Electronica: Low-Cost RFID Chip for Temperature Tracking Announced

ZMD AG, a worldwide supplier of application-specific integrated circuits (IC) for mobile medical appliances, automotive applications, and industrial automation, today announced its low-cost RFID (radio frequency identification) chip for temperature tracking in the logistics chain. “ZMD has the most complete ASSP portfolio – especially for RFID,” said the firm’s CEO Thilo von Selchow at today’s press conference. “You probably won’t find that in any other company.”

The ZMD41211 is a fully integrated 13.56 MHz transponder IC with an on-chip temperature sensor and wireless initialization capability. It can provide a complete record of the product’s shipping history, enabling logistics customers the precise monitoring and recording of temperature and humidity throughout the journey of the product. Among other applications, the ISO15693-compliant passive transponder IC can be used for identification of batch-manufactured products, such as pharmaceuticals. The chip is designed to increase the automation and safety in logistics of perishable goods.

According to Andreas Heldwein, ZMD’s Business Line Manager, one of the chip’s many noteworthy features is its communication range of up to 1 m. “With that kind of range, you don’t have to walk up to every box with the reader,” he said.

While the company’s largest market is the automotive industry, the medical sector makes up 17% of its business. According to von Selchow, the medical technology market is a stable growing segment. Among ZMD’s customers are Roche, Siemens, Braun, and Perkin Elmer.

Electronica takes place at the New Munich Trade Fair from 11 to 14 November 2008. You can learn more about the new ZMD chip when you stop by at the company’s stand in Hall A5, Booth 159.

Tags: Electronica, RFID, ZMD