))) Texas Instruments RFID Smart Labels Ensure Air Safety in Semiconductor Manufacturing Facilities

Tag-it™ RFID Technology Provides Intelligent Tracking of Chemcassette® Colorimetric Tapes from Zellweger Analytics

))) DALLAS, TX (October 2, 2001)

Texas Instruments Radio Frequency Identification Systems (TI-RFid™) today announced that Zellweger Analytics, a leading manufacturer of toxic and flammable gas and fire detection systems, is using TI
Tag-it™ smart label inlays for intelligent tracking of Chemcassette™ colorimetric tapes used on its Vertex™ gas monitoring systems in semiconductor manufacturing facilities.

TI's RFID smart label is embedded on the tape's label, and is used to authenticate the tape with the Vertex system to ensure the correct tape type is used to monitor a targeted toxic gas. The chemically treated tape changes color when exposed to a target gas, and the rate of change is tracked and calculated to determine the exact levels of gas present. Using RFID technology, the tape's label is read by the Vertex system to ensure that the proper type of tape is used to monitor specific toxic gases.

In addition, the Vertex system records how long each Chemcassette tape has been in use, and indicates when it will need to be replaced, ensuring that the tape will not run out or expire. The read/write ability of TI-RFid™ Tag-it™ inlays enables the system to gather accurate and reliable archival information, such as the serial number and expiration of each tape. As a result, when a tape reaches capacity, the customer is automatically advised to change it.

"The technology has been widely deployed over the past decade, but recent advances in form, size and read/write memory are moving RFID into a host of new embedded systems, like the Zellweger application, where system components and even 'consumable' materials can communicate and interact with host machines," said Dave Slinger, vice president, Texas Instruments.

"The ability to capture and store information about our tape usage with the Vertex system provides a better opportunity to provide accurate information about tape characteristics to customers using the system to ensure safety in manufacturing facilities," said Tim Wright, project group leader, Zellweger Analytics.