Hybrid Tag (UHF & NFC) is ideal for Product ID in Consumer Products

In the past, general consumers always feel indifferent about RFID system for consumer products because they are not benefited from any of this IT investment on this from the brand owner.

It is because the RFID system that commonly used for logistics and industrial environment are UHF (ultra high frequency, which features a long range and multiple tag reading capability in RFID technologies)  which is also restricted by regional RF-regulation (check here) and highly dependent on infrastructures; it requires a proper industrial reader with a specific program to read.

(Photo shows the RFID price tag which will no longer be useful after leaving the shop)

Besides, there are many systems established for the logistics between suppliers, brand owner, warehouse, 3rfd Party Logistics (3PLs), retail shops. One single system that can connect all these 5 parties can be a solution but it is very expensive and required a lot of support and training.

Above problems can easily be fixed by NFC, which store websites easily accessible with the use of an NFC-enabled android smartphone without any app. Industrial NFC readers are generally much cheaper than UHF counterpart as well.

Now the rise of UHF & NFC hybrid tag opens a whole new opportunity for brand-owner to reconsider how they can connect with suppliers and interact with the general customers, instead of using 2 separate labels, now with the use of ONE single label, the product data is now accessible by consumer and all parties of the supply chain. 

The hybrid label is a standard ISO18000-6C UHF label and it is also a NFC-forum type II tag, which is recognizable by any NFC smartphone.

Hybrid Tag (UHF & NFC) is ideal for Product ID in Consumer Products. It provides more engagement with end-users.

Case A
A luxurious mechanical wristwatch brand can now have a multi-purpose warranty card that
i) readable by NFC smartphone for warranty and product registration; and
ii) readable by retail shop desktop interactive mirror with plays marketing video if the warranty card with 1m reading range to the UHF reader device.

Case B
A famous brand liquor can now have bottle label that using NFC for anti-counterfeit and UHF for production.

Case C
A professional camping tent brand can make use of the NFC to interact with the consumer and instruct the users step by step how to setup and get the tent back to the bag. And the same tag is also being used as product ID which associates with the model number in the manufacturing.

Case D
A luxurious ladies fashions and hang-bags brand can use the hybrid label for its raw materials logistics to control their trademarked leather material stock control. Their international supplier can all use easy-access NFC for data input, whilst the brand owners warehouse can use UHF for bulk scanning for better effectiveness.

Case E
Baggage tag ID can now be detectable in their conveyor belt to x-ray. It is also accessible through NFC smartphone for pictures upload and boarding information updates by the operators.

For more information, please check the ProductoID solution page; Q&A about Dual Frequency label

Hybrid RFID Tag fights Baggage Loss in Cruise-line Business (Business case sharing)

"The cruise ship has set sail, and I still haven't received my luggage." This complaint is the worst nightmare for any cruise ship hotel director. "It may take weeks or more to recover the lost luggage, or never." A hotel director of a luxury megaton cruise ship reported.

To find one lost-baggage may seem challenging enough. However, the embarkation is even more challenging; during each embarkation process, their staff has to load up to 6000 pieces of checked baggage on board and deliver them to the correct rooms within just 2 hours, all taking place behind the sight of the boarding passengers.

How to deliver passenger's the "checked-luggage" into the correct cabin (100% correct with zero lost) during a short-embarkation time? It is a big question which troubles all cruise lines.

A cruise line in Hong Kong has recently made the best uses of NFC and UHF combined card (dual frequency tag), to keep track on all passenger's "checked-luggage" (the baggage to-be-delivered to rooms by porters and cruise staffs).

During the embarkation, all luggage will be attached with a dual-frequency tag on, with a listing of the guest's name and cabin room number using re-writable ink.

Hundreds of UHF RFID readers and thousands of IP cameras has been installed on the ceiling on board to monitor the whole process of baggage delivery starting from port-side check-in, loading on a trolley, boarding by staff, and individual delivery to the cabin, to prevent any loss of baggage.

(Photo shows Luggage pictures are captured by smartphone app and stored in the system.)

Dual-frequency tags provide the best mix of equipment on the ship. Stationary RFID readers use UHF (ultra high frequency) for long range reading, they are strategically positioned inside the cruise ship, such as shell door luggage lobbies, halls, aisles/passageway and lift lobbies; sensitive enough to capture the passage of any tagged luggage.


On the other hand, HF (high frequency, NFC is one of the HF) is used in check-in and staff's delivery confirmation because HF/NFC is a very common feature on staff's handheld terminals. These staff's multi-function handheld terminals are always installed with numerous apps for other business flow such as voice-com, tasks-assignment or reporting, which would be very expensive and bulky to equip UHF features.

All baggage-delivery staff will use HF mobile android handheld for 1-to-1 baggage scanning, and also record the room number after they have delivered them, simply by tapping the handheld on the door tag. The baggage's image is also recorded in the system, just in case.

In case there are lost-baggage reported, this baggage tracking system will tell the baggage location whether it is on the ship or still on the port. It is very common due to the overloaded x-ray machines or detained by security, and the passengers on board weren't notified.

The system owner has soon found this system really does pay off by reduced luggage lost and late departure penalty from the port;  It also rebuilds the confidence of passenger to use checked-luggage service; Faster embarkation does boost the income from other entertainment business on board. And finally, the improved cruise line brand image is also invaluable.

The comprehensive UHF RFID reader system installed on board will further extend their functions to the SCM (supply chain management) in cargo loading, hotel-asset tracking such as uniform or linen tracking (prevent the loss of hotel towels) and personnel location tracking, etc.

For any inquiry, please send email to sales@hk-rfid.com

www.hk-rfid.com

Hussar Card Tag is used for School Attendance in Singapore (Business Case Sharing)

A primary school in Singapore has recently implanted our RFID technology to the campus management of student attendance. 

With this new generation campus management system, the school has no longer needed to manually track and manage student attendance. They can now easily capture the time and attendance for classes and school automatically with the ability to access attendance history on the computer or through other smart devices.

This RFID campus management system mainly consists three parts.

1. RFID readers and antennas are installed at the pedestrian entry gates to detect the direction of student’s movement with accurate time record. 
2. Every student will be given an RFID-enabled student card. The card will be detected when the student passes through the entry gate. 
3. The system is backed up by a customized software which storing all student general information and attendance information.

Parents are also benefited from the use of this system. Notification about the location of student can be automatically sent to their parent through a mobile app. The daily attendance record is also available in the app for better and convenient tracking.

RFID reader and antenna installed at the ceiling of the entry gate.

Screen capture of Mobile App

Screen capture of web-based campus management system

Hardware for reference: Hussar Card Tag (HKRAT-CT02), Hussar Slim Tag (HKRAT-NT02), Empress EM02 ethernet reader, Empress EM02 Handheld android mobile, directional 2.4GHz antenna


For details, please contact sales@hk-rfid.com

Pipe tracking using Passive RFID

Water Pipe is a highly concerned issue in HK recently for material safety issues. Pipe tracking is also very highly concerned in fuel and power delivery . To ensure or even enhance pipeline safety, a good tracking, recording system is required. Auto-ID system can provide a faster data retrieval  when comparing to visual methods, which data and drawing of the pipeline are hard to obtain or hard to understand. 

With RFID, Information of the pipeline network can be all stored in tiny tags that are easy and convenient to read or write by RFID reader. 

Such as below:

A tiny RFID tag with an industrial ring that can firmly hold on any rod-shape object

A tiny RFID tag with an industrial ring that can firmly hold on water PVC pipeline

RFID system can be applied throughout different processes includes sampling, construction, 

installation and usage stage and possibly provide functions like pipeline tagging, direction tracking, material record and worker maintenance record.......

If you are interested in applying RFID system in your pipeline network, there are few concerns you need to think it through:

1.  Installation method, in-situ or pre-tagged? 

2.  Weather proof of tag? how about explosion-proof?

3.  Any reading range concerns?

4.  The readers and the web-data to back up this system

More information be found in this link.

Feel free to contact us by email: info@hk-rfid.com

MODBUS supported now: Empress 2.4GHz Reader (PN:HKRAR-EM02) now supports MODBUS as extended firmware feature

Empress Reader is now supporting MODBUS by acting as agent to respond to Master’s command. All Temperature/humidity wireless sensors (TT02 or HT02) can now act as Slave, reporting to the reader, who then respond to MODBUS’s enquiry (Master). The machine addresses specification will be available in technical document soon.

This is one of the commonly-requested features in environment monitoring and control applications. Modbus is commonly used in PLCs (programmable logic controllers) for industrial applications for many years. 

Please go visit our website for more detail about environmental monitoring.

Keep in mind;

-          Max 100 devices (Slave) is supported

-          This is a requested feature, and not a BUILT-IN feature in ordinary firmware YET. Please specify before placing orders.

-          Firmware upgrade method will be provided, for distributor’s stock items.

-          Readers are serial port, RS232; For RS485 users, a simple converter can be provided.

-          Readers are powered by 5V 2A DC, instead of 12V.

Tiny-NFC label Challenge

Size does matter, in NFC's world, larger label size  is critical for small items, even more important then large memory size.


However, small size also makes it hard to scan, especially when you have no clue where to scan on your mobile device...Good NFC scanning experience is most important. So, I will demostrate several types of tiny NFC tag and provide some hints reading them.These tiny tags are quite useful to apply on small objects, such as tools and jewellery brands / hang tags or items.

Apps-in-a-Box : Raspberry Pi x RFID [Beta] [Lab]

We are so excited to introduce you all an innovative approach to use RFID reader products, by connecting Raspberry Pi to RFID readers. We are developing a tentative project named: IMPRESS platform, which is a web-service on Raspberry Pi, talking with Empress RFID readers, and others.

The basic idea is running your applications on Raspberry Pi just like any PC, and let it control a or multiple brainless RFID readers. We offer a web-interface just like household WiFi router for reader settings, as well as basic business applications.

If you are not sure what Raspberry Pi is, please visit following reference link; What is Raspberry Pi?

Video is on the way, but first please read the details explained in Q&A manner; 

Q: Why connect Raspberry Pi to RFID readers?

A: By doing so, you can have

• much cheaper "self-maintained mini-computer" (less than USD 40) that talks with your RFID readers, without any skill-set to handle RFID's protocol and calling APIs, etc.
• a website to configure the readers and do a lot more business applications;
• a lot more choices on connectivity, such as, LAN, WiFi, Bluetooth, USB, SD-Card, Video ouput HDMI, etc.; instead of ordering expensive RFID reader options. 

Q: What can Raspberry Pi do with the data get from RFID readers?

A: Raspberry Pi can 

1) Auto record and deliver to server, send email 

2) Send email or trigger outputs, alarms or camera, etc

3) Process more logic such as record the first/last seen ID, their time and duration, and missing IDs

4) Mapping meaningless long ID with more meaningful names, such as student names, employee names, etc., may be export a report.

Q: What kind of readers will be support?

A: Our IMPRESS-Preloaded Raspberry Pi will support

1. Empress 2.4GHz Active RFID readers from HK-RFID [primarily]
2. Bluetooth Low Energy (iBeacon) readers
3. NFC readers
4. Other client requested RFID equipment

Q: What kind of applications or services will offer on this IMPRESS web platform?

A: Apart from basic setting of readers, we will offer several most popular RFID applications, depends on the license purchased from users

1. Attendance
2. Prohibited zone (access control)
3. Signage or media-content trigger
4. EAS anti-theft
5. Sensor data
6. Inventory list

Q: How to make it work?

A: You just need to 

1. Purchase the IMPRESS-SDK kit which include a Raspberry Pi and a Empress 2.4GHz Active RFID-kit from HK-RFID, 
2. Enjoy the unboxing, connect up Raspberry Pi with any HDMI display and reader, configure the network settings on a browser
3. Set your business applications and there you go

Q: How many readers each Raspberry Pi can support?

A: ONE

Q: When will it be available?

A: 2014 Fall, please contact us if you want to follow our development progress or Pre-order. We welcome any comment and partnership, or proposal of co-development.

Email:

General Enquiries:         info@hk-rfid.com

Raspberry Pi is a trademark of the Raspberry Pi Foundation

Asset Tracking Management System (ATMS), leveraged in MTR

Have you ever thought of the SIMPLEST way to keep track of every component and spare part EFFECTIVELY and EFFICIENTLY?

You may ask...

Could it be ECONOMICALLY attained WITHOUT SINGLE HUMAN ERROR?

Given that an increasing need of a large scale of asset tracking will magnify in the near future, we specifically designed an Asset Tracking Management System (ATMS), which is user-friendly, accurate and reliable for enterprise to manage their asset effectively, efficiently and economically without single human error!

This ATMS helps worker to record the check-in/check-out time for bulky spare parts to which unfriendly barcode labels are no longer useful. The Low-Power Active RFID tags runs on a coin batteries lasting for 3 years, and beacons every second to report their ID to the Empress system networks. A few readers can easily cover large workshop.

From an applied perspective, MTR thoroughly utilized ATMS to streamline the process of asset tracking with high operational efficiency.

We made these be the history:

X  Complicated procedure & red tape

X  Manually track asset 

X  Human Error

X  High installation cost

(*ATMS is empowered by EMPRESS 2.4Ghz RFID system)

[Case Study - ATMS in MTR.pdf]

For any enquiry, please contact HK-RFID sales representative.

Or visit our website for more product information.

www.hk-rfid.com  |  www.active-rfid.net

Environment Monitoring in Data Centers

How do you monitor temperatures in your data centers currently? Is it useful and cost-effective? Probably no due to high measuring costs and efforts or inaccurate data. We have a much better solution for you. Read our newly published Data Center Case Study and you will find the answer!

For most companies, turning the air-conditioners to the lowest possible temperature every day and manual monitoring seems to be a feasible way to combat the temperature monitoring challenges brought by increasing processor speed and server rack density. However, such solution risks facility reliability and increases overall costs. 

The Tempcorder™ tags - Sense Tag and Moist Tag, possess accurate digital sensors, ensuring temperature and humidity data are measured reliably and automatically. Upon simple installation process of RFID readers and PC with the tags, any changes could be detected and notified for timely adjustments or preventive actions.  

With this automatic temperature monitoring system, human errors in measurement as well as wasted energy in cooling system could be greatly saved to lower costs. Better environment management could be achieved at the most cost-effective way now. 

Download and read the publication here for more details:

For inquiries, please contact our sales representatives:
sales@hk-rfid.com

You can also visit our website and Facebook page to explore more:

www.hk-rfid.com
www.active-rfid.net

www.facebook.com/hkrfid

Comparison between Active and Passive RFID

Curious on the differences between active and passive RFID? How much do you know about the difference between their characteristics and functionalities? Watch the comparison video that demonstrates the differences between active and passive tag in various real-life applications on our YouTube channel to find out the answer now!

RFID products are mainly divided into two categories: Active and Passive. Though they both adopt RFID technology, their functionalities are completely different and have distinct characteristics and capabilities. The most obvious difference is that active RFID tags have their own power source allowing the tag to continuously send signals to the reader, whereas passive RFID tags have to rely on the RF energy sent from the reader to give a signal. With this distinctive difference, active RFID products can be applied to wider range of applications and more convenience can be provided to users.

Tracking can only be performed by active tag because only active tags can actively send out signals periodically to the reader at a longer distance. Passive tags are required to be tapped against the reader for reading which could not possibly facilitate tracking functions. Digital sensors can be added to active tags to perform environmental control, such as monitoring the temperature and relative humidity of server rooms. Passive tags which are only a simple, flat circuit could not accommodate such sophisticated feature.

In some applications, both active and passive tags can perform the task, but active tags can perform the task in a better way. For example, in access control and customer relationship management, passive tag users have to take out the tag for the reader read, while active tag users can skip this process as the reading distance for active tags is much longer and reading of tags is not affected by water and metal.

For inquiries, please contact our sales representatives:

sales@hk-rfid.com

You can also visit our website and Facebook page to explore more:

www.hk-rfid.com

www.active-rfid.net

www.facebook.com/hkrfid

Applications of Active RFID Tags and Readers

Being one of the leading RFID companies in Hong Kong, Hong Kong RFID Ltd. (HK-RFID) has developed numerous influential RFID products in the past years. We are delighted to announce a new publication that summarizes and showcases the active RFID solutions and applications that have been widely adopted among different industries with the help of products from HK-RFID.

Included in the publication are the introductions, operation flows and unique benefits of different applications with the three HK-RFID active tag series:

1)      Hussar^TM Active Tags – Specially designed for people management, the tag series provides excellent reading range and reliability for applications involving tagging of people, such as people tracking and customer relationship management.

2)      Garrison^TM Active Tags – The tag series is reliable and durable for a wide variety of applications to enhance operation flow and efficiency of asset management, such as advanced asset management and equipment/tools tracking. Its rugged features allows it to perform accurately even in harsh environment like industrial sites.

3)      Tempcorder^TM Active Tags – Aims to overcome the inability of existing sensing tags in measuring temperatures and humidity, the tag series is carefully designed and manufactured with special materials to provide accuracy and timeliness in environment control as well as hazard prevention applications.

Please download publication here:

http://www.hk-rfid.com/home/Applications%20Booklet%20for%20Empress%20Active%20RFID%20Equipment.pdf

For inquiries, please contact our sales representatives:
sales@hk-rfid.com

You can also visit our website and Facebook page to explore more:

www.hk-rfid.com
www.active-rfid.net
www.facebook.com/hkrfid

Comparison of HKRAT Active RFID Tags

Having difficulties in choosing the right RFID products that best suit your business needs? The new comparison table will definitely help!

Providing users the most ideal RFID solution as well as fulfilling the diverse needs for different industries, HK-RFID has been continuously developing innovative and reliable active RFID tags in the HKRAT series over the years. To compare the various types of tag easily and conveniently at a glance and find out the most suitable active RFID product for any specific uses, a new comparison table on the 2.4 GHz active RFID tag series is available now.

There are 3 categories of active RFID tag series, namely the Hussar^TM, Garrison^TM and Tempcorder^TM, for comparison. Apart from the common powerful RFID functionalities shown, the table summarizes and specifies the different dimensions and the unique features of each model of tags.

Download tag comparison document here:
http://www.hk-rfid.com/home/Empress%20Active%20RFID%20Tag%20Comparison%20Table.pdf

For inquiries, please contact our sales representatives:
sales@hk-rfid.com

You can also visit our website and Facebook page to explore more:

www.hk-rfid.com
www.active-rfid.net
www.facebook.com/hkrfid

DIY, Implant a NFC Chip into Your One-piece Pop Figure

This is a step-by-step guide instruction on how to implant a NFC Chip into small items such as figure model. Here we go, first please prepare:

1.      Your favorite figure model

2.      9mm diameter NFC Tag: HKRHT-J04

3.      Any mobilephone (in our case, Google Nexus S) with NFC, install an app called NFC Quick Action

STEP 1: Write the web-link into the NFC tag-J04. Make sure you turned on the NFC function in setup.

STEP 2: First open NFC Quick Action, and choose URL, type in the website. Put the tag behind the mobile phone back until you see the tag is written.

STEP 3: Stick the tag in your favorite spot using the self-adhesive behind the tag.

STEP 4: Now your figure can trigger a website on your mobile phone. You may try type in youtube link, or contact information as well.

Introduction about the 9mm diameter RFID (NFC) tag

The tag will use is a 9mm diameter RFID tag originally designed for small items such as mobile phone (rental applications) and jewelry. The small form factor of HKRHT-J04 make it easy for nearly all kind of items. Just keep in mind that this is not a mount-on-metal RFID tag, so please don't use it on metallic surface. Despite of its small size, it still can provide a 10-15mm reading range using Google Nexus S. This reading range is comparable to large size paper back RFID Tag.

HKRHT-J04 is a standard off-the shelf product and available in small volume purchase such as 50-100pcs per bag or bulk purchase. Please contact us for pricing information. 

This is a Touch & Link application in NFC market, in fact, there are numerous application to explore. NFC is a useful technology to LET THINGS TALK for itself through your mobile phone. If you want to design your NFC application and you need experts advice, please contact us. Our service also includes:

-          pre-write your information into the NFC chip

-          anti-counterfeit mobile application

-          customise NFC label

Please contact us for any sales enquiry.

Available in NFC-shop NOW.

Refer readings:

HK-RFID Website about NFC

Moist Tag and Extreme Tag Demonstration

The two new products launched in October, Moist Tag (PN:HKRAT-HT02) and Extreme Tag (PN: HKRAT-PT02), had undergone a series of tests in the Reliability Testing Laboratory to demonstrate their powerful sensing features.

Moist Tag

Moist Tag is a powerful active RFID tag equipped with a digital sensor providing accurate sensing of temperature and humidity.

In our demonstration, three Moist Tags are placed inside the chamber with changing temperature and humidity settings. An Empress™ Active Reader is connected to a PC next to the chamber. Instant data will be sensed by the Moist Tags and sent to the reader with the tag ID constantly. Data collected on the reader will be processed by the demo program installed in the computer.

Moist Tag is specially designed to be equipped with an accurate humidity sensor of up to 1% RH resolution and wireless functions. Humidity data will be sent to the reader that is connected to the central server periodically, which empowers accurate and timely data for strict environment control and monitoring applications.

Watch the video now:

Extreme Tag

Extreme Tag is a temperature sensing tag specifically designed to be equipped with an external probe to monitor temperatures ranging from -200℃ to +500℃ for environment control or hazard prevention at extreme surroundings. With a separation design for the tag, the tag can be placed at a stable and moderate temperature environment, while the probe can be attached to environment with extreme temperature.

In our demonstration, we placed the external probe of Extreme Tag inside the chamber with the changing temperature, while the body of the tag remains outside the chamber. The Empress™ Active Reader receives temperature data captured inside the chamber from the tags and such data will be processed by the demo program installed in the PC and presented in a line chart. The gradually changing curve reflects the condition inside the chamber accurately and timely.

Watch the videos now:

Please contact us for any sales enquiry.

http://www.active-rfid.net/