by Tarun Sharma - Efficient outtasking to RFID specialist

Non-contact identification via RFID is becoming to be a convenient standard for users. For hardware manufacturers and system integrators, this trend proves to be less of a blessing. The multitude of RFID standards drives them into a dilemma: Developers can either commit themselves to a limited number of standards and run the risk of backing the wrong horse for many customers. Or they can try and satisfy all standards and so drive costs up to unacceptable levels. Suppliers of pluggable nano modules show the way out of this impasse. These modules cover the whole range of RFID standards and can be integrated at low cost.

Counting only the better known RFID variants will quickly result in far more than 40 so-called standards, all requiring both specific reading electronics and antenna, and the trend is rising. This was no problem for the RFID pioneers: They would set the corporate standard with the first application. And users paid no attention to the RFID standard used as long as the overall solution met its requirements.

But those times are now gone. Anyone who wishes to sell printers, dispensers, coffee machines, computers, or security solutions that use RFID into organisations is forced to base the solution on the RFID transponder cards or tags already in use on location. And this makes sense: A single RFID card is more convenient for users and economical for the company.

How to master RFID diversity for hardware manufacturers and integrators
For manufacturers and system integrators, the question arises: How can they get to grips efficiently with RFID diversity? Supporting all standards cannot be effected in development and support, either in terms of expertise or of cost. On the other hand, focussing development on just a few standards will result in lost sales opportunities.

Efficient outtasking of RFID development offers a way out for device manufacturers. Already, specialists can be found on the market offering pin-compatible RFID nano modules for a range of different standards. These nano modules comprise the complete reader electronics and can be integrated on the device manufacturer’s host board as plug-in modules and using a standard interface (e.g., RS232) or else a standardised protocol. Electronics for integrating more complex RFID functionality—beyond basic reading—is also available ready for use on add-on boards. The customer can program the reader himself. This means that there is no need for him to change his “standard system”; the reader does this independently and supplies the desired data in a consistent format. 
The benefits of such a partnership are manifold. Device manufacturers can cover a broad range of RFID standards by simply plugging in the appropriate nano modules—their own hardware remains untouched due to the unvarying form factor and standard interface. There is no need for the company to build up the required RFID expertise; products are operational within considerably shorter time (time to market) and RFID integration is achieved reliably with the help of experienced RFID experts. The modules are cost-effective when compared to in-house development and future costs and risks of adapting to upcoming RFID advancements (for example, NFC, FELICA, UHF versions) are borne by the module supplier.

International approvals make for further benefits. The device manufacturer has an easier time gaining approval for his products and selling and deploying them if his RFID development partner can produce the corresponding certificates (e.g., CE, FCC, ACA, SRRC). In most cases for in-house developments, a separate approval procedure would have to be applied—and paid—for each (radio) standard.
 
Help for RFID system integrators to deal with heterogeneous environments
Moreover, there are solutions for system integrators that do not require intervention into the “foreign” hardware. For instance, RFID module manufacturers also offer complete reader units and external desktop readers that can be subsequently integrated into heterogeneous device environments with custom branding and using standard interfaces (USB, RS232, TCP/IP). Then, when implementing an identification solution for example, the system integrator must only name the physical interface and define the data transfer method; afterwards he can freely connect any reader as required by the particular RFID standard to many devices from different manufacturers.

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