SkyeTek Announces World's Smallest RFID Reader
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.
About SkyeTek
SkyeTek develops and manufactures the most flexible, easily embedded and low-cost advanced radio frequency identification (RFID) read/write modules for OEMs, VARs and Systems Integrators to meet the demands of emerging RFID markets worldwide. The SkyeRead™ family of RFID reader modules includes one-inch square models, mini modules and encrypted-data models complete with development kits and a wide range of software interfaces to enable fast-starts for developers. SkyeTek supports a full range of ISO, EPC and industry standard RFID tags and smart labels. Based in Boulder, Colorado, SkyeTek markets high-volume licensing and private-label options directly to OEM customers in a variety of verticals, as well as through a network of distributors, value-added-resellers (VARs) and system integrators. For more information, please go to www.skyetek.com.
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.