RFID Tracking in PCB Manufacturing

Omnitrol Networks and Texas Instruments have formed an alliance that will deliver radio frequency identification (RFID) to enable real-time traceability in applications for printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing. These RFID solutions will enable visibility to location, status, and time information on PCB items in the production process. TQ Components is piloting the RFID-enabled PCB tracking solution in Germany. ...

... "The new offering, which integrates Omnitrol Networks' Work-in-Process visibility software and TI's Gen 2 chip technology, provides electronic and contract manufacturers a highly automated method of simultaneously identifying and tracking PCBs from the manufacturing floor to customer delivery. The demand for higher quality, flexibility and efficiency in PCB manufacturing is driving the need for non-line of sight RFID work-in-process tracking that offers several improvements over relatively large, fixed memory barcodes. RFID's small chip size can effectively be used on increasingly scarce board real estate, and its programmable memory allows PCB manufacturers real-time work-in-process visibility into parts, labor and finished goods throughout their manufacturing operations. In addition, RFID solutions provide a highly accurate and comprehensive view of manufacturing data throughout the product lifecycle which can help reduce warranty, safety and liability costs. The complete solution integrates Omnitrol Networks' award-winning Work-In-Process (WIP) visibility software and industrial sensor integration appliance, Gen 2 RFID readers and Texas Instruments' RFID Gen 2 UHF chips." ...

Via Omnitrol: Real-time RFID traceability to printed circuit board manufacturing

Printed RFID Electronics

RFID event tommorrow in Cambridge, Massachusets ...

... "Printed Electronics: the future of RFID: Tuesday, February 19, 2008
6:00 - 6:15 p.m. Networking
6:15 - 7:15 p.m. Panel Presentation
7:15 - 8:00 p.m. Q & A " ...

Via MIT Enterprise Forum: RFID Special Interest Group

RFID Pioneer: CTO Role at Sirit

Bruce Roesner has been appointed to the position of Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of Engineering at Sirit, where he will manage RFID product and solutions development across all application focus areas. ...

... "After starting his career with industry leaders like Hughes Aircraft Company, Burroughs Corporation and Applied Micro Circuits, Bruce has been an entrepreneur and technologist in the domains of IC design and RFID. He was the founder of a number of technology companies including Instant Circuit Holdings, SCS Corporation and ClarIDy Solutions. He was instrumental in the development of low-cost RFID tags used in inventory tracking and control applications which won him Most Innovative Product and Entrepreneurial Team of the Year awards. Mr. Roesner is the author of numerous publications and presentations on the subject of high technology electronics including RFID. He is also the holder of over 25 patents and earned a M.S.E.E. and Ph.D. in Solid State Electronics from Purdue University. " ...

Via Sirit: Sirit Appoints Pioneering RFID Engineer to Lead Development Team ...

China RFID Pilot Projects ...

RFID pilot projects planned in China by IPICO and local alliance. ...

... "IPICO Inc. and the China RFID Alliance have announced that IPICOs IP-XTM Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology will be tested in four RFID pilot projects in China. This announcement follows the China RFID Alliance IP-X Forum event held in Beijing this past July, where IPICO presented its IP-X RFID technology to various RFID experts from government, industry and academic institutions. The pilot projects will be deployed in Qingdao, a port city of the Shandong province in China and will include the respective Government bureaus and organizations in Qingdao, as well as Haier. Haier is the world's fourth largest white goods manufacturer and one of China's top 100 electronics and information technology companies. David Ou-yang, Secretary General of China RFID Alliance, indicated that it will support RFID technologies, such as the IP-X technology platform, as well as other advanced technologies in the world that are suitable for key application areas, as defined in the recently published Ministry of Science and Technology White Paper on the adoption of RFID technology in China. " ...

Via IPICO: IPICO's RFID Technology To Be Piloted In China ...

RFID InkJet Printable Tags

FujiFilm Dimatix work to advance its capabilities in printable RFID tags using ink-jet printers. It has demonstrated capabilities in various sizes and materials on multiple substrates. ...

... "FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc., a leading provider of commercial and industrial ink jet products, announced that it has repeatedly used its revolutionary ink jet technology to print silver fluid with features of less than 20 microns. With the proven capability to precision print 1 picoliter-sized drops of organic and inorganic materials on a large variety of substrates, the company is continuing to pave the way for an entirely new way of developing and manufacturing electronic books, printed polymer backplanes, printed sensors, complete RFID tags and other flexible electronics.

The Dimatix Materials Printer (DMP) is the world's first complete, low-cost system for high-precision jetting of all kinds of functional fluids on any type of surface, including plastic, glass, metal sheets, silicon, membranes, gels, thin films and paper. By directly printing on their own substrates, customers can rapidly develop prototypes and keep process technology in-house. The printer's small size and low price make it convenient, easy to use and cost-effective to own. Featuring single-use cartridges that customers can fill with their own fluid materials, the system minimizes waste of expensive materials. " ...

Via Dimatix: FUJIFILM Dimatix Enables Direct Printing of Silver Fluid with Features of Less than 20 Microns ...

FUJIFILM Dimatix Materials Deposition Division is evolving ink jetting technology into a production process that lowers the cost, time and environmental impact of producing electronic circuits and functions for RFID tags, flat panel displays, circuit boards and other electronic and bioscience applications.

RFID Plastic Pallet Real-Time Tracking ...

Plastic pallet with RFID enables real-time tracking in the supply chain. ...

... "Under the agreement, Xterprise will use both its RFID Asset Management application—which is built on it's TraX Application Server (TAS)—and it's AnalytiX RFID business intelligence application for iGPS' plastic pallet pool. Xterprise will be responsible for RFID-centric software applications, RFID best practices and RFID infrastructure integration. Xterprise will supply iGPS with Electronic Product Code (EPC) passive RFID tags, using the recently released EPC Reusable Transport Item (RTI) standard tag data format. As part of this long-term relationship, Xterprise will work closely with iGPS' other industry-leading partners such as Ryder System, Inc.

The agreement will enable iGPS to respond to demand from industries such as beverages, consumer electronics, grocery/consumer packaged goods, home improvement/do-it-yourself, pharmaceutical, produce/meat and raw ingredients. The powerful advantages of iGPS' edge-rackable plastic pallets include their greater durability, consistent size, shape and quality, superior hygiene and traceability. iGPS is the only large-scale pallet supply service to provide RFID in every pallet to track shipments in real time, which reduces the logistical cost of shipping and allows companies to verify food and drug safety, as well as to address security issues. iGPS offers the ability to rent plastic pallets and avoid the ongoing expense of owning and maintaining wood pallets." ...

RFID Plastic Pallet Real-Time Tracking: Via Xterprise: iGPS ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT WITH XTERPRISE INCORPORATED TO PROVIDE BUILT-IN RFID-TRACKING CAPABILITY FOR ALL-PLASTIC PALLET POOL ...

Omron RFID Inlay: Single Tag Design ...

Omron develops single RFID tag design to support international markets, perform under challenging configurations, and with varying materials and radio frequencies. ...

... "Omron RFID announced availability of the Gen2 Global Loop inlay which can be used under North American, European and Japanese radio frequency bands in a single tag design. The Gen2 Loop is optimized to ensure robust read performance when the tag is applied to items containing materials unfriendly to RFID, including electronics equipment and products with high moisture content. The Loop tag also delivers reliable read ranges when the orientation on the product is not fixed or could change after application. As a direct result, the Loop inlay can improve pallet tag read rates. Because it has dimensions of 68m x 70 mm, the Loop inlay will fit 3-in. x 3-in., 4-in. x 3-in. and 4-in. x 6-in. spaces. Omron's Gen2 Loop inlays can be used with all international UHF RFID frequencies from 860 to 960MHz with little or no performance degradation. The addition of the inlay to the already announced Wave tag expands Omron's ability to meet a wide range of applications for today's international supply chain needs. " ...

Omron RFID Inlay: Single Tag Design: Via Omron: OMRON Introduces EPC Gen2 Global Loop Inlay ...

RFID Chips Smart Library ...

Philips Electronics announces next-generation ICODE product, ICODE SLI S, which is based on RFID technology and enables controls in the smart library ...

... "Librarians are able to address many of the challenges found in library management, including reader logistics, material identification and inventory and information storage. The ICODE SLI-S offers increased read performance and is specifically well suited for automated management of media in libraries. With Philips RFID technology embedded, consumers can also enjoy an enhanced library visit, with faster check-out of books, CDs and DVDs. In addition to this self-service checkout, consumers can also serve themselves when making returns. At return, the item is scanned in and automatically sorted by electronic sorting stations which saves library staff time. With RFID technology embedded, consumers and library staff alike enjoy a simpler, more efficient experience. To date, several hundreds of libraries worldwide have installed RFID for self-service check-in and check-out, automatic sorting and cataloguing, as well as advanced theft protection; more than 50 percent of these libraries use Philips ICODE technology. As the largest producer of RFID ICs worldwide, Philips has secured design-ins in the public library in Singapore with the largest RFID installation globally of more than 10 million RFID labels in use; the public library of Shen Zhen; Jimei University Library in Xiamen, China, and Europe's largest RFID installation in libraries, the Munich Public Library. " ...

RFID Chips Smart Library: Via Philips: Libraries around the world are becoming smarter with Philips RFID chips

RFID Marks and Spencer Trial ...

Marks and Spencer continues its progress in trial of RFID technology. ...

... "Marks and Spencer is extending its trial of item-level passive RFID tags, called the Intelligent Label Project. " ...

Via CIE: Components in Electronics: M&S extends RFID trial ...

Marks and Spencer goes to market with a disposable RFID intelligent label. ...

... "Marks & Spencer is trialling RFID within the supply chain as the next generation of barcode. In that application, RFID uses tags (a tag is a microchip combined with an antenna) to wirelessly transmit product item numbers. These item numbers are unique to each product (unlike barcodes, which only unique to the product type). The tags developed for the garment trial are contained within throwaway paper labels called Intelligent Labels. The RFID tags can be read over a short distance by a remote scanner. Traditional optical scanners, used with barcodes, require each barcode to be held a few centimetres from the scanner: with RFID Marks & Spencer is trialling scanners that can operate at a distance of up to approximately half a metre. The scanner can read the tags simultaneously, and at speed, allowing regular updating of stock information. " ...

RFID Marks and Spencer Trial: Via Marks & Spencer: BACKGROUND TO MARKS & SPENCER'S BUSINESS TRIAL OF RFID IN ITS CLOTHING SUPPLY CHAIN ...

M&S meets with success and extends the trial to more stores and increases functional capability to leverage RFID technology in prevention of stock-outs. ...

Marks & Spencer: Marks & Spencer's business trial of RFID in its clothing supply chain: "Marks & Spencer is trialling Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) within its supply chain as the next generation barcode. We are using technology responsibly to give a better service to our customers through improved product availability. During 2004 an item level RFID trial on men's suits was conducted across nine stores. From Spring 2006, the number of stores participating in the trial will extend from nine to 53. Product availability is a key issue for customers, the extension of this trial will help us to investigate the potential of RFID further. "

Marks & Spencer: MARKS & SPENCER DEVELOPS INTELLIGENT CLOTHING: "Marks & Spencer is the largest retailer of clothing in the U.K and has pioneered many innovations in technology, such as Lycra and the machine Washable Suit. RFID tagging of garments will be one of the earliest applications of this technology in the world. Marks & Spencer has won a funding package from the Department of Trade & Industry to help develop this project. The DTI chose Marks & Spencer to develop RFID in retailing because it sells only own brand products and has an integrated supply chain, which will allow broad and deep research. RFID tags in clothing labels will hold information on a microchip, which will give each garment a unique serial number. This will enable Marks & Spencer to manage its stock more effectively in stores and throughout its distribution chain. When the RFID tag is scanned the information is stored in a database giving Marks & Spencer a complete overview of stock management. "

Plastic RFID Electronics Demonstrated by Philips

Philips Research crew demonstrates RFID electronic based on plastic ...

... "Scientists at Philips Research have created a fully functional 13.56 MHz RFID tag based entirely on plastic electronics. In contrast to conventional silicon-chip-based RFID tags, a plastic electronics RFID chip can be printed directly onto a plastic substrate along with an antenna without involving complex assembly steps. This could pave the way for the packaging industry to replace existing barcodes by a low-cost RFID tag that provides individual packages with a unique item-level identification code - something not feasible with current barcode technology.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is an automatic identification method, based on remotely retrieving information via radio waves from miniature electronic circuits called RFID tags. Philips has now realized the first plastic-electronics-based tag that is capable of transmitting multi-bit digital identification codes at 13.56 MHz � the dominant industry-standard radio frequency for RFID tag applications. As an additional demonstrator for the technology, scientists at Philips Research have also developed a 64-bit code generator, showing the practicality of building plastic electronic circuits with the complexity required for item-level tagging.

Performance results for these circuits will be presented at this year's International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC, February 5-9, San Francisco, CA, USA) in a paper that will also be awarded the conference's Beatrice Winner Award for Editorial Excellence. Being a world leader in the RFID business, Philips supplies silicon-based components for applications such as supply chain management, public transport, pharmaceuticals and animal tracking. Current silicon-based tags have excellent performance, and when produced in volume, can be manufactured at low cost. Philips is also conducting research into plastic-electronics-based RFID tags, since these tags have the potential to be manufactured in a radically different way, namely via even lower-cost reel-to-reel and other in-line processing techniques. " ...

Plastic RFID Electronics Demonstrated by Philips: Via Philips: Philips demonstrates world-first technical feasibility of 13.56-MHz RFID tags based on plastic electronics ...

Additional references on plastic RFID technology:

German researchers move forward on plastic RFID chip - Via Computerworld: "By 2008, PolyIC hopes to have a chip with a storage capacity of 128 bits and a processing speed of 13.56 MHz to comply with radio frequency identification (RFID) standards, according to Mildner. "

Beyond Bar Codes: Tuning up plastic radio labels: Via Science News: "Electronic labels made from plastic semiconductors can now pick up and respond to radio signals at a frequency suitable for use on products. "

OrganicID, Inc.: Printable, Plastic RFID Tags: "Organic Transistors - The Pros: Compatibility with flexible plastic substances, Lower temperature manufacturing (60-120°C), Lower-cost printable deposition processes "

RFID Asia Partnership ...

RFID partnership will address needs in Asia, namely China, for electronics manufacturing applications ...

... "With this new addition to our product line we now have the ability to offer end-to-end RFID solutions, starting with closed-loop factory automation and later expanding into global supply chain applications. The first phase of RFID implementation includes the ability to track, trace and control all materials and tools on the shop floor. This will significantly accelerate the deployment and the ROI for our customers, while providing a roadmap to extend RFID applications from the production floor to the warehouse and the supply chain. There are two strong market drivers for RFID in the China electronics manufacturing industry. The first and most significant is the ongoing pressure for cost-reduction. Despite the low cost of labor in China, it is important to remember that 80 to 90% of the cost of a finished electronic product is the sum of its electronic components. As a result the ROI for improving material control by achieving real-time visibility and eliminating human errors on the production floor is extremely short. The cost of the RFID tags is not even critical when you keep re-using the same tags inside the four walls of a factory. " ...

RFID Asia Partnership: Via Cogiscan: RFID Smart Material Control: SchmidtRFID partners with Cogiscan to offer RFID solutions for electronics manufacturers in Asia ...

RFID Philips Electronics Phenom Project

Philips Electronics is investing in a long-term research project, called PHENOM. This project will create an identity-, location-, and intention-aware environment which can predict, sense, and respond to behavior. A prototype has been built and tested. The RFID-enabled system learns from users, devices and objects behavior and makes the interaction feel very natural. ...

... "The tracking and identification sub-system consists of a Smart Door and a Magic Table. Both the door and the table can identify objects, fitted with an RFID tag, as well as people carrying an RFID badge in their pocket. The tags and badges are battery-free and maintenance-free. The data generated by the tag readers is collected by servants (independent software agents), which transform it into useful information. " ...

RFID Philips Electronics Phenom Project: Via Philips Research Technologies: An overview of the PHENOM project ...

Additional resources on Philips Electronics' progress in the research of RFID applications ...

Ambient Experience in practice: Royal Philips Electronics: "In addition to a CT scanner, the Yacktman Children's CT Pavilion has three main elements: projection, dynamic LED lighting and RFID. Patients can choose from four themes, each geared for different tastes and age groups; aquatic, space, fly-through and a default lava lamp type ambience. RFID-encoded cards corresponding to the theme chosen by patients cause the lighting and wall/ceiling projection to change "

RFID Visibility Solution for Supply Chain

TNT Express will implement Xterprise’s TraX Visibility, a real-time supply chain execution solution. The system will track high value electronics movement in the supply chain from China to Europe. The solution was piloted in 2004 and will now be expanded. ...

... "Phase II involves deployment of an enhanced TraX Release 2.0 application with multi-stakeholder enterprise system integration, including SAP. In addition, the solution will enable streamlining and higher accuracy sorting at the TNT facilities in Europe and enable Item-level shipment visibility for supply network partners. TraX 2.0 is expected to improve TNT customer service through a higher fidelity Track and Trace features which allows for better inventory planning and management and more accurate shipping performance, resulting in a value-added service offerings to TNT’s customer base. Xterprise technology partners in the project included Alien, Zebra Technologies and Apriso. The introduction of the latest RFID tag antenna designs and new multi-static European RFID readers both from Alien increased the read reliability dramatically. Tests have shown up to 100% read performance of a full pallet of notebooks as they are unloaded through the Xterprise XPort™ RFID reader portals in multiple locations throughout Europe. Xterprise’s TraX RFID enhanced visibility application, built on Apriso’s Flexnet SOA platform, enables customers, suppliers and logistics service providers to view real-time status of shipments around the globe. " ...

RFID Visibility Solution for Supply Chain: Via Xterprise: TNT Express Deploys Xterprise TraX Real-Time RFID Visibility Solution for China-Europe Supply Chain ...

Best Buy RFID Compliance: LG Experience

LG's RFID implementation was completed quickly and successfully certified to meet Best Buy's RFID compliance requirements. ...

... "The deployment was completed in less than two months and has been certified by Best Buy to meet the retailer's January 2, 2006 mandate. As a global supplier of televisions, mobile phones, and other consumer electronics, LG began investigating RFID technology when Wal-Mart and Best Buy issued mandates last year. In the initial deployment, LG plans to tag three SKUs to be shipped from their warehouse in Texas to Best Buy distribution centers. According to Sam Ismail, Director, Logistics Advanced Engineering at LG Electronics, this infrastructure gives LG the ability to tag and ship additional SKUs from the warehouse and manufacturing facility as more retailers mandate the use of the technology and as more business cases are determined to add value. " ...

Best Buy RFID Compliance: LG Experience: Via OATSystems: LG Electronics Goes Live with OATSystems: Implementation Completed in Record Time ...

OATSystems, Inc. is the recognized RFID framework leader with software that empowers businesses to achieve competitive advantage from radio-frequency identification (RFID). As pioneers in the development of RFID technology, OAT has been setting the standard in RFID for over half a decade and is responsible for industry firsts that include the largest scale and largest scope of deployments, as well as the most innovative approaches to providing enterprise-wide RFID solutions. OAT's multinational client base, which includes companies such as Hewlett-Packard and Gillette, consists of over 50 customers in retail, CPG, consumer electronics, manufacturing, life sciences, aerospace and defense.

RFID Supply Chain Excellence Recognition ...

Supply chain innovators are recognized for their operational excellence. ...

... "OATSystems, Inc., the recognized RFID framework leader, offers its congratulations to customers who have been named to the AMR Research Supply Chain Top 25, which highlights companies that are excellent operationally and brilliant innovators. A third of the companies on the Top 25 list are using OAT's RFID platform to help optimize their supply chains. AMR Research analyzed the top retailers and manufactures on a variety of metrics and criteria including return on assets, inventory turns, trailing 12 months growth. According to Marc Osofsky, vice president of marketing and product management at OATSystems, RFID has become an increasingly attractive and realistic strategy for companies to track their products through the supply chain and gain operational efficiencies.

AMR Research's Supply Chain Top 25 for 2005 list includes:
Dell, Procter & Gamble, IBM, Nokia, Toyota Motor, Johnson & Johnson, Samsung Electronics, Wal-Mart Stores, Tesco, Johnson Controls, Intel, Anheuser-Busch, Woolworths, The Home Depot, Motorola, PepsiCo. Best Buy, Cisco Systems, Texas Instruments, Lowe's, Nike, L'Oreal, Publix Super Markets, Sysco and Coca-Cola. " ...

RFID Supply Chain Excellence Recognition: OAT Customers Included in the AMR Research Supply Chain Top 25: List Identifies the Top 25 Global Supply Chain Performers for 2005 ...

Printed RFID Ink Viscosity ...

NanoMarkets explores the market for inks and materials that are used to enable printable electronics, such as printed RFID. ...

... "Some of the highest potential applications for printable electronics have very demanding requirements for materials. For example, flexible displays obviously require flexible substrates, but they also need inks that do not easily crack when dry. Printed RFIDs will be created on high-speed printing machinery which places strict requirements on ink viscosity. NanoMarkets believes that such needs will help drive both the demand and R&D dollars in the novel inks sector. " ...

Via NanoMarkets: Materials for Printable Electronics to Reach $1.9 Billion Says New Report from NanoMarkets ...

Printed RFID electronic ink references:

Via Organic Matter: RFID, OLED, Organic Semiconductors and Electronic Ink: "Because of the new and exciting developments in organic semiconductor technology called Electronic Ink. Imagine if you will an extremely precise inkjet printer that instead of regular ink could print using an organic semiconducting polymer. In theory one could print out a RFID or any other number of electronics directly onto paper. Besides RFID tags there are a whole host of other consumer electronics that are currently being developed such as Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs)."

Via Flint Ink: Flint Ink Launches PRECISIA, LLC: New Company to spearhead RFID and other printed electronics technology: "Conductive inks, which contain particles of conductive silver and/or carbon, can serve as channels for the wireless flow of electronic signals. The most well-known application for conductive inks is in antennas for RFID, a next-generation coding technology. Conductive inks are also used in 'smart' labeling and packaging applications. "

Via Dimatix: Dimatix Revolutionizes Materials Deposition with Industry’s First Low-Cost, Cartridge-Based Ink Jet Printing System: Direct Deposition of New Fluid Materials Offers Easier, Faster and Less Expensive Product Development for Electronics, Flat Panel Displays, Life Sciences and Other Industries: "The patented DMP-2800 series - a bench-top precision digital materials deposition system with versatile capabilities - enables users to jet complex patterns to create desired shapes, layers or even products by printing their own fluids onto any substrate up to five centimeters in thickness. By directly printing on their substrates, customers can rapidly develop prototypes and keep process technology in-house. The printer's small size and low price make it convenient and easy to use and own. The user-friendly cartridge system allows customers to perform print and deposition functions without having to become fluid jet experts."

RFID in Factory Automation: Escort Memory Systems ...

Escort's RFID system supports the complexity of automation projects in industrial factories to support RFID-enabled automation of work-in-process tracking. ...

RFID in Factory Automation: Escort Memory Systems: Via Escort Memory Systems: Escort Memory Systems Takes the Lead in RFID for Factory Automation: Announcing the Cobalt HF™ family for industrial automation ...

... "Escort Memory Systems announces the Cobalt HF family of RFID solutions for factory automation. With the introduction of the Cobalt HF systems, Escort Memory Systems now sets the pace in RFID solutions for industrial control. With over 20 years of innovation in design and over sixty thousand installations worldwide, Escort Memory Systems is RFID at Work. This new family of RFID systems supports complex automation projects in many fields including pharmaceutical, automotive, electronics, food processing, clinical and other application requiring reliable RFID auto-identification of work-in-progress (WIP). " ...

RFID Tags: Material Deposition System ...

RFID Tags: Material Deposition System: Via Dimatix: Dimatix Presents DMP-2800 – A Revolutionary Materials Deposition System: Industry’s First Low-Cost, Cartridge-Based Ink Jet Printing System Offers Easier, Faster and Less Expensive Product Development for Electronics and Flat Panel Displays ...

... "The turnkey system is an easy to use tool for corporations and research institutes to quickly develop and test processes and prototypes, as well as conduct low-volume manufacturing of a broad range of products, including flexible circuits, RFID tags, displays and wearable electronics. " ...