Posted in RFID | No Comments »
While we have often discussed RFID technology possibly replacing barcodes in the future, the future may be sooner than we think. South Korean researchers from Sunchon National University have recently developed a technology for printing RFID circuits on plastic film, meaning the average price of a tag could be less than a penny, down from at least 15 cents a tag.
It is anticipated that this new version of an RFID tag will hit the market this year and will use printed transistors based on carbon nanotubes. The researchers have already printed plastic RFID tags via common industrial methods such as ink-jet printing, roll-to-roll printing and silicone rubber-stamping.
While this development is definitely a breakthrough for RFID technology, there are still problems that need to be resolved with the prototype before it is officially released. For example, the tag is much larger than a standard barcode and can’t store as much as much information. In addition, the power signals are weak and may not work with all readers within a reasonable range. However, these issues are expected to be sorted out prior to the release.
While this new technology does look promising, I am skeptical to think that the new tags will overtake barcodes any time soon.
Posted in Barcode Printing | No Comments »
While running a kiosk may seem like a simpler alternative to an actual store, kiosks still need to perform the same POS functions. This includes receipts for transactions, however, often times out-dated printers are a major cause of kiosk down time. If the printer does not work, then the kiosk can not make sales.
Zebra Tecnologies recently released the KR403, a kiosk receipt printer that offers a compact footprint, a range of mounting configurations, and Zebra Programming Language (ZPL). In addition to excellent print quality, the KR403 also provides expanded memory, fonts and barcode sets, including GS1 required barcodes.
The Zebra KR403 also features:
Looping presenter: decreases the chance of premature pulling or tearing that causes printer jams
Guillotine cutter: smoothly separates the printout from the paper roll
Large roll capacity: reduces reloading trips
Remote monitoring: provides notification when paper is jammed or low
Learn more about the Zebra KR403 and start seeing more uptime in your kiosk.
Posted in Barcode Scanning | No Comments »
In 1994, Datalogic Scanning introduced the world’s first 360-degree barcode scanner, the Magellan. Now, in 2010, Datalogic is on their way to selling the one millionth Magellan bi-optic scanner. While this milestone is particularly important to Datalogic, it is also significant to the AIDC industry as a whole.
The Magellan scanner was named after Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese explorer who lead his crew to complete the first 360-degree exploration of the world. Since Ferdinand Magellan was the first to ever successfully complete this mission, Datalogic chose the name Magellan since it was the world’s first 360-degree barcode scanner.
Since the Magellan’s release in 1994, it has developed and evolved into eight different models, ending with the latest Magellan 8500Xt, which is used throughout the world. In order to celebrate the 1,000,000th Magellan bi-optic scanner, Datalogic is hosting the “Millionth Magellan Birthday Countdown” on Facebook. To check out the contest, and guess when the Millionth Magellan will be released, learn more here.
Posted in Barcode Printing | No Comments »
The Zebra GX420d is a direct thermal printer that specializes in low-medium volume printing requirements. With a print speed of 6 inches per second, the GX420d has a sleek design and offers the smallest footprint in a 4-inch desktop printer, all while supporting an array of applications and industries.
The GXD420d features EPL and ZPL programming languages and triple connectivity for easy integration in existing systems. A 10/100 internal Ethernet option is also available. In addition, the Zebra GXD420d features:
- Up to 6″ per second print speed
- OpenACCESS design for easy media loading
- Dual-wall reinforced plastic construction
- 32 bit RISC processor
- XML-enabled printing
The Zebra GXD420d is durable, easy to use and offers a variety of features and options, making it the best in class for speed and performance.
For more information on the Zebra GX420d, download the specification sheet here.
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Intermec Technologies recently unveiled RFID reader software at RFID Journal LIVE! 2010 that uses motion data to enable readers to distinguish between tags of interest and motionless tags.
The software system, coined Advanced RFID Extensions, or ARX, allows users to screen tags that may be located near a reader, but not going through a portal. The ARX system is ideal for crowded RFID environments, such as a distribution center, where erroneous tags, such as those on carts, are constantly passing by the reader. By using EPC Global low-level reader protocol, or LLRP, extensions to analyze data from the RFID readers, ARX instantly determines whether or not the data should be forwarded to the company’s back-end system or not. In fact, by using Return Signal Strength Indicators (RSSI), along with the phase angle of the received RF wave, the system can alert a user when a tag is in motion, in addition to whether it is near a reader, or even in a certain zone or portal.
The ARX software solution is available on Intermec IF61 fixed interrogators and IV7 vehicle-mounted RFID readers and is currently being deployed by various companies with tag-heavy environments.
