Innovision Research & Technology has unveiled a next-generation NFC/RFID (Near Field Communications/Radio Frequency identification) tag platform, offering up to 2Kb of memory. Innovision says this new IC platform will allow RFID and Near Field Communications (NFC) integrators to select the optimal tag for their application performance and price requirements. It is intended to meet demand for high volume, small size, lower cost RFID/NFC tags for integration into smart objects, providing a family of devices finely tuned to their specific application requirement.
With a product roadmap providing memories up to 2Kb already specified
by the NFC Forum, the platform is designed to offer maximum flexibility
to the smart object implementation NFC market.
The new platform offers faster read/write/test operation speeds that meet or exceed the data storage requirements for all anticipated non-payment NFC applications, including peer-to-peer connectivity, service initiation and Smart Posters. These larger memories will also allow developers to use digital signatures for more secure RFID/NFC applications, says Innovision.
Innovisions latest tag IC platform is also capable of providing on-chip capacitance up to 250pF (picofarad), in some cases to support miniature antenna designs, which enable the industrys smallest RFID/NFC tag form factors.
The platform is both backwards-compatible with the companys existing Jewel and Topaz RFID/NFC products, and forwards-compatible for new releases of consumer products meeting the NFC minimum level of interoperability (MLOI) specifications. First samples of product based on the platform are expected to be available in the second half of 2008.
Innovision says this latest release responds to feedback from current industry events and ongoing NFC projects such as the O2 consumer trial. In this trial, 500 existing O2 and Oyster customers are using NFC mobile phone handsets to read information embedded in Topaz 96Byte tags on Smart Posters and in a card wallet, to access information, special offers and other benefits throughout London. 96Bytes is the perfect amount of memory for storing URL and SMS requirements for todays applications, says Innovision.