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RF Code has announced the addition of an infrared-enabled active RFID tag to its product suite. The M100-i tags operate with all of the beneficial density and signal propagation characteristics found in RF Code’s award-winning M-series product line, while being able to broadcast secondary room-level data generated by RF Code’s companion A700 room locator devices.

M100-i tags are equipped with onboard infrared sensors, which monitor their environment for incoming IR signals and periodically report their unique ID and IR location codes. These combined data points allow for the rapid location of tagged assets with room-level accuracy. By using its motion sensor, the tag conserves battery power when an asset is at rest and beacons more frequently once the asset is moved.

Asset managers will see immediate benefits from the new product offering in healthcare, government, enterprise IT, and related corporate applications, which require a mix of zonal and room-level resolution.

RF Code’s M100-series active RFID tags are attached to mobile or shared assets, such as computers or hospital equipment. A700 room locators are installed in specific areas of individual rooms. The room locator constantly emits an infrared signal that contains a unique code.

When tagged assets travel from open areas into rooms equipped with the A700 room locator modules, the tag acquires the infrared signal. The tag then retransmits the unique code from the infrared signal in the next RF beacon that it sends. In this way, each tag beacons its asset ID and room number simultaneously--offering a most cost-effective and accurate locating system.

When the tag’s onboard motion sensor detects that an asset is moving it will instantly seek new room-level data. Since infrared signals will not penetrate walls and other architectural elements, individual room data is only broadcast within each room. The M100-i tags do not require line of sight (LOS) with the room locator to receive the infrared signal.

RF Code’s readers receive the radio frequency beacon from the tags that contain the unique tag identification codes as well as the retransmitted unique code from the room locator. All of this data can then be passed along to enterprise information systems, such as corporate databases or inventory management systems.

The new infrared tags are reusable, offer long battery lives and can be purchased with tamper sensors, which emit distress signals if a tag is removed or physically damaged. The small size and patented, high-density performance characteristics allow M100-i tags to be used in enterprise-class asset tracking environments featuring large numbers of standard 433 MHz tags.