RFA RFID Technology Provides DVD Theft Protection in Supply Chain

NXP Semiconductors and Kestrel Wireless collaborate to develop an RFA (Radio Frequency Activation) RFID solution to provide DVD theft protection throughout the supply chain. The solution enables the ability to disable DVDs at manufacture and enable at the point of sale, rendering the in-transit goods useless while in the supply chain, which eliminates the motive for theft. ...

... "The first application of NXP and Kestrel's RFA / RFID solution will be integrated into optical media. The solution, however, is applicable to all consumer electronics products, such as MP3 players, electric shavers, toothbrushes, flat screen TVs, ink jet cartridges and flash memory. NXP and Kestrel's network-based RFID solution opens up new opportunities for the distribution of optical media and consumer electronics. It eliminates expensive security devices, restrictive packaging and display cages, enabling a more comfortable shopping experience for consumers. Minimized product packaging creates more environmentally friendly solutions, such as paper instead of plastics. Additionally, the costs and problems of returns for DVDs and other disc-based media are reduced. " ...

Via NXP: NXP and Kestrel Wireless partner to eliminate theft of DVDs in retail

Active RFID Partner Program

AeroScout creates a partner program to provide partners with the tools they need to meet growing customer demand for RFID solutions. ...

... "AeroScout works with over 150 value added resellers, systems integrators and software providers, such as Philips Medical Systems and NEC Unified Solutions, to provide solutions for healthcare, manufacturing, logistics and other industries worldwide. The AeroScout Partner Program provides them with a comprehensive set of tools, collateral and training, as well as an incentive program, in order to capitalize on the growing opportunity within the global Active RFID market. " ...

Via AeroScout: AeroScout Launches New Partner Program To Extend

RFID Casino Gaming Chips: Holland Order

Gaming Partners International receives order from Holland Casino for the Bourgogne et Grasset (B&G) brand of gaming chips. ...

... "The order, for over 950,000 gaming chips with denominations ranging from 2euro to 500euro, includes RFID 125KHz Hitag Vegas-S microchip embedded gaming chips, as well as non-RFID chips. The gaming chips, or casino currency, will be manufactured by the group's subsidiary, GPI SAS, in Beaune, France, with delivery expected before the end of 2006. " ...

Via Yahoo News: Gaming Partners RFID Chip Order

Philips RFID: Healthcare Assets

Philips RFID technology is focused on the healthcare market combined with services. The first customer to deploy the Philips asset tracking solution is the University Medical Center (UMC) in Tucson, Ariz. Philips installation at UMC is one of the healthcare industry's largest Wi-Fi-based asset tracking projects. This RFID implementation covers eight floors and a million square feet with 2,300 RFID-tagged assets in use throughout the hospital. The hospital workforce will use the Philips RFID solution to track and manage medical equipment, such as infusion pumps, beds, monitors, wheelchairs and other portable devices. ...

... "Helping hospitals to focus on the patient, Philips' asset tracking solution helps locate hospital assets through Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. The solution is designed to work within existing wireless infrastructure, allowing hospitals to leverage investments they have already made in wireless technology. Philips' asset tracking solution consists of a suite of services to maximize the solution's benefits, including wireless tags, a location engine and the MobileView user interface. Product tracking information is fed into the location engine and the asset's position can then be portrayed on a map, in a table, or in a report format for any networked hospital user. In addition to pinpointing lost equipment, the information gathered from the asset tracking solution can help improve asset utilization and work flow efficiencies.

The Philips asset tracking solution is designed around each hospital's specific use cases to help solve problems such as productivity, regulation requirements, utilization, theft, and loss. With an understanding of the unique requirements that the healthcare environment demands, Philips has an advanced solution that can enable hospitals to make facility-wide improvement. The Philips asset tracking solution utilizes technology that includes wireless tags, a location engine, and the MobileView user interface. The tags, which can be attached to most mobile assets, transmit to the hospital’s existing 802.11 infrastructure. This information is fed into the location engine and the asset's position can then be portrayed on a map, or in a table or report format for any networked hospital user. " ...

Via Philips: Philips Delivers New Radiology Products At 2006 RSNA That Present Clinicians with a Clear View of Patient Data and a Clear Path to Patient Care

RFID SmartCards AccessControl ...

ASSA ABLOY Identification Technologies supplies the Cartes conference with RFID-enabled smart card for access control. ...

... "ASSA ABLOY Identification Technologies (ITG) will provide 30,000 contactless smart cards to be used by exhibitors, visitors, VIP guests and the organizers themselves. The cards are manufactured by VisionCard, a leading European card manufacturer based in Austria and part of ITG. Among the special features of the card is the printed antenna, which represents a complementary technology to ITG's other core transponder technologies, wire-embedding, wire-transfer and coil winding. VisionCard's long track record and their expertise in high volume printing allow the company to produce high quality printed antennas very cost efficiently and to connect them to any 13.56 MHz IC module available in the market. The cards for the CARTES exhibition are based on Philips mifare 1k chips. Set up of the access control system at the exhibition has been entrusted to French system integrator Tech-Event. For this application, Tech-Event has chosen RFID reader modules manufactured by ACG Identification Technologies, another ASSA ABLOY ITG company. The reader modules provided by ACG, compatible with multiple ISO standards including ISO 14443A/B and ISO 15693, will be used to read all the entry badges issued for the exhibition. " ...

Via ASSA ABLOY Identification Technologies: CARTES exhibition goes contactless with RFID technology from ASSA ABLOY ITG ...

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

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 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 "

Mobile Phone RFID NFC Trial France ...

A trial of mobile phones interacting with RFID objects through near-field communication (NFC) is planned in France. ...

Mobile Phone RFID NFC Trail France: Via Contactless News: Caen France hosts world's premier NFC trial with mobile phones enabling host of contactless applications ...

... "Philips is working with France Telecom R&D, mobile phone network operator Orange, handset manufacturer Samsung, and French retailers Groupe LaSer and Vinci Park, along with the City of Caen, which is allowing some of its tourist attractions to be tagged with RFID chips. " ...

RFID Catheter Data Transfer ...

Catheter manufacturer integrates RFID chip technology into latest model to support data transfer ...

RFID Catheter Data Transfer: Via Volcano Corp: Volcano Corporation Announces FDA Clearance of the Revolution™ 45 MHz IVUS Imaging Catheter: Novel Design will Allow Use of Phased Array and Rotational Catheters on Same IVUS Console ...

... "The Revolution Catheter has a center operating frequency of 45 MHz, making it the highest frequency intravascular catheter approved for sale in the U.S. The Revolution is built on intellectual property and technology recently licensed and acquired from Philips NV of The Netherlands. Volcano expects this imaging technology will appeal to a number of physicians who have trained using high frequency rotating IVUS imaging catheters. The Revolution also incorporates enhanced polymer transitions for improved handling and trackability, RFID chip technology for catheter data transfer, and a reinforced telescoping region for more reliable performance and reduced peri-procedural catheter failure and breakage. " ...

Volcano Corp. is a privately held medical device company founded in 2001. With over 475 worldwide employees, Volcano is dedicated to providing technologies leading to optimal management of coronary artery and peripheral vascular disease. Volcano products include Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS) systems and catheters, as well as physiology guide wires. With global distribution, Volcano is a leading provider of innovative therapy-enabling and therapy-guiding technologies to the interventional cardiology and peripheral vascular fields.

Second Generation RFID Solutions Partnership Drives Adoption ...

Second Generation RFID Solutions Partnership Drives Adoption: Via HP: HP and Philips to Drive Adoption of Second Generation RFID Solutions

... "HP and Royal Philips Electronics announced that they are partnering to accelerate the adoption of the latest global RFID standard, which is designed to provide customers with interoperable technology, solutions and services for migration from previous RFID standards. This new global EPC Class 1 Generation2 (Gen2) standard allows a single tag to now travel globally and still be read by most readers, something that wasn't previously possible. For example, most first-generation Class 1 RFID tags used in the United States cannot be read in Europe due to bandwidth limitations. Gen2 makes it possible to track a tag sent from the United States through Europe with ease. Having already successfully embraced RFID technology in their respective supply chains, both companies will leverage their complementary leadership in RFID chip development, business process design and systems integration to further drive adoption of Gen2 RFID technology. " ...

RFID NFC MIFare Module ...

RFID NFC MIFare Module: SYSCAN, ARYGON ANNOUNCE WORLD’S FIRST NFC/MIFARE CORE MODULE ...

NFC RFID technology introduced by partners Syscan Intl and Arygon ...

... "Syscan International Inc. and Arygon AG today announced the September launch of the world’s first NFC/Mifare® Core Module. Delivering convenient wireless connectivity, NFC’s intuitive operation will change the way people interact with technology, ensuring that they can make the most of their environment and reap the full benefits of total connectivity. The universally applicable Module is based on the latest Philips RFID technology and combines all the technical requirements for use in multiple market segments for traditional RFID-based applications. It supports both MIFARE® family (ISO 14443A) and Near Field Communication (NFC) based on ISO18092. " ...

Syscan is a unique supply chain solution provider delivering integrated real time tracking and tracing systems through radio frequency identification (RFID) that help to improve client’s results. Its standardized supply chain solutions include traceability, temperature monitoring and quality control methodologies for the food, pharmaceutical and health care sectors.

Arygon is an innovative German based RFID hard- and software component supplier with in-depth market experience supporting core applications such as access control, electronic payment, logistics, time management and e-ticketing. Next to those traditional RFID applications Arygon focuses on new means of RFID communication.

UHF RFID Product Family ...

UHF RFID Product Family: Consortium launches comprehensive UHF supply chain solutions ...

... "Intellident announce the launch of a range of high performance UHF RFID products for the supply chain, developed within a consortium of leading RFID technology vendors, including Philips Semiconductors, UPM Rafsec and Feig. The Consortium was led by Intellident, in partnership with rfiq solutions. " ...

Intellident are the UK's leading RFID solutions provider specialising in the design and supply of software driven asset tracking and recording systems, with over 8 million items already RFID-enabled. Combining the latest in RFID automatic data capture techniques and equipment with unique Vision software platform, Intellident provide powerful single-source solutions. This approach has resulted in Intellident's successful design, management and roll-out of the world's largest supply chain RFID implementation to date. With over 20 years experience in the design and integration of automatic data capture solutions Intellident's strategy is simple - to be the leading systems integrator of RFID technology. Intellident work in a range of diverse sectors, including supply chain logistics, library solutions, mobile asset tracking and barcode print supplies. Intellident is part of the LINPAC Group, a diversified packaging group with global turnover in excess of £1.4 billion and manufacturing facilities in five continents. LINPAC is the UK market leader in the production of returnable plastic materials handling products.

Accelerate EPC Generation2 RFID Deployment

Accelerate EPC Generation2 RFID Deployment: Philips and Texas Instruments join forces to accelerate EPC Generation 2 RFID deployment: Industry leaders team up to drive standardization and ensure worldwide interoperability of ultra-high-frequency Electronic Product Code RFID standard ...

... "Two of the leading radio frequency identification (RFID) semiconductor manufacturers, Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) and Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE: TXN), today announced an agreement to cooperate on conformance testing for the technical interpretation of the EPCglobal Inc Electronic Product Code (EPC) Generation (Gen) 2 RFID standard. This joint effort is aimed at ensuring interoperability and accelerating market deployment of Gen 2 products, such as labels, hardware and system solutions, to offer multiple sourcing for implementations of RFID throughout the world. The EPC Gen 2 standard, currently in the process of standardization by the International Standards Organization (ISO)/International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) for global adoption, is the newest and most advanced of the RFID specifications for the ultra-high frequency (UHF) band centered around 900 MHz. " ...

Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is one of the world’s biggest electronics companies and Europe’s largest, with sales of EUR 30.3 billion in 2004. With activities in the three interlocking domains of healthcare, lifestyle and technology and 160,900 employees in more than 60 countries, it has market leadership positions in medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring, color television sets, electric shavers, lighting and silicon system solutions.

Texas Instruments is the world’s largest integrated manufacturer of radio frequency identification (RFID) transponders and reader systems. Capitalizing on its competencies in high-volume semiconductor manufacturing and microelectronics packaging, TI is a visionary leader and at the forefront of establishing new markets and international standards for RFID applications.

Metro RFID Congress: Gen2 RFID Compliance

Metro RFID Congress: Gen2 RFID Compliance: SAMSys showcasing Gen 2 RFID readers at the Metro Group RFID Congress ...

At Metro RFID Congress in Germany, SamSys demonstrates its latest Gen2-compliant RFID readers ...

... "SAMSys Technologies Inc. (SMY: TSX), an international provider of Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) hardware solutions, will be showcasing its new Gen 2 ready RFID readers at the Metro Group RFID Congress in Cologne, Germany on June 8-9. These readers are the first of its products capable of reading tags that conform to the new EPC Generation Two (Gen 2) standard. The MP9320 v2.8 reader is the latest addition to the SAMSys family of multi-protocol, multi-regional, RFID readers that, in addition to Gen 2, supports the full array of legacy UHF protocols; e.g., EPC Class 0 and 0+; EPC Class 1, ISO 18000-6A, ISO 18000-6B, Philips UCODE 1.19, EM 4222 and Intellitag. Adding support for the EPC Gen 2 tag protocol represents the next step in the migration path to the emerging global standard tag protocol; and in the ability to support this new standard alongside existing legacy installations. The MP9320 reader has already been endorsed by many current adopters of RFID technology such as the U.S. Dept. of Defense (DoD), and other major retailers and consumer packaged goods companies. " ...

SAMSys Technologies Inc. (SAMSys), founded in 1995, is a world-leading provider of radio frequency identification (RFID) hardware solutions and RFID integration consulting services designed to evaluate and recommend optimal RFID solutions to enhance existing business process. SAMSys offers a family of products to simplify the installation and ensure the ongoing performance of the overall RFID hardware infrastructure. SAMSys is a public company whose shares are listed for trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol: “SMY”. The Company has a total of 47.8 million shares outstanding.

RFID Intellectual Property IP License

RFID Intellectual Property IP: SAMSys Joins Intermec RFID Rapid Start Licensing Program ...

Intermec intellectual property (IP) gets licensed by SamSys ...

... "SAMSys Technologies Inc. (TSX:SMY), of Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada, has joined Intermec Technologies Corp.'s Rapid Start RFID intellectual property licensing program, the companies announced today. The 90-day Rapid Start Licensing Program, which opens today, provides SAMSys full access to one of four RFID IP portfolios, the Fixed RFID Reader and Fixed RFID Printer Portfolio. The agreement allows SAMSys to manufacture products with the RFID capabilities and functionality that today's end-users require. SAMSys joins Intermec RFID licensees Philips Semiconductor BV, Sharp Corp., Sensormatic and TransCore. " ...

SAMSys, founded in 1995, is a world-leading provider of RFID hardware systems, designing and manufacturing a wide range of RFID readers that support a broad array of tag protocols and frequencies. SAMSys also offers RFID consulting services for companies contemplating the introduction of RFID into their operations. In addition to producing RFID reader hardware, SAMSys offers a family of products to simplify the installation and integration of application solutions and ensure the ongoing performance of the overall RFID hardware infrastructure.

Interoperable RFID Gen2 Demonstration: Europe ...

METRO Group, Intermec Demonstrate Interoperable Generation 2 RFID System at ECR Europe ...

RFID Gen2 System demonstrated by Metro and Intermec ...

... "The METRO Group and Intermec Technologies Corp. recently demonstrated an interoperable EPC Generation 2 RFID (radio frequency identification) system at the 2005 ECR Europe Conference and Marketplace. During the demonstration, Gen 2 smart labels with Gen 2 chips from Impinj and Royal Philips Electronics were read by an Intermec Intellitag IF5 reader, the first known demonstration of a true Gen 2 interoperable system. During a keynote presentation, an RFID-tagged pallet of RFID-tagged cases was pushed through a portal, simulating a typical supply chain application. " ...

Intermec Technologies Corp., a UNOVA Inc. (NYSE:UNA) company, develops, manufactures and integrates technologies that identify, track and manage supply chain assets. Core technologies include Intellitag® RFID, mobile computing systems, bar code printers and label media. The company's products and services are used by customers in many industries worldwide to improve the productivity, quality and responsiveness of business operations.

The METRO Group is the world's third-largest wholesaling and retailing group. With its powerful brands, the METRO Group operates successfully in 30 different countries around the world – at almost 2,300 locations with more than 250,000 employees. The METRO Group's six sales divisions operate independently on the market with their own specific sales concepts: Metro/Makro Cash & Carry – the world's market leader in self-service wholesaling, Real hypermarkets, Extra supermarkets, Media Markt and Saturn – the leading consumer electronics centers in Europe, Praktiker home improvement and DIY centers, and the department stores of Galeria Kaufhof.

RFID Printing Platform Ugraded ...

Printronix upgrades RFID printing platform ...

... The SL5000r MP RFID printer family employs Printronix's recognized RFID Smart(TM) encoding technology, based on the AWID reader module. It is compatible with EPCglobal Gen 2 and delivers RFID solutions that address a range of applications requiring EPCglobal Class 0, 0+, 1 and Philips 1.19 standards. EPCglobal Gen 2 will be upgradeable via free firmware updates, and field kits also allow for global frequency changes, providing RFID encoding flexibility around the world. These printers also enable encoding and printing of various label sizes and inlay designs that have emerged as industry standards. Nested within the 5r's RFID Smart encoding technology is the new Intelligent Media Detection feature, providing advanced notification and remote alerts if a non-RFID job is sent to a printer containing RFID labels. This saves customers from the costly mistake of wasting expensive RFID labels on a standard barcode print job. ...

Since 1974, Printronix Inc. (Nasdaq: PTNX) has created innovative printing solutions for the industrial marketplace and supply chain. The company is the worldwide market leader in enterprise solutions for line matrix printing and has earned an outstanding reputation for its high-performance thermal and fanfold laser printing solutions. Printronix also has become an established leader in pioneering technologies, including radio frequency identification (RFID) printing, barcode compliance and networked printer management. Printronix is headquartered in Irvine, Calif.