RFID slice

Turck has expanded its BL ident RFID product portfolio with the release of a simple RFID (RFID-S) slice for its BL20 modular I/O system.

Each RFID-S slice contains two channels of RFID. Additional slices, as well as traditional discrete and analog I/O slices, may be added to the system, making what is claimed to be the only product that allows this combination on the same node on the network.

The design facilitates the integration of RFID into both new and existing systems. The RFID-S slice does not require special software for integration into a PLC system.

The slice is compatible with the company’s IP20-rated BL20 non-programmable and programmable gateways, available for use on Profibus-DP, Profinet, DeviceNet, Modbus TCP/IP and EtherNet/IP networks.

All RFID channels operate in parallel, so there is no time delay during communication between the tag and the read/write head. The slice is designed with digitised communication, allowing up to a 50 m separation between the transceiver and slice without noise.