Boulder, CO, January 14, 2004 - SkyeTek leading provider of advanced low-cost RFID reader technology, today announced it has developed the world’s smallest RFID reader. Measuring just 1 inch in diameter by 0.1 inch thin, the SkyeRead™ M1-mini (shown below) provides all the advanced features and performance of SkyeTek’s original SkyeRead M1, already the smallest, most powerful and cost-effective 13.56MHz multi-protocol RFID read/write module in the industry.
With ultra-low power consumption optimized for 1-cell battery operation, the SkyeRead™ M1-mini is ideal for rapid integration into handhelds, portable equipment and mobile computing solutions, in addition to space-limited designs of all types. Complete with on-board antenna and several host-interface options, this low-profile device reads/writes industry standard 13.56MHz RFID tags and smart labels including ISO15693, ISO14443, ISO18000, and EPC™. These include tags from Texas Instruments (Tag-It™), Philips (I-Code™ and Mifare™), Infineon (My-d™), ST Micro, Inside Contactless (PicoTag™), TagSys (GemWave™) and several others. Read distance is 6cm (~2.5 inch) with internal antenna, up to 13cm (~5 inch) with a simple external antenna.
"Not only does this new mini-reader fit anywhere, but we've provided a wireless host-interface option to enable next-generation RFID applications like wearable computing, wireless sensing, and wireless 'smart' appliances and peripherals," explained Sean Loving, SkyeTek founder. "The SkyeRead M1-mini was designed for connection to Crossbow's Mica2Dot. Now there's a bridge between RFID and Smart Dust technology."
Designed to mate directly with Crossbow Technology’s Mica2Dot, the SkyeRead™ M1-mini extends local RFID read/write capability to Crossbow’s wireless sensor network (smart dust) technology. “These first few whitepapers from Intel are good examples of how the combination of these two enabling technologies is literally paving the way toward a 21st century technology revolution of distributed, remote and ubiquitous computing capacities of scale,” concluded Mr. Loving.
The SkyeRead™ M1-mini is now available in prototype quantities with full production scheduled for March 1, 2004. For further details about application of this technology please go to:
http://seattleweb.intel-research.net/projects/guide/projects/iglove/RFIDglove.htm
http://www.intel-research.net/Publications/Seattle/103020031241_173.pdf
About RFID
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is an automatic identification technology similar to barcode. RFID tags or “smart labels” contain an embedded microchip plus antenna. “Smart labels” can be attached to nearly anything that needs to be tracked or identified. Advantages over barcode are that data can be written or updated into the memory of the RFID chip. Larger amounts of data can be stored and scanned. Reading and writing is done wirelessly at a distance using an RFID scanner. Multiple RFID tags can be scanned simultaneously. Security and encryption are also available.
About SkyeTek, Inc:
SkyeTek delivers stand-alone and embedded reader solutions that make RFID work easily, reliably, and economically for enterprises and OEMs. SkyeTek offers a complete line of both HF (High Frequency, 13.56 MHz) and UHF (Ultra High Frequency, 860 - 960 MHz) readers that can be used in a multitude of unique applications. Contact Sales today to see how we can make RFID work for your application. SkyeTek is a privately held, venture-backed company headquartered in Denver, Colorado, with sales operations in North America, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.skyetek.com.