))) Texas Instruments Announces Tag-it™ Multi-Protocol Transceiver IC for RFID Smart Label Solutions

))) DALLAS, TX (November 14, 2000)

Texas Instruments Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Systems today announced its new Tag-it™ Multi-Protocol Transceiver IC which makes it easier and more cost-effective to build smart label readers for a broad range of 13.56 MHz RFID applications. TI's Multi-Protocol Transceiver IC combines RF communication and signal detection capabilities into a single chip design and is compatible with new open, global standards ISO 15693 and ISO 14443-2 for vicinity and proximity applications.

The Tag-it™ Multi-Protocol Transceiver IC is a building block of RFID functionality for OEM product design engineers and systems integrators developing smart label readers for personnel access control, product authentication, ticketing, library management and supply chain management applications. The Tag-it™ Transceiver IC supports multiple 13.56MHz proximity and vicinity protocols including Texas Instruments' Tag-it™ smart labels, making it possible to develop a single RFID reader design that reads smart labels from multiple sources.

"Anyone considering smart labels in an open system would be more likely to chose products based upon standards rather than proprietary technology," said Tres Wiley, Texas Instruments marketing manager for smart labels. "This offers opportunities for both third party providers and end users, as a single RFID reader can support tags and cards from different suppliers and be compliant with different standards and technologies at 13.56MHz."

With its small size and low power consumption, engineers can seamlessly integrate the new Transceiver IC into RFID readers used in portable, handheld as well as fixed applications. The Transceiver ICs small size enables RFID to be more easily embedded into devices with small footprints such as a copier, which uses RFID technology to authenticate a brand name printer cartridge. No large on-board power supplies are required, and the Transceiver IC's low power design enables extended reader battery life in portable RFID applications. An RFID smart reader containing the TI Multi-Protocol Transceiver IC can also be easily integrated into traditional barcode portable terminals and printers.

The new design of TI's Multi-Protocol Transceiver IC reduces RFID reader product development time, parts count and PWB space. Only a few additional passive components are needed to develop a complete 13.56 MHz RFID smart label reader.