New 2.4GHz RFID Active Locator / Reader launched (Wireless Version)

Excellent Performance for Different Applications

Passive RFID (battery-less) is very popular in logistics for its low cost, however, it is subjective to too many contraints such as liquid and metal environment. Usually passive RFID system requires careful trial testing and tuning, in situations where items are more valuable that you cannot afford missing; and the items maybe not so RF friendly (liquid and metal); plus you want to have a more automated and flexible system; then an Active RFID system should be considered. 

The latest Active RFID system, HKRAR-LX series, consists of a 2.4GHz reader and different types of transponders which actively transmit signals. It have excellent anti-collision ability which scans 80-100 tags per second. Without connecting to network, it can store up to 800 tags information before network is back. The HKRAR-LX series have ability of high speed identification, tracking objects which are moving at speed up to 200km/h. Even the objects are heavy metallic or liquid, the powered RFID tag can transmit the ID back to system effectively. The battery life of tag can run 5-10 years depends on RF settings and models.

High Reliability
Comparing with typical passive RFID systems, HKRAR-LX series have high anti-jamming function in difficult environment where non-friendly RF material is present.

New Wireless Version
The HKRAR-LXRX can work as a Mobile Reader or Data Collector. Now, the reader only requires a power supply from a power adaptor or a portable battery. Through IEEE 802.11b/g, the reader gathers the tag information and transmit to the wireless router, which is a common network infrastructure in many buildings. Once powered, HKRAR-LXRX is instantly connected and become part of the system.

High Flexibility

Without the troubles of the wired network installation, HKRAR-LXRX provides a larger flexibility in designing the data collector locations. In cases such as exhibitions, the booths and area are subjected to change in each events. HKRAR-LXRX can be easily relocated according to all specific situations.

HKRAT-ST1 - 2.4GHz RFID Active Tag

The HKRAT-ST1 tag is using 2.4GHz ISM standard. It provides omni-directional and unidirectional identifications. Each active tag has a LED indicator and a trigger button behind for performing searching function and alert function respectively.

Durable for Different Applications
The HKRAT-ST1 is suitable for outdoor applications as it has IP65 of waterproof. It also applies in a wide range of temperature and vibration suituation.

Less Readers Mean Lower Cost
The HKRAT-ST1 is designed to be low cost by using specially techniques on circuit integration. This integration allows HKRAT-ST1 to perform long distance up to 100 meters. This active system usually outperforms any passive RFID systems in saving cost by reducing the number of readers and installation cost on the same coverage.

Application Examples:

• Long Distance Identification
• Locating & tracking
• Automation System
• Asset identification
• Vehicle Management
• Access Control
• Warehouse Management

Case Sharing on 2.4GHz RFID Active Series (HKRAR- LXRX) - Case 1

Active Smartcard System for a Golf Clubhouse

January, 2009

LX series active RFID smartcard system has been implemented in a golf Clubhouse for access control. The golf clubhouse emphasises a prestige quality service to every guest in the clubhouse. They want to let every member feels that they are all recognised by all personnels in the clubhouse and to get access to their VIP memeber facilities smoothly by just walking in. Now, the advance membership tag can be in form of key chain, unlike the traditional access card, the tag provides a much longer sensing area for doors and gates, so that all personnels can immediately be notified for the arrival of the VIP guest in advance. The guests have a warmly feeling in clubhouse, thanks to the automatic recognition system in all facilities, and they do not need take out and show old fashion membership card or "beep" the card on reader.

The active smartcard membership provides following special features in the clubhouse;

i) Automatic Door Control:
The Clubhouse installs active reader to control the automatic door. They give the active tags to the VIPs or specific clients. Once the readers recognize the active tag in pocket or handbag, the door will be opened and allow entrant without the trouble of taking out any access cards. It can avoid a person who has no permit for admittance or entry.

ii) Real Time CRM, Customised Service by Automatic Recognition:
As the reader is connected to a database, once the reader induces the active tag, the customer profile, history, preferences and personal information can be shown to the staff. Then they can recognize the clients and provide a better service with more useful information.

When VIPs enter with the active tag, the LED monitor can display some relevant information which may interest the customers. For example, the VIP status, special offers, etc. Also, it can greet the clients and show update information which may useful to them.

iii) Better Security

Active Smartcard system can be easily integrated with client's security infrastructure to ensure a safer environment. For example, when the door will not be opened if it is not in certain time slot, even the client has a valid active tag; the door will be locked according to the setting. It sets a time limited in order to have better flow control. The active reader also records the sign in and out conditions. It can record down who was entered to the room. The record may be useable for other security issues.

Case Sharing on 2.4 GHz RFID Active Series (HKRAR- LXRX) - Case 2

Asset management - Active System in Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Department of Electrical Engineering)

June, 2008

Department of Electrical Engineering (EE) is the expertise in Power and Energy Systems, Power Electronics, Machines Drives, Electric Transportation, Environmental and Energy Saving Systems, Fiber Optics, Computer Control and Automation, and Electrical Building Services.

In the laboratory, students will use the device for experiment. EE put the active tag (HKRAR-ST1) to the devices and install the active readers HKRAR-LXRX in the detecting zone for the following purposes.

i) Anti-theft:
The Electrical Engineering Department installs 2 to 3 readers in the detecting zone and has a full coverage in the area. Once the device is left from the zone, the alarm system will be activated.

ii) Inventory management:
The reader can keep tracking the number of devices. It can make sure that the sets of equipment are complete with nothing missing.

iii) Status tracking:
Active reader can recognize whether the device is being used or not. The central system can know the situation of device and how many sets are being used by the students.

Case Sharing on 2.4 GHz RFID Active Series (HKRAR- LXRX) - Case 3

Asset management - Using Wireless Active RFID System in Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Department of Building Service Engineering)

December, 2008

Building Services Engineering (BSE) in the Hong Kong Polytechnic University has an enviable reputation for leading edge research. They combine academic excellence with an innovative attitude that responds to community needs and enables them to quickly put together multidisciplinary teams to meet the changing demands of the profession and society at large.

BSE is conducting a research of people flow in shopping mall. We assist them to simulate the operation with RFID equipments. Our active reader HKRAR-LX-RXWF can work as a mobile device. In this case, BSE built 4 detecting zones in the campus. They put one reader in each detecting zone; this locator can show the movement of student during recess time.

This system helps them to analysis the movement preference of students. By using this wireless active system, the installation is more convenience and easier. The system can work under Wi-Fi; the installation becomes flexible and makes the experiment more effective.

The operation of wireless active system is similar to visitor tracking in Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). The wireless active system work as data absorption agent and perform data gathering.

The new wireless active system brought an advantage in the installation process. It has great flexibility and conduct a more comprehensive experiment.

Draft script for Demonstrating the Document Management

Blinkpass is a very easy and convenient device to keep track of documents. This video is going to show how to use it:

First, place a smart label on the document. The smart label already recorded the details and status about the document.

Then you can put the document into the Blinkpass smart tray. The tray would record the time you put the document in. Once you take the document out, the smart tray would record the outflow time.

If you want to check the location or the status of a document, you can simply click the search button on web search page in computers.

Once the documents become idle and you may put them into carton boxes. It would be difficult for you to find it out again. However, by using our handheld reader, you can locate the documents very quickly by reading the labels on the box.

That’s all for the demonstration. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. Thank you for watching!

RFID Locates Bridge Crane in Terminal without a hitch

Hong Kong RFID has successfully helped Hong Kong Internation Terminal (HIT) to setup a Bridge Crane positioning location system. Just simliar to MTRC cases, such system operates in a covered area where GPS can no longer effectives. With the UHF reader HKRUR-3083 installed on Bridge cane, it can provide the location information from the special tags mounted the tracks. Such UHF RFID system proves effective in metallic environment. The system has overcome several problems:

• highly metallic environment
• high speed of bridge cane moving at up to 25km/hr
• highly vibrating platform
• frequent shock and impact
• highly dusty and moisty 

The system runs smoothly without a hitch. It is a remarkable success for HKRUR-3083. HKRUR-3083 is a reader & antenna integrated together into one compact and lightweight body which measured less than 1kg and IP54 industrial grade protection. This highly sensitive device supports ISO18000-6B & 6C and read tags up to 10m away, depends on tag types.

Handle Hardcopies with Ease, BlinkPass Document Management Hit Ground Running

Contracts, file folders and other hardcopies are the most frequent subjects in office, in spite of how advance of electronic document distribution system can be. To meet the growing demand for efficient and effective hardcopy document management system, Hong Kong RFID is proud to announce the brand new product Blinkpass, a desktop RFID document tray recorder.


This BlinkPass Tray can automatically sense the identity of RFID tagged document in the tray and feed back to BlinkTrack Software, which performs more advanced function, for example.

• Email notice
• Review tracking
• Time logging, reminder
• Authentication

It enables user to trace the document by reading Smart Label and edit the data inside it. As well as its efficient document management function, it offers the highest degree of information security by inspecting the last handling person. Also, cost-saving and multi-user functions make it an ideal choice for office appliance, especially useful in;

• Banks, investment firm, for loans records
• Law firm, for contacts management
• Hospital, for medical record keeping
• Media Record databanks, for keeping publications

New Jewellery Tag Launched (HKRHT-J10)

New member of Jewellery Smart Tag, HKRHT-J10

Our J08 Smart Tag (Order P/N: HKRHT-J08) and J09 (Order P/N: HKRHT-J09) are being popularly used. Due to the growing market demand, an advanced version is successfully developed. Hong Kong RFID is glad to announce the launch of a new Smart Tag for our jewellery management system – J10 (Order P/N: HKRHT- J10).

ENVRIONMENTAL FRIENDLY
For those who concern the environmental issue as well as durability and beauty, we are now launching a J10 Smart Tag which is able to do PETG Encapsulation, instead of PVC. It is robust and solid with customizable printing appearance; it is reusable and low cost. Also, J10 has ROHS compliant to ensure the highest quality standard in part per million level (ppm).

ADHESIVE FRIENDLY

The mat surface can provide a better adhesive force even for labels with weaker glue. User can now "Slap and Fold" the smart tag into their existing price tags firmly; customer can form their own distinctive smart price tags. It is convenience and easy to use.

ROBUSTNESS
The hole for hanging strings is now located near the centre of the tag. After the successful launch of the previous 6th and 7th generation smart tag, J08 is popular for its high reliability and good sensitivity while J09 is using the same design but optimizing the use of light weight material. J10 is more durable and not easily ripped. Hong Kong RFID has dedicated to design better tags for our jeweler clients over years.

J10 has the following features:

• 12x26mm, similar size to a paperclip, the smaller jewellery tag compact but not sacrificing reading range
• PETG encapsulation
• Hole in middle, simple and compact structure
• Color/printing customization
• Can be easily embedded into any price tags in the market
• Can be rewritable and reusable

The product is available from December 2008.

Case Sharing on Mobile UHF Handheld HKRUR-5080

December, 2008

All sorts of RFID applications is becoming more user-friendly with this handy portable device, HKRUR-5080. The mobility of handheld further complete the highly automatic RFID system and all benefits from RFID system now visualised through this clear TFT-LCD. There are 3 recent successful cases by using our Mobile UHF handheld reader.

Case 1: Hong Kong International Terminals (HIT)
HIT is one of the busiest container ports in Hong Kong. It is the flagship operation of the Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) Group, the world's leading port investor, developer and operator. HIT mainly uses our reader in routine maintenance. It helps them to do the checklist:

• Maintain container positioning system
  
• Check RFID tag location information
  
• Other maintanance activities

The position location system for bridge cane is a sophisticated system, it is one of very crucial system in daily operation, this handheld being used for routine maintenance, they need to withstand high G-force, shocking and impact circumstances, as well as dusty & muddy environment.

Case 2: The Housing Authority (HA)
It is a statutory body responsible for developing and implementing a public housing program.

We assist HA in conducting a feasibility study in prefabrication product monitoring and surveillance in manufacturing plant and site with using of RFID technology. Our RFID tag products can apply to panel wall, window, pre-cast modules, fire resisting door, etc.

HA use the mobile UHF handheld to Read/Write information into tag which is burried in facade in construction site. The industrial grade protection allows the PDA operates smoothly in dusty and muddy construction site environment.

Not only the increasing traceability of prefabrication product enhances the inventory management, but also the quality of products can be assured. For example, they can keep tracking the building material by our reader. Besides, the system can allow the future tack of information in maintenance issue.

Case 3: Testing Lab
The client is a thrid-party testing laboratory, providing electrical safety testing and certification, EMC testing, and performance and other benchmark testing. In daily operation, our reader helps them in searching, tracking, and testing process. Besides, they use RFID system in Sample Assessment Tracking, to ensure the testing procedure carried out properly. It includes sample evaluation and inspection. By using our reader, they can have better control of quality, production flow and delivery. The customer can also login their system to see the status of testing.

Brief Specification of HKRUR-5080 :

• UHF frequency is adjustable between 866MHz to 956MHz
  
• High speed & high resolution 2D imager standard / 1D Laser option
  
• Easy-to-use, PDA-like with user-friendly keypad and touch screen input
  
• Computation power enables intelligence logics and functions, with its Intel® Bulverde™ PXA 270 520MHz processor
  
• High connectivity, it supports 802.11b/g/Bluetooth Class II, v1.2
  
• Mobile-phone communication enabled, CDMA or PHS or GSM/GPRS built in option
  
• Industrial Grade, IP65, 1.5m drop to concrete

Participated in Hong Kong International Jewellry Manufactures’ Show

December, 2008

Just like before, Hong Kong RFID has been active in the jewellry industry with our renowned Jewellery Management System Xapphire™. The application of RFID-enabled JMS has been focused on wholesaling, inventory checking and internal logistics operations. In December 2008, together with our partner, EverTech, we joined the Jewelry Manufacturer's Associations exhibition in Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre.

In the exhibition, we provided demonstration of our system showing jewellers from all over the world how RFID technology can apply in their operation and smoothing the flows. Besides, many of our customers used our system in the show and they realized the efficiency and effectiveness of the system. They are satisfied with our products, and we got a very good feedback from our customers.

With the advanced software of our partner, a lot of exhibitors who are jewellery wholesalers and retailers express interest in our equipments. Through the demonstration, they can easily understand the operation of JMS and experience the benefits brought from our system.

The exhibition was successful and it brought us a great chance to expand our JMS business to more places. We have already begun follow-up work for the inquiries we got from the exhibition and we look forward to the fruitful results.