an impact throughout any building. According to Tom Dietsche, LEED Program Manager, USGBC, "Green Building projects that can earn LEED points include those that have incorporated recycled content materials, such as copper, which promotes sustainability and helps to reduce the impact of new material extraction on the environment." Copper is a vital part of hot water recovery systems that help recapture used thermal energy.
Green building standards concern every aspect of the home, but are primarily focused on insulation, the indoor air quality system (heating, ventilation and air conditioning, or HVAC), exterior landscaping, and construction materials. Additional LEED points may be awarded for environmentally friendly objectives like non-toxic pest control, radon protection and innovation in the design process.
Recently, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) began promoting its own green building standards. These guidelines complement the LEED system and provide an additional avenue for certification.
Copper Leads the Way
It is estimated that about 80 percent of all the copper ever mined (about 13 percent of the world's reserves) is still in use in one form or another today, making copper one of the planet's most sustainable materials. It has the highest recycling rate of any engineered metal. Some products, such as copper tube and sheet goods, can be recycled over and over without any loss to their engineering properties. In its pure form, and in alloys like brass and bronze, it is practically 100 percent recyclable. Excluding wire production, copper- based products contain about 75 percent recycled copper.
Recycled copper helps to conserve the earth's resources – one of the ultimate goals of the green building movement. Copper will continue to play a crucial role in sustainable development now and in the future. Cu
RESOURCES
Energy Policy Act of 2005National Association of Home Builders Back to Top
Color Trends of the Year: Copper, Brass, Bronze
Designer fabrics incoporating woven copper and other metallics.High-resolution version of this photo.
Most of us like to keep up with trends in materials, colors, fabrics and finishes, and we generally take our styling cues from the experts — the colorists, designers and marketers who make it their business to know what is "in" and what is not. Metallic colors have surfaced as this year's most important interior design direction, with copper, bronze and brass hues high on the list, according to these reliable color trend indicators.
The rich metal earth tones are gracing new products available now to interior designers and their clients at the high end of the market and are expected to be prominent in retail stores later this year.
Copper and the varied colors of copper alloys such as brass and bronze "invite a nurturing feeling, and in the stressful times we're living in, the need to embody warmth resonates with a lot of people," says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, which gathers color trend information worldwide.
A more customized use of coppery colors is also on the scene. "New technology has enabled the use of materials in innovative ways. For instance, more copper and bronze are now woven into textiles," says Eiseman, who has seen the trend firsthand at décor shows in the USA and Europe. She also points to the modern, stylized use of hammered copper for decorating accessories like picture frames and house wares.
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Pavarini's signature touch is using brass nail heads with an antique finish on furniture and as designs on leather chests. "When I design custom furniture, I incorporate a metal banding strip. It adds depth, glint and shine to the piece. It also makes objects look more artisan, more handmade. We all like to have a little history in our interiors." Bronze-finish hides woven into leather upholstery are also part of his repertoire.
Pavarini creates window treatments comprised of single strands of metallic balls, and metallic shower curtains. He also uses copper as a border strip inset into wood floors, which gives the impression of a copper "frame." "When you see metal in the décor, it establishes a level of design, and elegance," he explains.
Oil-rubbed bronze bathroom fixtures that patinate, or change color as they age as a result of contact from hands and through natural oxidation, create an "aged look that is a nod to the past," says Pavarini. He quickly adds that, unlike him, not everyone likes fixtures that change color, however.
Deborah Zimmer, color and decorating expert for the Paint Quality Institute, states that metallic colors are also popular in paints this year. "It's really about the hard textures of that type of surface, coupled with consumers' love of naturally occurring materials incorporated into their living space, including marbles, quartz and a glimmer of copper. Metallic finishes on the walls are a fabulous complement to an interior design."
Rohm & Haas, a sponsor of the Paint Quality Institute and major supplier of raw materials to paint manufacturers, recommends a color line called Mineral, Sprits! in its newsletter, Color Trends 2006. This range of tints echoes minerals and earth tones found in nature.
"Brass tones are so warm and homey, they invite people in, as well as glamorize a setting," says Zimmer. She notes that brassy colors are strong and do not need to be on all four walls in a room, but can be effective as an accent even on one wall. She has seen sensational use of copper colors on dining room ceilings, and notes that these colors are also now being used as a highlight on moldings and other trim.
The bold, bright color of polished copper cookware has never gone out of fashion for the kitchen. Now, that functional beauty is establishing a strong foothold in the most luxurious living rooms nationwide. Cu
RESOURCES
Pantone Color Institute
HDTV + Copper = Maximum Effect
The central distribution device (CDD) - The core of structured wiring.High-resolution version of this photo.
High-definition television, or HDTV, has quickly become the gold standard in home entertainment — and if you are among the many who believe the medium is as important as the message, it won't be long before one of these sets makes its way into your home.
Unlike analog television, HDTV uses digital signals to project a crisp, ultra-clear image. In general, digital signals are routed to HDTVs through high bandwidth communication cables. To maximize your experience, you need the best wiring available, and copper wiring is the clear-cut choice of both professional and amateur videophiles because of its reliability, durability and exceptionally high data transfer rate of up to 100 Mbps (megabits per second).
According to Ron Rimawi, president, Digital Interiors, Inc., "The gold standard for home communications is structured wiring using Category 5e or Category 6 wires, and quad-shielded RG-6 coaxial cables with an all-copper center conductor. Copper offers the speed, flexibility and reliability that is needed by HDTV, broadband and other high bandwidth applications for the foreseeable future."
 High-resolution version of this photo. |
RESOURCES
Structured Wiring Back to TopCopper Can Help Contain Flu
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Copper is known for many things including durability, aesthetic beauty and recycling potential, but one day it may become as widely known for keeping humans safe from "bird flu" and other influenza viruses.
Recent research by the University of Southampton, UK, shows that copper can virtually eliminate the Influenza A virus within six hours of exposure. This is an especially important finding because a member of this virus family is the virulent Avian Flu strain that has already caused many deaths and has the potential to grow into a worldwide epidemic.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Influenza A viruses result in over 36,000 deaths and 200,000 hospitalizations each year in the United States alone.
The Southampton findings are based on a series of experiments where researchers placed two million units of H1N1 Influenza A virus on samples of pure copper (C11000) and on stainless steel (S30400) at room temperature. After six hours, the stainless steel surfaces showed only a 50 percent reduction of the pathogens, while virtually all — 99.99 percent — were eliminated on the copper surface.
Because the Avian Flu strain is very similar to the H1N1 strain, the researchers believe copper's antimicrobial properties would be similarly effective against it. If an outbreak occurs, using copper alloys such as brass and bronze for common touch surfaces like doorknobs and handles may reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
The study, which is expected to conclude later this year, is part of a wide-scale effort by CDA to measure the effectiveness of various copper alloys against pathogens through independent laboratory testing. Cu
Resources
Tag, You're It — Tomorrow's ID Is An RFID
Color Trends of the Year: Copper, Brass, Bronze
