Seattle-based Impinj has introduced three Rain RFID reader chips that help IoT device makers meet the demand for item connectivity in retail and other markets such as supply chain, logistics and consumer electronics.

The E710, E510 and E310 are systems-on-chip (SoCs) that can extend item connectivity to hundreds of billions of things worldwide. With system integration and easy-to-use development tools, they enable the development of quick-to-market IoT devices that identify, locate and authenticate connected things.

Impinj’s previous reader chips, the Indy series, were used by millions of devices for more than a decade. The latest devices are claimed to provide:  

• Up to two times better receive sensitivity for performance in new and existing applications;
• Up to 80% smaller Rain RFID designs for small IoT devices;
• 50% lower chip power consumption, supporting battery-powered, energy-efficient devices; and
• Software- and pin-compatible designs for performance upgrades and design reuse.

“We are thrilled to usher in a new wave of partner innovation with the release of the Impinj E710, E510 and E310 reader chips, which provide unparalleled ease of use, silicon integration and performance,” said Impinj CEO Chris Diorio. “These new reader chips deliver ground-breaking advancements to enable ubiquitous item connectivity. They represent yet another bold step towards Impinj’s vision of a boundless IoT.”

Available now, the chips let IoT devices reliably identify up to hundreds of items per second, including apparel, pallets, parcels, pharmaceuticals, automotive parts and electronics, at distances of a few millimetres to many metres, without line of sight.

The E710 supports the monitoring of large item populations. The E510 is the mid-range option in price and performance and is optimised for battery-powered devices. And the lower-cost E310 delivers performance optimised for close-proximity devices. The chips embed into devices, adding Rain functionality for mobile devices, autonomous robots, and fixed and handheld readers for inventory and asset management, to increase speed and accuracy when counting and locating items and provide visibility that drives efficiency and supply-chain automation.

They can be used in point-of-sale (PoS) devices, smart shelves and cabinets for frictionless retail, to monitor goods and deliver fast, touch-free and intuitive automated checkout.

Other applications include smart appliances, gaming devices and security systems for consumer electronics that connect to everyday items and deliver service and convenience.

Michelin, a longstanding Impinj partner, plans to equip every new passenger car tyre with Rain RFID by 2023 and envisions Rain RFID delivering connectivity throughout the full tyre lifecycle to improve tyre management, performance and safety.

“Michelin is convinced that the innovation, in terms of performance and affordability, in the new Impinj reader chips is a key achievement towards tyre connectivity with Rain RFID technology,” said Jérôme Barrand, RFID programme leader at Michelin. “Performant devices are a key factor of success to foster the tyre market adoption. In the coming years, we expect diverse types of read points to be deployed across a large range of use cases over the entire tyre lifecycle. This will be a key enabler to connected mobility services for our customers.”

With the chips, developers can quickly design IoT devices that meet regulatory requirements in more than 85 countries. More than 20 Impinj OEM device partners worldwide, including Bluebird, Caen RFID, Chainway, Convergence Systems, Hopeland, Jadak, MTI, RoyalRay and Silion Tech, are developing dozens of products based on the these reader chips. 

“The new, highly integrated Rain RFID systems-on-chip and development kits used across the Impinj E710, E510 and E310 reader chips allow us to reuse design effort across multiple development projects, significantly reducing our time to market,” said Albert Yang, general manager at Chainway. “We are pleased today to introduce two new wearable devices, a handheld reader and a printer, built on these new Impinj reader chips.”