UHF RFID passive transponder technology makes another leap

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Trolley Scan (Pty), a Johannesburg, South Africa-based developer of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technologies, has announced the development of a new passive transponder that is claimed to have approximately 100% improvement in range over previous versions.

Mike Marsh, Managing Director of Trolley Scan (Pty), commented that the passive UHF transponder has a measured operating range of more than 25 meters. "Bearing in mind that passive transponders do not have onboard energy, but have to collect energy radiated from the reader, a transponder that is passive and can work at 25 meters has to operate on minute amounts of radio power. In this case, the transponder needs just 40 microwatts of radio energy in its collecting area. The transponder is specifically designed to be attached to metal and metal like objects."

Previously, the maximum range with passive transponders with Trolley Scan readers was 13 metres. The impressive performance comes from the combination of a new integrated circuit specially made for Trolley Scan and from Trolley Scan's spectacular RF antenna developments for transponders. The new transponder has been specifically designed to be used with tracking laptop computers and office equipment, but also finds use in tagging metal items.

Trolley Scan make UHF RFID fixed readers. UHF portable readers, UHF RFID radar systems and a range of transponders for different packaging requirements. The new transponder technology is compatible with all the reader products made by Trolley Scan and with all the earlier ranges of transponders.