FEIG ELECTRONICS Introduces the compact CPR60, the latest addition to their CPR family of modules for RFID reader terminals

Leveraging FEIG ELECTRONIC’S HF-RFID technology, the CPR60 module features four smart card connectors, a low-power standby mode, support for contactless smart cards and transponders, all packed into a compact 1.6 x 1.6 inch form factor.

FEIG ELECTRONICS, a leading global supplier of RFID readers and antennas, today announced commercial availability of the CPR60, a compact RFID reader module designed for use in terminals, printers, handheld and portable devices. This tiny module offers four interfaces for smart card contact units, making it suitable for electronic ticket applications in public transport.

Demand for RFID readers is surging: according to Allied Market Research, the market is forecasted to grow from $8.9 billion in revenue in 2018 to an impressive $22.5 billion by 2026, registering a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 9.8%. Portable and handheld RFID readers, which the CPR60 module is designed for, accounted for over 60% of the total market in 2018 and this is expected to continue. The CPR60 also operates in the HF frequency band (13.56 MHz) and this segment of the RFID reader market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 14.7%, outperforming the market average.

The simplicity and low cost of RFID technology has facilitated its adoption for a variety of uses such inventory management, toll collection, animal identification, and tracking of mobile medical equipment. Typical applications for compact RFID readers include security and access control, electronic payments, ticketing, e-passports, document tracking, patron management, product authentication, asset tracking, and medical uses such as patient management and pharmaceuticals tracking.

COVID-19 has highlighted the necessity, not just the convenience, of contactless payment with smart cards. The need for RFID contactless solutions continues to grow rapidly, overall, contactless smart cards are growing at 18% a year, and are expected to see even faster growth ahead.

The CPR60 supports multiple HF ISO standards and offers multiple interfaces on a single reader which reduces hardware and integration costs and complexity. The CPR60 offers the highest flexibility by connecting to individual external antennas.

The CPR module family from Feig offers extensive support for developers: CPRStart software for test, configuration, and demonstration of the reading functions and a firmware update tool, as well as numerous SDKs (software development kits) and drivers to support quick integration into any customer application. A development board is also available for developers to test functions and program interfaces and applications. The module includes an embedded antenna, 3 SAM sockets (ID-000), a smart card connector (ID-1) and common connectors for the USB, SPI and RS232 interfaces.

All of FEIG modules use the same API for integration even with different protocols such as Low Frequency(LF), High Frequency (HF) and Ultra-High Frequency (UHF or RAIN RFID) allowing easy integration for environments that require various technologies for end to end RFID solutions.