Sep 01, 2011The following are news announcements made during the past week.
TagMaster Embeds ThingMagic M5e Reader Modules in Two New Products
Trimble has announced that its ThingMagic Mercury5e (M5e) ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) RFID reader module will be used in the manufacture of TagMaster's new XT-3HD and XT-3 stationary readers. The M5e reader module is a one-watt, credit-card-sized device suitable for adding UHF RFID read and write capabilities to a wide range of fixed and mobile devices, the companies report. The readers are designed for asset-tracking applications in the railway industry, and to provide hands-free solutions for personnel and vehicle access control, the firms explain. Integrating the M5e into the readers, the companies add, will help to increase efficiency, security and convenience, while minimizing environmental impact, with low power output, small form factor and discreet design. The module complies with the EPC Gen 2 and ISO 18000-6C standards, and features the Gen4 Linux operating system—which, according to the companies, provides powerful processing capabilities within the reader, maximum flexibility in terms of application integration, and customized application development using TagMaster's open-source Software Development Kit (SDK). The XT-3HD, a rugged outdoor reader designed to comply with railway standards, is built for reading passive EPC Gen 2 UHF tags mounted on passing trains or wagons, up to 5 meters (16.4 feet) away. The XT-3 reader is primarily intended for individual and vehicle access-control applications, such as parking-garage access, for which long-range identification combined with high-speed RFID tag reading may be required.
Italian Court Implements TagMaster's RFID-enabled Vehicle Access–Control System
TagMaster has also announced that its partner, Generale Sistemi has successfully completed an RFID-enabled vehicle access-control installation for central Italy's court system. The deployment is intended to ensure a high level of security and reliability, using an integrated combination of long-range RFID identification and optical character recognition (OCR) cameras for the control of vehicle access. TagMaster's long-range (LR) series of RFID readers and tags work in the industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) frequency band of 2.45 GHz. As part of the company's Total Gate Control (TGC) system, RFID interrogators read vehicles that have tags affixed to them, in order to determine access rights. The TGC system utilizes a built-in database for the administration of such access-control parameters as scheduling and access rights. The database contains both the RFID tag numbers, as well as the license plate numbers. The access gate is controlled by the TGC system. To be able to handle access control for visitors and vehicles not equipped with an RFID tag, an integrated OCR camera is used to capture license plate numbers. The camera, an integrated part of the TGC system, is developed and supplied by Generale Sistemi. Pictures taken by the camera are used to identify vehicles granted temporary access acceptance. Photos are also taken of vehicles attempting to access without permission. All images are stored in a database, for security reasons. "This installation solved many problems for the customer," said Adolfo Deltodesco, Generale Sistemi's CEO, in a prepared statement. "This was made possible using [the] Total Gate Control system built on the powerful TagMaster reader platform open for development and integration with other devices and technologies to build up a winning solution."
UPM RFID, RFID Systems Partner in Korean Distribution Agreement
Tag manufacturer UPM RFID has announced that it has entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with RFID Systems, an RFID inlay and tag consulting and converting firm based in Seoul, Korea, to supply Near Field Communication (NFC) tags exclusively from UPM RFID. According to the two companies, the tags are available through RFID Systems' NFC Tagstore Web site, launched on Aug. 22, 2011. The online store offers an extensive selection of NFC tags from UPM RFID, the firms report, as well as a variety of off-the-shelf NFC applications. The site is designed to serve application developers, solution providers, retailers, mobile-phone manufacturers, carriers, systems integrators and event companies. The NFC Tagstore is currently available to the Korean market, with plans to expand the services to Japan, China and other Asian nations. In addition to NFC tags, the online store also offers smart posters and cards.
Daily RFID Intros Two New HF RFID Products
Daily RFID Co. Ltd., a Chinese firm focused on the research and development of Electronic Product Code (EPC) and other RFID technologies in that country, has announced two new high-frequency (HF) 13.56 MHz RFID products: the Tiny Tag and the Smart Label-11. The Tiny Tag, designed for tracking small items, measures 0.7 centimeter by 0.7 centimeter (0.3 inch by 0.3 inch), is compliant with the ISO 15693 protocol, and has a read range between 2 centimeters and 10 centimeters (0.8 inch and 3.9 inches). It is designed to survive extreme temperatures, ranging from -40 degrees to +90 degrees Celsius (-40 degrees to +194 degrees Fahrenheit), the company reports, while still maintaining high identification accuracy. What's more, the tag is built to withstand harsh environments, such as those in which the tags might be dipped in water, weak acid or alkali. The Smart Label-11, according to the company, is designed for asset-tracking management, particularly for tracking luggage or other valuables at train stations or airports, as well as for monitoring documents and parcels. The label can support the ISO/IEC 14443A/B or ISO/IEC 15693 protocols, and is composed of paper. Its RFID inlay can operate in temperatures ranging as low as -10 degrees Celsius (+14 degrees Fahrenheit) or as high as +50 degrees Celsius (+122 degrees Fahrenheit). The standard dimension of the label is 40 millimeters by 40 millimeters (1.6 inches by 1.6 inches), with other dimensions available upon request, and its thickness is between 0.5 millimeter and 0.7 millimeter (0.02 inch and 0.03 inch). Its surface is silkscreen-printable, with an option for a customized logo.
