Innovision R&T launches world's smallest, lowest-cost RFID reader

The world's smallest and lowest-cost 13.56MHz RFID reader has been developed by Innovision Research & Technology plc, the RFID specialist. The RFID reader module, known as io(TM), is expected to have a unit cost one-tenth of existing readers and will extend the potential of RFID into completely new areas including consumer, healthcare, transport and logistics products.

Radio frequency identification (RFID) readers allow devices to wirelessly interrogate and write to minute data "tags" that can be embedded into any device, triggering the immediate transfer of digitised information.

RFID-enabled devices can contain information such as what they are, where they have been or even where they are intended to go.

Smaller than a US dime, io features an onboard RISC processor, making it ideal for small-footprint devices. Combined with its low power consumption and intelligent power management, io is especially suited for small, battery-powered handheld devices.

"The io reader's small size, low cost and future-proofing for the emerging Near Field Communications (NFC) standards opens up the possibility of RFID applications in completely new areas" ,said Rob Kitchen, Head of Innovision R&T's Consumer Sector Division. "We expect that the new reader will promote the growth of RFID technology in applications such as healthcare and consumer goods, where the size, power consumption and cost of readers have previously been prohibitive."

Kitchen continued: "The io reader has been designed to enable the next generation of RFID applications. For example, by passing an io-enabled handheld reader over an RFID tag embedded in pharmaceutical packaging, you could automatically read information relating to dosage, expiry date and manufacturing batch."

Marc Borrett, Managing Director of Innovision R&T, explained: "This highly cost-effective innovation forms part of Innovision R&T's strategy to develop leading-edge, high-volume, ultra-low-cost RFID tags and readers for the consumer, healthcare, transport and logistics markets. Our route to market with the io reader is through licensing agreements with original device manufacturers and application developers from whom we anticipate great interest."

The io RFID module reads and writes to industry-standard 13.56MHz RFID tags and smart labels. Consuming very little power and optimised for a 2.8V battery operation, io is ISO compliant and future-proofed to allow rapid integration of the forthcoming NFC standard. It can, therefore, be used to read Innovision R&T's Jewel(TM) RFID tag (which has recently been released for use in mass transit ticketing applications) as well as Philips Mifare Ultralight tags.

Innovision R&T will be working with licensed partners who wish to incorporate the io design blocks into their own products' silicon or who wish to manufacture and sell the packaged IC.