Adaptable antenna takes to curves
Harting has developed an RFID antenna designed for use with space constricted belt conveyors and can map curved tracks.
The Ha-VIS Locfield antenna uses a coaxial travelling-wave concept and is said to offer users a compact package with flexibility in the design of RF reading zones. The antenna is said to be adaptable to every customer application and suited for situations where space is at a premium.
Modern industrial RFID systems allow components and packages to be followed in real time, and offer a multitude of options for increasing process security and ensuring optimal transparency. However, there is generally very little space available around belt conveyors, and classical RFID antennas are limited in that they cannot map curved tracks: a factor that restricts the capability for customers to track and trace production history at every point in the process.
The Ha-VIS Locfield RFID antenna requires only a minimum of space, consisting only of an industrial-grade coaxial line. The antenna cable is mechanically flexible and can therefore be installed and laid in any given shape according to the requirements of specific customer applications. This includes the ability to lay it around the curves of conveyor belts.
Users therefore have the ability to design their own tailored UHF RFID reading zone. A wide range of challenging applications become possible, including RFID installations in smart shelves, 19-inch racks, complex machines, doors and pass-throughs, all with reduced costs and maximum ease of installation.
You can download a whitepaper relating to the Locfield product here.
