Rugged components expand the field of application for RFID technology

With new products, the Siemens Industry Automation Division is strengthening its RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) product portfolio in the UHF (Ultra High Frequency) frequency range. The newly introduced products include antennas, a mobile reader, and extremely heat-resistant, compact data carriers in the Smart Label format. RFID systems that operate in the UHF range are successfully used in logistics, material handling and more and more in production due to their range of several meters. Their use provides transparency and therefore allows many processes in a company to be optimized. With extremely rugged components, Siemens contributes to the further spread of RFID technology in both proven and new application areas.

Two compact UHF antennas complete the comprehensive RFID product portfolio. The Simatic RF640A antenna with dimensions of 185 x 185 x 45 mm operates using circular polarization, whereas the RF642A model with the same dimensions uses linear polarization. Depending on the reader that is used, the range of the antennas can be up to four meters. Both antennas meet the high requirements of degree of protection IP67 and are designed for operating temperatures ranging from -25 to +75 degrees Celsius. Thus they are suitable for indoor and outdoor applications.

Another innovation is the Simatic RF680M mobile RFID reader. The reader includes a color display with VGA resolution (640x480 pixels) and an ergonomic keypad. The user benefits from the improved readability and can operate the device with only one hand due to the modified arrangement of the keys. Furthermore, the transmit power of the RFID module has been increased to 500 mW ERP (milliwatt; Effective Radiated Power), the CPU performance has been increased to 624 MHz, and the memory has been expanded to 1 GB Flash and 256 MB RAM in comparison to the predecessor model. The pre-installed RF600 software provides service and test functions for reading and writing on data carriers and Smart Labels. Recorded data can be saved and clearly arranged in file structures. An API library (Application Programming Interface) is also included. With these programming interfaces, the customer can create his own RFID applications for the mobile reader. Since RF680M uses the standard Windows CE operating system, the device can easily be integrated into existing IT networks and process infrastructures. With the high degree of protection IP65, the new reader is suitable for use in particularly harsh industrial environments such as production logistics or warehouse management.

In the field of RFID data carriers, Siemens is introducing the heat-resistant Simatic RF680L Smart Label. It can tolerate one hour at temperatures of up to 220 degrees Celsius or six hours at temperatures of up to 200 degrees Celsius and is therefore suitable for demanding industrial applications such as painting lines and other high-temperature applications. With the new Smart Label, the products can be permanently identified and tracked throughout the entire value creation chain in material handling, production, and logistics. The high memory capacity expands the application area of RF680L even more. The data carrier provides a memory capacity of 240 bits for the EPC (Electronic Product Code) and a further 512 bits for user data.

Siemens has been developing RFID systems for production and logistics for the last 25 years and is the market leader in Europe with more than 300,000 RFID read/write devices installed. The company provides optimized wireless data carriers along with the required software for various sectors and a wide variety of purposes - from RFID middleware to application software.