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RFID system for the solar industry from Brooks Automation
RFID hardware manufacturer Brooks Automation, based in German Mistelgau, is marketing a new package specially for the solar cell industry. Working at a frequency of 13.56 MHz, the RFID system comprises a transponder reader with matching antenna and compatible transponder. All parts are suitable for attachment to metal.
RFID technology is an attractive solution for process control and supervision in the production of solar cells. Bavarian based RFID specialist Brooks Automation has now developed a system aimed at this requirement. It works at a frequency of 13.56 MHz, and consists of an RFID reader, antenna and transponder.
RFID Reader HF80 MR
RFID Antenna HF80 Disc
RFID Transponder Disc
The HF80 MidRange RFID reader offers a variety of functions, and is obtainable with an Ethernet and/or serial RS232 interface. It comes with five antenna terminals, which very much minimizes the cost of a reading point. The device is optionally available with each antenna terminal as I/O.
A special disk transponder, held in place by a fitting hole, serves for identifying the carriers. Brooks Automation offers a matching disk antenna with installation kit, which like the transponder is also suitable for attachment to metal.
The RFID system is particularly intended for use in the production process, where it is very simply integrated in production machines. An application in order picking stations is also conceivable.
Brooks explicitly selected this HF frequency (13.56 MHz) because it guarantees faster reading of the RFID transponders, and these ID carriers are obtainable with larger memory capacity than comparable LF series.
A critical factor in favour of the HF system is the longer reading and writing ranges that are possible. The biggest advantage -- in terms of RFID integration cost -- is presented by the five antenna terminals of the RFID reader.