.:RFID-Chip put into optical data carriers :.

July 31st , 2006

Two information carriers combined in one medium.

During the past months, CDA Datentraeger Albrechts GmbH has developed an innovative technology adapted to the system of Brooks Automation GmbH, RFID Division, which makes it possible to incorporate RFID tags in optical data carriers. By doing so, the RFID chips become part of the multimedia data carriers and are inseparably connected with the storage media. In the way, additional or new information can subsequently be written to RFID chips of industrially manufactured optical data carriers, e.g. DVD's and CD's.

The technology for integrating RFID chips in information carriers, on which a patent application had been filed by CDA Datentraeger Albrechts GmbH, offers numerous advantages. In addition to revolutionary new possibilities in the area of copy protection for CD's and DVD's, it enables unambiguous and worldwide identification of storage media. Serial numberings, batch or tracking information can now be stored directly in the data carriers. As a consequence, RFID systems will in future replace the barcodes previously placed on objects for identification. The information carriers can also be individualised by access restrictions, e.g. by interrogating unlock codes. Since this is a contactless system and intervisibility with the reading device is not required for processing the data, the integration of RFID technology offers comprehensive protection against theft. This has a positive impact on the retail business which suffers high annual losses and drops in turnover due to theft. Moreover, the system enables verification of the user identity. The data on the storage medium is released for use only after successful verification.

Radio Frequency Identification or RFID is a technology used to identify objects by the transmission of stored data between a data carrier and a reading device using radio waves, various types of information can be retrieved and stored. This makes it possible to unambiguously identify objects based on secure data and to process the latter. RFID usually consists of an RFID chip, also referred to as a RFID tag, and a transmission and a reception unit and systems connected to it. By means of the new technology developed by CDA GmbH, this chip is now incorporated in, and inseparably connected with the optical data carriers, e.g. CD's and DVD's.

Brooks rounds off the provided system with various reader types. These versions recognise immediately and fully automated if a CD or DVD with integrated RFID chip was inserted and decide about play-back of the medium. A desk reading station, a RFID compliant DVD-drive for notebooks as well as a RFID compliant DVD-player are offered as prototypes. The devices contain an OEM-Modul developed by Brooks that fulfill upgrades from consumer electronic products to RFID readers.

The use of RFID technology makes it possible to identify and localise goods unambiguously and throughout the world. Data can automayically be recorded, tracked and stored from production to trade to the consumer. This enables logistical control of products and automatic ordering of goods, and facilitates stock control. In addition to verification and restrication of access rights and access controls for security areas, the technology is used predominantly in the field of copy right protection, theft protection and counterfeit protection. The system operates very fast and reliably. Products can be read out in batches.

ABOUT BROOKS AUTOMATION

Brooks Automation (Germany) GmbH is a subsidiary of the American Brooks Automation Inc, Chelmsford, (MA). Brooks employs 2,400 persons world-wide and in the last fiscal year had a turnover of US $464 million. The company supplies high quality automation solutions to the semiconductor industry world-wide.
Since 1994, the RFID division is developing and producing RFID systems that meet the highest standards in quality, safety and reliability. The range of products includes mobile and stationary readers with LF (134.2kHz) and HF (13.56MHz) frequency ranges together with extensive accessories.  

For further information, please contact Electro-Com on 1300 130 806, sales@electrocom.com.au or visit www.electrocom.com.au .