News

Posted On: 08/10/2005

Chipless RFID Technology on the Rise

PharmaManufacturing.com

Chipless RFID smart labels can be electronically interrogated to reveal ID and other data. They do not contain a microchip and therefore cost much less than chip RFID. From being just 2.5% of the RFID market today, chipless devices have the potential to grow to 30% of the market by 2010, according to a new report by Dublin, Ireland-based Research and Markets.

Some of the biggest names in the business now offer both chip-based and chipless RFID in order to cover a full range of user needs. From AstraZeneca to Calvin Klein, companies are already using them in large volumes; many paper and packaging companies have licensed the various processes.

Chipless RFID smart labels with up to 10 meters range and 256 bits of data can cost one tenth of their silicon chip equivalents and have a greater physical performance. Chipless RFID can be materials-based, or it can consist of transistorless circuits. Transparent polymer transistor circuits will also be available in volume by 2005, directly mimicking the circuit on a chip. All this will let chipless technology address mainstream RFID applications and rapidly grow the market by price reductions of one to two magnitudes.

Beyond RFID, the report says, we will enter a world of science fiction. Transparent packages will light up with moving color advertisements and speak to you when you approach; disposable smart labels will detect viruses, specific chemicals and many other things. Meanwhile, we have both electronic and non-electronic chipless labels for a wide range of diagnostics and brand enhancements.

For more information on this report, visit www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c21354.