Dec 07, 2017The following are news announcements made during the past week by the following organizations: A2B Tracking, Zebra Technologies; Convergence Systems Ltd., Synergy RFID; Datamars; Elatec RFID Systems; and Midpoint Security.
A2B Tracking Earns Zebra Technologies Software Certification
A2B Tracking Solutions has announced the successful certification of Zebra Technologies' Software Validation Program for PartnerConnect independent software vendors (ISVs). Zebra's solution laboratory has certified A2B Tracking's cloud-based software against a battery of tests, the company reports, in order to ensure that it can operate seamlessly with Zebra's RFD 8500 for RFID and bar-code asset tracking.
A2B Tracking software leverages smartphones or Zebra mobile computers to connect to the RFD 8500 via a Bluetooth connection, while accessing A2B Tracking software to manage such asset-tracking features as asset location, check-in, checkout and cycle counts. A2B Tracking's proprietary Pro-Locate feature leverages RFID and a smartphone to efficiently search entire facilities for a particular asset.
"Our software has been optimized to perform RFID asset tracking using smartphones connected to the cloud," said Darryl Layne, the company's CTO, in a prepared statement. "We're proud to have achieved the Zebra Validated designation with the innovative RFD 8500 from Zebra that turns any mobile computer into a powerful RFID reader. This combination now enables affordable RFID tracking for virtually any organization, small or large."
Convergence Systems Ltd. Signs Synergy RFID as Stocking Distributor for North American and Latin American Regions
Convergence Systems Ltd. (CSL), a global company providing passive RFID products and active real-time location system (RTLS) equipment, has announced that Synergy RFID will provide a lineup of ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) RFID products to its clients throughout North America and Latin America. As its newest stocking distributor, CSL explains, Synergy RFID will expand the company's reach with new technologies, such as the recently released CS108 Bluetooth RFID Mobile Reader.
"With the recent launch of our newest, the CS108 Bluetooth RFID Reader, we needed to strengthen our distribution capabilities for the Americas region and have a stronger service and support capability for our growing ecosystem of value-added resellers and system integrators in the region," said Jerry Garrett, CSL's managing director, in a prepared statement. "Adding Synergy RFID, with their extensive experience in RFID and well-established regional coverage, especially in Latin America, was a win-win for both companies."
"Synergy RFID is extremely proud to offer CSL products to our RFID VARs and ISVs, providing them with a complete platform of UHF products that offer a great price -performance value," said Daniel Montserrat, Synergy RFID's general manager, in the prepared statement.
Datamars Laundry Chips Receive Certification for MRI Scans
Datamars has received certification for its LaundryChip family of UHF RFID magnetic-resonance imaging (MRI) conditional labels. From nursery homes to nuclear power plants, UHF textile tags are being used in many applications, the company explains, which puts emphasis on tag quality and certification in order to ensure comfort and safety.
The LaundryChip 401 and 301 have previously been tested as compliant with OEKO-TEX Standard 100, indicating the absence of harmful substances at levels dangerous to the human body. The labels are MR-conditional-certified for compliance with standards for safety and compatibility within an MRI environment.
MRI systems are used in hospitals and clinics for medical diagnosis, as well as for the staging of disease and follow-up without exposing the human body to ionizing radiation. Since MRI technology relies on strong static magnetic fields, any item containing metal or conductive elements could potentially lead to unwanted effects if placed inside an MRI scan device. Such effects range from excessive heating and displacement (which could harm a patient) to image artefacts (which could compromise diagnosis). Due to their electrical nature, RFID transponders contain conductive elements and are thus in this category.
The labels are designed to guarantee their suitability for use in MRI equipment, meet clinical needs for MR safety and compatibility, and ensure patient safety and diagnosis integrity. A patient wearing a garment or a textile with an embedded 301 or 401 UHF transponder can be safely scanned via an MRI system at 1.5 or 3 Tesla, the company reports, with a minimal impact on the resultant MR images.
Datamars' research-and-development team conducted an in-depth analysis of each component used in the transponders, according to the company. "We re-considered the materials used to manufacture our transponders," said Damien Pachoud, Datamars' CTO, in a prepared statement. "That was the only way to make the transponders almost invisible on MR images. This was managed very efficiently thanks to Datamars' vertical integration, which gives us full control of our production".
To demonstrate the reliability and data integrity of RFID transponders under specific conditions during MRI scans, as well as the safety of patients wearing an RFID-embedded textile, intensive MR testing has been performed by an accredited ISO certified lab specializing in testing medical implants and other devices for MRI safety and compatibility, the company reports.
Elatec RFID Systems Offers BLE Reader-Writer
Elatec RFID Systems, an RFID reader-writer module manufacturer, has developed the TWN4 MultiTech 3 BLE, a new reader module that supports all common RFID standards, as well as Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and Near Field Communication (NFC). According to the company, manufacturers of devices for access control, charging stations, point of sale (POS), parking space management, fitness and time tracking can achieve increased flexibility upon integratinv the TWN4 MultiTech 3 BLE, regardless of the specific transponders and standards employed. Multiple product variants need not be developed for various RFID standards.
The new reader module supports all current RFID standards for the frequency ranges of 125 and 134.2 kHz, as well as the 13.56 MHz band, including NFC. The latter, when combined with BLE, can allow Apple iPhones and Android smartphones to be used for identification and wallet solutions, the firm reports.
The TWN4 MultiTech 3 BLE is more compact than its predecessors, the TWN4 MultiTech and the TWN4 MultiTech 2 BLE, the company indicates, and the module can be provided with customized protective housing. Upon request, additional interfaces can be implemented, such as CAN bus and OSDP/RS485 for industrial applications.
For systems integrators, the configuration or reconfiguration of integrated TWN4 MultiTech 3 BLE reader modules can be carried out throughout a network, in a contactless manner using special configuration cards (TWN4 CONFIG cards). Along with I2C, SPI and RS232 serial interfaces and USB, the TWN4 MultiTech 3 BLE also supports clock/data (Omron) and Wiegand, for such applications as time tracking and access control.
Various BLE credential systems can be integrated for mobile phone applications, such as Orange PackID, UTC Supra, LEGIC connect and the proprietary Elatec Mobile Badge BLE solution. Elatec readers also come with essential country approvals and can thus be sold and utilized worldwide, providing an advantage to manufacturers with international operations.
Midpoint Security Releases Free Access-Control Software for Controller Brands
Midpoint Security has introduced a free edition of its CredoID access-control software, compatible with HID VertX controllers, Edge IP readers, Mercury controllers, Suprema biometric IP and wireless Aperio locks by Assa Abloy. The free lifetime license of CredoID supports systems consisting of up to 20 readers and includes all basic access-control functions, as well as floorplans, attendance reports and operator action logging, all delivered via an intuitive multilingual interface.
With more than 2,000 CredoID systems in operation, Midpoint Security is making a bid on open standards and the growing adoption of non-proprietary technologies in electronic security. "Customers' demands have grown over the years," said Aivaras Junelis, Midpoint's business-development manager, in a prepared statement.
"Even the smallest businesses are requesting high-end features," Junelis added in the prepared statement. "Our freeware offer gives a chance to start with professional access control hardware in every project without paying top dollar for the software or signing annual service contracts. When a customer reaches the 20-door limit or requires advanced features, he will have all options open."
Midpoint Security designs and develops the CredoID physical access-control system (PACS) software suite, which supports a range of products from HID Global, Suprema, Mercury and Axis. Midpoint distributes hardware components required to build security systems.
