RFID Tag Tracks Tools in Real Time

Feb. 11, 2020

Tiny RFID tags take the guesswork out of keeping tabs on tools and other metal objects.

You know that torque wrench you misplace on a regular basis? You’d have better luck keeping track of it if it were equipped with Murata Electronics’ LXTBKZMCMG-010 RFID tag, which is designed to be placed directly on metal objects, such as surgical tools. The solution can be incorporated into any device’s tool tracking system to quickly determine a specific item’s usage and warranty status, and to assign user accountability. These features help improve loss prevention, eliminate time searching for specific tools, and provide real-time data analytics to key stakeholders such as operations, plant managers, or users in the field.

Measuring just 6.0 × 2.0 × 2.3 mm, the tag also offers a robust design, has a read range up to 150 cm, and covers a UHF frequency-band range of 865 to 928 MHz. As a result, multiple items can be read at the same time, reducing time and manual procedures. Onboard the device is 96 bits of read/write Electronic Product Code (EPC) user memory, 96 bits of read-only Tag ID (TID) memory, and another supplemental bank of 64 bits of user memory Further, it meets EPC Global Gen 2v2 and is 100% RoHS-compliant.

Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd., https://wireless.murata.com

About the Author

David Maliniak | Executive Editor, Microwaves & RF

I am Executive Editor of Microwaves & RF, an all-digital publication that broadly covers all aspects of wireless communications. More particularly, we're keeping a close eye on technologies in the consumer-oriented 5G, 6G, IoT, M2M, and V2X markets, in which much of the wireless market's growth will occur in this decade and beyond. I work with a great team of editors to provide engineers, developers, and technical managers with interesting and useful articles and videos on a regular basis. Check out our free newsletters to see the latest content.

You can send press releases for new products for possible coverage on the website. I am also interested in receiving contributed articles for publishing on our website. Use our contributor's packet, in which you'll find an article template and lots more useful information on how to properly prepare content for us, and send to me along with a signed release form.

About me:

In his long career in the B2B electronics-industry media, David Maliniak has held editorial roles as both generalist and specialist. As Components Editor and, later, as Editor in Chief of EE Product News, David gained breadth of experience in covering the industry at large. In serving as EDA/Test and Measurement Technology Editor at Electronic Design, he developed deep insight into those complex areas of technology. Most recently, David worked in technical marketing communications at Teledyne LeCroy, leaving to rejoin the EOEM B2B publishing world in January 2020. David earned a B.A. in journalism at New York University.