Fujitsu Releases UHF-band RFID Tags Enhancing Document Management

Tokyo, September 10, 2009

Fujitsu Limited and Fujitsu Frontech Limited today announced the availability of UHF-band RFID document management tags which enable the efficient management of important documents, such as loan documents, contracts, and mail. Sales of the new tags begin September 30, 2009.

The new tags overcome one of the drawbacks of conventional RFID tags, which is that they previously could not transmit signals when stacked tightly together. However, it is now possible to simultaneously read the new tags even when spaced only 2mm apart in a stack of documents.

As a result, customers can use a handheld RFID tag reader⁽¹⁾ to efficiently manage tagged documents, even when they are stacked or packed in boxes. Moreover, whereas it used to take 3 seconds to read the signal from just one document, 100 documents can be read in just 4 seconds, dramatically reducing the workload of businesses managing large volumes of documents.

In addition, because the tags can be read while documents remain stored on shelves or in cardboard boxes, the document management tags help to prevent leaks of personal data, enabling secure document management.

In recent years, organizations such as financial institutions and public agencies which manage the long-term storage of documents are faced with a day-to-day increase in paper volume and more complex document management requirements. Storage standards, including the length of time the documents must be stored, can differ from document to document based on specific contract requirements and other factors. In many cases, these documents are often stored in warehouses or vaults, with the risk of loss or accidental disposal becoming a serious issue, as is the burden of managing such a large volume of documents.

To address these issues, Fujitsu and Fujitsu Frontech have created the document management tags which enable documents to be identified and managed even when they are left stacked or stored on shelves or in cardboard boxes.

The new tags will be exhibited at the Fujitsu booth at the 11th Annual Auto-ID Expo, which will be held September 16-18 at Tokyo Big Site.

Main Features

1. Signals from 100 tags can be read simultaneously in approximately 4 seconds when stacked 2mm apart.
2. In the past, special compartments needed to be configured to accommodate a fixed reader/writer, stationary antenna, and PC to read the RFID tags. The new tags, however, can be read simultaneously with simply a handheld tag reader.
3. Signals from each document management tag can be read from up to a distance of approximately 2.5m.
4. Security measures can be maintained in the handling of documents, such as mailed matter, as they can be read simultaneously even when left stored in a cardboard box or shipping case.

New RFID Technology

The development of the document management tag, which involved selecting antenna patterns and IC chips that would function well for use in stacked documents, was conducted in collaboration with Fujitsu Laboratories Limited (patents pending). As a result, signals from 100 tags can be read simultaneously even when stacked 2mm apart.

Reading document management tags using the handheld reader

Target Sales

Shipment of 5 million tags over 3 years.