RFID has been widely used in product tracking applications. The requirements for RFID modules are different due to various application fields. This text will introduce different RFI requirements for various application fields and the RFID solution provided by Murata for you.
RFID with various specifications satisfies different application requirements
Along with year-by-year reduction of the unit cost of RFID tag, the market reception of RFID increases gradually. For different requirements of various application fields, the manufacturers have launched RFID solutions with various specifications and characteristics, such as RFID tag affixed on metal which is ultra-thin or super-small, the tag directly pasted on circuit board and the tag that can be washed.
RFID has become the essential instrument in fashion/retail industry because the development of RFID technology helps these industries effectively collect data in each phase of the production cycle. In addition, it can fulfill the management work of thief-proof, account settling and storage in the process of product distribution. RFID is not only an instrument for reducing cost, but a powerful weapon for creating value-added services/products.
What’s more, the health care industry is also the best application field of RFID. Simple and effective system provided by RFID technology can manage equipment, patient, staff and medicine, which makes doctors more focused on preventing medical error and further improving patient nursing. An RFID system adopted by the manufacturing industry can achieve paper-free and effective management for products and assets, which can reduce manpower and time costs for management. In addition, it can manage and visualize the flow condition of operators, products and assets.
As an outstanding supplier of RFID equipment/system for a long time, Murata has deep understanding for wireless communication. Depending on these professional experiences and knowledge, as well as wide services like providing hardware and software development and system integration etc., it can provide various solutions for customers’ business problems.
LXMS Magicstrap® RFID module launched by Murata provides UHF and HF devices for widespread applications. The UHF RFID module can fit a circuit board, which is an ideal solution for product tracking application. These Murata UHF RFID modules use the traces of circuit board as an antenna to transmit signals. When UHF RFID modules fit the circuit board, the information can be stored and retrieved in Magicstrap® device and can be accessed by any UHF reader-writer compatible with EPC Global Gen2 / ISO 18000-6C.
UHF band’s RFID of Murata is the RFID tag and RFID reader-writer to conduct short distance wireless communication in UHF band (860~960MHz). This kind of RFID can read multiple tags at a time over long distances. Therefore, it can be used in various applications like inventory control, inspection work and logistic tracking etc.
Murata provides super-small RFID tags in the world, which can be installed in small objects like glasses, embellishments and test vials etc., as well as conduct anti-fake and traceability management for small size products. The product models include LXMS21NCNH-147 and LXMSJZNCMF-198, which have already integrated antennae and can be operated in a frequency band of 865-928MHz with the reading distance of 10mm (500mW reader).
For electronic equipment management applications, Murata has launched LXMS21ACMF-183 and LXMS21ACNP-184, which are the RFID tags that can be solder mount on the printed circuit board. Murata provides the recommended land pattern, which can use GND plane of the circuit board as the antenna of RFID tag and operate in a frequency band of 865-928MHZ with the reading distance of 9m and 7m (4W EIRP).
In the aspect of garment management applications, Murata has launched LXMSANAA19-181(902-928MHz) and LXMSANAA18-182(865-868MHz), which are thin and soft RFID tags that can be stitched onto clothing, washed directly and combined with the antenna with the reading distance of 2m (4W EIRP). In addition, Murata has also launched RFID tags suitable for pasting on books and packing cases in the form of labels, which can read and manage goods and materials through long-distance communication.
Murata has also launched low power consumption and small size reader modules. This kind of small size and low cost reader modules adopt 250 mW output power. Without the need of a radio license, customers can install the necessary devices on a circuit board uniformly. Thus, it can be easily installed on customers’ devices which have passed FCC/IC/ETSI/TELEC technical standard certification and accorded with RoHS environmental protection requirements. In addition, Murata also provides LXRFZZUCCA-036/037 RFID near field antenna, which is suitable for reading Murata micro tags, uses electromagnetic field for short distance communication, adopts short distance antenna and supports SMA connection (reversed polarity).
Murata has also promoted RFID tags and RFID readers for short distance wireless communications in the HF band (13.56MHz). RFID in the HF band is widely used to pay for non-contact IC cards such as public transport organizations and supermarkets etc. In addition, it can be easily imported due to its ability of reading tags on smart phones.
HF RFID tags are mainly used in small product management, which are super small RFID tags. Due to the reason that they can be embedded in the resin, it is able to be installed in very small spaces such as test vials, pens and toys etc. The products include LXMS33HCNG-134, LXMS33HCNK-171, LXMS33HCNL-167, LXMSAPHA08-136 and LXMSAPHA17-176, which operate in the frequency band of 13.56MHZ and support the reading distance from 15mm to 42mm (200mW reader).
In order to assist customers to better assess the import of RFID, Murata provides starter kits (evaluation kits) for customers, including reader modules, reader antennas, evaluation software and USB interface. Through USB connection module and the use of PC, it can conduct RFID reading and writing work verification simply and rapidly, which is suitable for the evaluation kits of inexperienced RFID operators. It can also download additional evaluation software from the Murata official website and supports two types of antennae including long and short distance ones.