 | Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Issue 825 | | Will Smith, Editor |  |
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Editor's Note: Today's top story is Veratag, a startup that is using MEMS resonator technology to create RFID tags with unique "voiceprints" that make them virtually unclonable. The company plans to pursue authentication and transaction security applications.
NXP has announced a new smart label product based on its ICODE RFID chips. The ICODE SLI-SY is designed for use in library and archive applications, and offers a guaranteed 40-year lifespan. Working with partners, NXP is developing complete RFID library solutions based on its ICODE product family.
Lastly, RFID solutions provider BlueBean has announced the successful deployment of an RFID inventory system for GE Aviation to track parts shipped between two of the company's plants. The RFID system replaces a previous bar code system, which was not accurately tracking all the inventory, and required manual intervention for correction. |
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| RFID Tags & Labels | | - Confidence in RFID - Confidex tags and tickets (site) | | | RTLS & Active RFID | | 
Sponsored by Ekahau | |
| | - Locate it now. How? Ekahau. That's how! (site) | | | Products & Services | | - PCB Tracking & Visibility Solution from Omnitrol Networks (site) | | - Employees steal over $1 billion per week from employers (site) | | | Upcoming Events | | - AWA PABS08 N. America Conference, Sept 11-12, Chicago, IL (site) | | - AWA PABS08 Asia Conference, Dec 4-5 - Hong Kong, China (site) | | - European Supply Chain & Logistics, 13-15 May, Germany (site) | | - SCAN & RFID CHINA 2008, June 19-21, Guangzhou, China (site) | | | Employment | | - RFID Recruiters - 100% Focused on RFID Recruiting (site) | | | Research & Whitepapers | | - RFID Marketing Strategies Report (site) | |
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Startup Adapting MEMS Technology for RFID Authentication
By John Burnell
Startup Veratag of Cohoes, New York, is adapting tiny micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) components to create chips that can be read wirelessly and are nearly impossible to duplicate. The firm says the MEMflake technology it is developing is more secure than traditional, encryption-based RFID tags and could be used to authenticate products and protect electronic passports and payment cards.
MEMSflakes are based on MEMS resonators, which have been used in atomic microscopes to measure molecular structures for about 20 years, and are now being developed to replace crystal oscillators in electronics production, Veratag CEO Dr. John Schneiter, PhD, told RFID Update. Each MEMS resonator creates a unique signal, or "voiceprint," which can't be cloned and can be used to authenticate the chip, Schneiter said. Each voiceprint is unique but falls within a defined band so separate readers do not have to be developed for each chip. However, MEMflakes can't be read with RFID readers currently on the market.
"We're taking advantage of a fundamental problem that has plagued MEMS resonators -- no two are the same," Schneiter said. "The way MEMS resonators behave is very unique and their signals can't be copied with standard electronics."
Veratag wants to commercialize wireless chips and readers based on MEMS resonators. The chips could be used to authenticate products, or to facilitate secure reads of payment cards, electronic passports, and other documents. Veratag positions the technology as a superior approach to traditional encryption, which it says adds cost to chips and slows read performance.
"Encryption works really, really well, except people are always gunning for it," Schneiter said. "But the Achilles Heel of encryption is key management, which I think has a lot of people frustrated. With MEMflakes there are no keys to manage. The signatures could even be made public, because they are practically unclonable."
Background material on Veratag's website says the odds of cloning a MEMflake can be higher than one in a trillion trillion (1 followed by 24 zeros).
MEMflakes can be produced with today's chip fabrication equipment and support frequencies from approximately 50 KHz to 100 MHz, according to Schneiter. He said Veratag is concentrating on developing chips that operate around 13.56 MHz and can be read from up to 10 centimeters away.
MEMflakes could be used together with traditional RFID tags or in place of them for authentication and security applications, Schneiter said. For example, because each MEMflake has a unique signature, MEMflakes could be used instead of traditional RFID chips for product authentication. Or, chips could be used together to safeguard communication. The MEMflake chip would receive a signal from a secure reader, which would authenticate the reader before allowing a second RFID chip to transmit its stored data.
"Ultimately we imagine hybrid approaches to security," Schneiter said. "Whether it's on a single chip or dual chips remains to be seen."
MEMflakes themselves can't be encoded with data, but can be created with unique frequency patterns that can serve as identifiers. "We can impose frequencies, and patterns of frequencies, on these chips when they are manufactured," Schneiter said. "It's akin to the approach taking with the EPCglobal standards, which reserve one set of bits to identify the manufacturer, another for a unique serial number, and so on."
Veratag has three patents pending, including two it licensed from the Craighead Research Group at Cornell University, where MEMS resonator research and development is taking place. Veratag formed in late 2006 and is currently seeking more venture funding to continue product development and add staff to the three-person company.
Veratag is targeting the RFID market for its innovation because of its growth potential, especially for payment card and identification applications. Schneiter said it is difficult to assess whether current RFID security is adequate, because new applications are emerging and the scale of use is growing to unprecedented levels.
"Now that the technology is getting ubiquitous and more and more systems depend on it, the threats are getting more serious," he said. A recent Dutch government warning that RFID fare cards could be compromised underscores the point (see Yet Another RFID Hack Could Affect Up To 1 Billion Cards).
Concerns that RFID is insecure and unproven for some applications also are helping drive the current wave of legislation that aims to restrict how RFID is used (see Washington RFID Law Could Pave Way For More and Study: Consumers Misunderstand RFID and Its Security).
Several new chips have been introduced in the past few weeks, but security features have not been highligted except by Alien Technology, which recently released a Gen2-standard chip with new security features, including the ability to put password protection on specific memory blocks (see New Alien RFID Chip Adds Memory, Security, Performance).
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| RFID Tags & Labels | Confidence in RFID - Confidex tags and tickets
The challenges of various industries lead Confidex to develop a comprehensive offering of special tags and labels. Confidex tags are used in a variety of applications ranging from tracking items in the retail supply chain to automotive manufacturing and petrochemical installations. Confidex designs and manufactures contactless tickets for public transport. Visit www.confidex.fi | | | RTLS & Active RFID | Locate it now. How? Ekahau. That's how!
Ekahau RTLS (Real-Time Location System) automatically tracks assets and people via your existing Wi-Fi network. Control costs and improve asset management with Ekahau. For more information, visit us at www.ekahau.com. | | | Products & Services | PCB Tracking & Visibility Solution from Omnitrol Networks
Off-the-shelf solution provides automated real-time visibility and complete electronic pedigree for traceability on parts and WIP providing real-time dashboards, alerts and reports for shop-floor management. The pedigree information is automatically programmed into Texas Instruments' RFID tag for access to critical data without the need for connection to a back-end database. Learn more. | Employees steal over $1 billion per week from employers
the American Management Association reports. 95% of businesses are victimized by employee theft. Managers are reluctant to ask questions, because trusted employees may feel offended, leaving business owners in a difficult situation. What can you do? Nox: Intelligent Perimeter Defense from Simply RFID provides advanced security and protection for business assets. | | | Upcoming Events | AWA PABS08 N. America Conference, Sept 11-12, Chicago, IL
AWA is organizing the Product Authentication & Brand Security Conference 2008 on September 11-12 in Chicago, IL. The event includes presentations and panel discussions with brand owners, legal authorities, associations, converters and suppliers; also networking sessions, a supplier forum, a social program and more. Find more on the program here. | AWA PABS08 Asia Conference, Dec 4-5 - Hong Kong, China
AWA presents the Asian Product Authentication & Brand Security Conference 2008, to be held on 4 & 5 December in Hong Kong, China. PABS08 Asia focuses on the threats specific to the Asia Pacific region, various elements of IP Theft, and leading-edge solutions. Find more on the program here. | European Supply Chain & Logistics, 13-15 May, Germany
Bringing together Europe's leading providers of supply chain management to evaluate best practices and to move the supply chain agenda into the boardroom. Also, featuring the AMR Research Strategy Session: What makes a supply chain world class in today's global market? More information here: www.supplychain.eu.com | SCAN & RFID CHINA 2008, June 19-21, Guangzhou, China
As one of the earliest, most specialized and authoritative exhibitions in China, approved and supported directly from State Ministry, the 8th SCAN & RFID CHINA 2008 will present you the impressive up-dated development and market of RFID technology in rising China. To know more, please go to www.scan-china.com. | | | Employment | RFID Recruiters - 100% Focused on RFID Recruiting
Whether your company is looking for the best RFID talent or you have the best RFID talent and are looking for the best RFID employer, RFID Recruiters offers the most focused approach to your objective. To learn how the RFID industry and the RFID job market are evolving, visit www.rfidrecruiters.com | | | Research & Whitepapers | RFID Marketing Strategies Report
Thirty-nine pages of original research on RFID audience perceptions, including 30+ figures of tactics, content & messaging, and recommendations to guide marketing strategy. Also, Top-10 RFID company rankings based on 550+ survey respondents. View the executive summary free, with Top-3 sample rankings. Only $495 Individual License or $795 Corporate License. Available now |
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