Magnetic sheets boost RFID antenna sensitivity

New magnetic sheets use Alps' Liqualloy metallic glass powder to boost the sensitivity of RFID antennas.

Alps Electric has developed the HMLSR Series of Liqualloy magnetic sheets for radio frequency identification (RFID) applications.

The new magnetic sheets use Alps' Liqualloy metallic glass powder to boost the sensitivity of RFID antennas.

RFID has recently been gaining attention as a technology that stores data on a minute wireless tag to identify people or manage goods.

In the distribution industry, for example, use of RFID to identify and manage products has begun as a technology to replace bar codes, which currently remain the primary technology for product identification and management.

In recent years, noncontact power transmission technology has led to the appearance of wireless tags, which can be used semi-permanently without a battery, and with a variety of applications including prepaid cards.

RFID technology is drawing an increasing amount of attention as a leading force to drive the permeation of information technology throughout society.

Alps developed this product as one that enhances electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), eliminating the problem of interference with waves that should reach the wireless tag from radio or electromagnetic waves generated by nearby parts and devices.

The sheet employs Alps' proprietary Liqualloy, a metallic glass powder consisting primarily of iron.

The amorphous structure of Liqualloy allows a high degree of freedom in the shaping process, and it displays soft magnetic properties that can be readily activated by exposure to magnetic fields.

In addition, its high permeability is 1.3 times greater than that of Fe-Al-Si alloys, the leading magnetic material, giving it superior capacity to absorb radio and electromagnetic waves.

The new sheets make full use of the freedom in shaping and the highly permeable characteristics of Liqualloy.

In RFID technology, it is not unusual to install parts and devices on the back of wireless tag antennas that send and receive data from the tag between devices.

Under some conditions, this causes interference with waves that should reach the antenna.

The new sheets effectively focus waves to the antenna, increasing RFID antenna sensitivity.

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