Smart Label Chip Breaks Price Barriers

Touted as costing up to 10 times less than existing RFID temperature-sensing modules, the IDS-SL13A smart active label chip reportedly makes it practical to automatically track, monitor, time-stamp, and record information about any goods in any supply chain or cold-chain transport. Enabling deployment of a wide range of data logging and tracking systems, the device can check on and record unseen changes such as extreme temperatures that can impact goods. The IDS-SL13A, a passive/semi-passive tag chip optimized for single-cell powered smart labels with sensor functionality, assigns a unique identity code to a labeled product. A 1.5V or 3V battery supports its real-time clock and EEPROM to allow on-chip data logging from the internal temperature sensor as well as external sensors. An analog sensor interface allows connection of an external sensor. The chip measures temperature with a 0.5°C accuracy and logs it against real time. It also includes a SPI port to connect to external circuitry for display. Working in passive mode with no battery and without the real-time clock function, the device suits applications where a reader initiates the logging and the data is stored in the reader using an ADC. The chip controls whether it takes data from internal or external sensors, or both. The IDS-SL13A is available now for sampling with production set for the third quarter. IDS MICROCHIP AG, Wollerau SZ, Switzerland. +41-43-844-6253.