Impinj buys Intel's RFID outfit

PROVIDER OF EPC Gen 2 UHF radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, Impinj, today said it had closed a deal to buy Intel’s RFID operation in return for Intel getting a stake in the firm.

Chipzilla’s RFID outfit was set up by the company’s New Business Initiatives (NBI) incubator and its R1000 chip, released back in March 2007, is quite a coveted piece of tech, integrating 90 per cent of the components required for a reader radio, on just one chip.

Most RFID readers are pretty big, measuring about the same as a hardback book, but Intel’s R1000 chip is much smaller, at only about the size of a PC card. Coupled with what Impinj boasts to be the chip’s “superior performance”, its small size makes it easier for designers to imagine new applications and ways of bunging it into all kinds of different devices, ranging from fixed, to mobile, to embedded and more.

The chips could also be used in a whole plethora of markets, such as in supply chain management, authentication and access control, and asset tracking.

Rich Wykoff, general manager of Intel's NBI incubator noted, "Impinj's acquisition of the RFID Operation demonstrates the incubator's ability to create valued businesses in new technology areas."

Just how much Impinj equity Intel would be acquiring in return for the purchase wasn't disclosed, but hopefully it won’t ‘impinge’ on the privately owned firm too much. µ