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A combination of wireless technologies is set to allow the next generation of mobile phones, PDAs, and laptops to be used as readers for almost any sensor application, ranging from blood glucose testing with a mobile phone to the remote temperature checking of an appliance in a secondary home with a laptop, according to Gentag.
Gentag has recently tested a broad platform including multi-band mobile phone technology and Wi-Fi devices, combined with a new disposable, batteryless (passive) RFID sensor platform and web-based software, allowing the real-time scanning of 13.56MHz sensors for almost any consumer application, worldwide.
Patented technology
The technology, which is described in part in US Patent 7,148,803, combines emerging multi-protocol and multi-function cell phone technology with a disposable wireless RFID sensor platform with external analogue and digital ports and Gentag's web software that allows real-time web-based overlays of geolocation information, unique ID data, sensor data, pictures, and software.
"Using this technology combination creates an immediate global market opportunity for consumer-based mobile phone applications, integrating instant item authentication with sensor data," explained Dr John Peeters, founder of Gentag. "For example, this technology platform can allow mobile phones, PDAs, and wireless laptops to be used as universal low-cost diagnostic devices for medical applications."
Infrastructure independent
Because the technology is based on either multi-band mobile phone technology or Wi-Fi, it can be adapted to almost any network or carrier. The technology is also customizable, easy to use for the consumer, scalable, and can include instant software updates for complex sensor applications.
Since the wireless sensor platform can be used without a battery and is disposable, the technology is also anticipated to displace more expensive wireless technologies such as Bluetooth for many common sensor applications.
Selected testing of the technology is planned over the coming months, and the technology could be distributed directly to the public via wireless carriers or mobile phone handset OEMs. The RFID sensors are also expected to be commercially available within the next few months.
Source: Gentag Inc.
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