Impinj Unlocks New IoT Device Opportunities with Launch of Advanced RAIN RFID Chips

Impinj, Inc., a leading RAIN RFID provider and Internet of Things pioneer, today introduced three next-generation RAIN RFID reader chips that are designed to enable IoT device makers to meet the increasing demand for item connectivity in retail, supply chain and logistics, consumer electronics, and many other markets.

According to spokesmen, the new Impinj E710, E510, and E310 RAIN RFID reader chips are high-performance, low-power systems-on-chips (SoCs) that extend the item connectivity opportunity to hundreds of billions of things worldwide. With industry-leading system integration and easy-to-use development tools, they enable the development of quick-to-market IoT devices that reliably identify, locate, and authenticate connected things.

Impinj RAIN RFID products have already connected tens of billions of things worldwide, helping enterprises drive digital transformation, improve consumer experiences, increase operational efficiencies, and better manage inventory and assets. Used by millions of devices, Impinj’s previous generation of reader chips, the Indy series, set the reader chip performance benchmark for more than a decade. The new-generation Impinj E710, E510, and E310 reader chips deliver record-setting performance, integration, and ease of use with:

• Up to 2x better receive sensitivity for reliable performance in new and existing solutions.
• Up to 80% smaller RAIN RFID system designs ideal for small, next-generation IoT devices.
• 50% lower chip power consumption, supporting battery-powered, energy-efficient devices.
• Software- and pin-compatible designs for easy 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 groundbreaking advancements to enable ubiquitous item connectivity. They represent yet another bold step toward Impinj’s vision of a boundless IoT.”

Available now, the Impinj E710, E510, and E310 chips enable IoT devices to reliably identify up to hundreds of items per second—including apparel, pallets, parcels, pharmaceuticals, automotive part, and electronics—at distances of a few millimeters to many meters, without line-of-sight. The Impinj E710 provides superior performance and supports the monitoring of large item populations. The Impinj E510 is the mid-range option in price and performance and is optimized for battery-powered devices. And the lower-cost Impinj E310 delivers performance optimized for close-proximity devices. The chips embed into devices, adding RAIN functionality and enabling new solutions, including:

• 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 efficient operations and supply-chain automation.
• Point of sale devices, smart shelves and cabinets for frictionless retail, to monitor goods and deliver fast, touch-free, and intuitive automated checkout.
• Smart appliances, gaming devices, and security systems for enhanced consumer electronics that connect to everyday items and deliver ultimate service and convenience.

Michelin, a longstanding Impinj partner, plans to equip every new passenger car tire with RAIN RFID by 2023 and envisions RAIN RFID delivering advanced connectivity throughout the full tire manufacturing supply chain to improve tire 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 tire connectivity with RAIN RFID technology. Performant devices are a key factor of success to foster the tire market adoption,” said Jérôme Barrand, RFID program leader at Michelin. “In the coming years, we expect diverse types of read points to be deployed across a large range of use cases over the entire tire lifecycle. This will be a key enabler to connected mobility services for our customers.”

Matt Branda VP of Product, Connectivity and Software at Impinj, told SCMR in an interview that

A lack of inventory visibility costs precious time and money for manufacturers.

“Employees often spend hundreds of hours tracking materials, assets, and shipments within a warehouse,” he says. “Shipments can be sent to the wrong location or have missing or incorrect materials. With manual processes, there is a high risk of human error and a high chance of disappointing customers.”

Branda adds that the new Impinj reader chips enable IoT device makers to develop a breadth of devices, including mobile devices, autonomous robots, conveyor systems, and other fixed infrastructure that increase speed and accuracy when counting and locating items.

“Enterprises can now access a growing ecosystem of OEMs that build industry-leading products based on Impinj next-gen reader chips,” he concludes. “The devices come in a broad range of performance levels, price points, and form factors, and include differentiated features like rugged enclosures or integration with other technologies like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. This breadth of devices enables enterprises to easily integrate RAIN RFID into their operations with the right device for their need. Solutions built with the new reader chips provide visibility that drives efficient operations and supply-chain automation.”

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