Sentinel has developed a family of standard low frequency, passive (battery-free) RFID transponders, as well as some active element tags. We also offer on-tag controller circuitry and specialty tags where longer range, higher read speeds or resistance to harsh environments is a critical need.

We select the optimum basic frequency band, base-band processing techniques, amplifier stages (RF/IF) and gain-control for the RFID tag architecture. We also model and simulate the basic inlay with our computerized design process. We then complement that with our unique, patented and proprietary value-added elements. These primarily include our unique RF/IF front-ends, secondary packaging, and algorithms to compensate for and/or cancel out any RF interference, multi-path, noise, and EMI interference effects. We deploy RF conversion efficiency enhancement techniques, ground planes, special coatings, anti-static coatings, and shock/vibration/EMI/harsh environment protection elements to provide a truly robust transponders to suit your specific needs.

Our embedded reader and controller firmware is designed to give our tag antennas self-tuning and dynamic correction feedback loops, tag/reader antenna power burst profiles, as well as overall performance enhancing control parameters. These include variable duty-cycle, clamping, power cycling, delays, temperature compensation, and frequency hopping based on your requirements within the intended system application and its usage or RF environment. We perform RF modeling and frequency selection analysis to assure desired tag performance range and full parametric optimization.

Our standard and custom tags come in various form-factors, including special copper, Leitz, aluminum etch wire, etched rigid and Capton type high temperature film antennas, polyurethane encapsulated tags, air-coil and ferrite core tag antennas, glass encapsulated, hermetically sealed tags, and other proprietary RF-friendly materials. We offer on-board or separate controllers for impedance matching, auto-tuning, and duty-cycling. We also provide unique packaging, shapes and flexibility traits, so tags can be embedded in the end products with relative ease. We adjust for body fluids and tissue effect on tags to be worn while tracking people or animals. We use standard 16- or 32-bit microprocessors/microcontrollers, interfaces, buffering, and fast data transfer paths to enhance tags and thus the overall system performance.

Our tag elements are then customized further to operate with our custom reader modules and reader antenna for controlling the coupling (capacitive, inductive or impedance), system figure-of-merit and read range-speed performance. Our tags and systems can support simple stand-alone antennae, or dual-multiplexed antenna pairs (active and/or mirrored). Our multi-element arrays create antenna portals to provide enhanced range, omni-directional, or 3-D read coverage so that critical items can be identified, located and then tracked throughout the enterprise. All this is done automatically, wirelessly and seamlessly without human intervention.

As a part of our "build-to-order" or consulting services, we can develop specialty tags such as active (battery-powered) tags to be read by specialty beam-controlled antenna elements, phase-arrays and multi-element adaptive or beam-forming antennas.

For new RFID/ADC system development and consulting projects, please use our application development data input sheet to provide us with your requirements. We will use this information to generate a quote for your custom application.