ASK Introduces C.scan Handheld Contactless Reader
12 May, 2003
category: Contactless
CTST, Orlando FL, May 12, 2003
– ASK S.A. today announced C.scan, a handheld RF reader for use with contactless smart labels. The reader is designed for asset management, supply chain management and parcel tracking. It is used in ASK’s RFID library items tracking and security sub-system, today’s most advanced library solution.
The C.scan is available immediately. The reader complements the C.label®, ASK’s recently announced family of contactless paper-based smart label products. ASK is the first company to achieve commercial production of a paper-based contactless smart label. ASK is demonstrating the C.scan reader and C.label technology in booth number 1341 at CardTech/SecurTech 2003 in Orlando from May 13th to 15th.
“Whether you are trying to inventory library books on a shelf or spot check assets, a mobile reader is essential to the day-to-day use of contactless technology,” said Xavier Bon, vice president sales & marketing for ASK. “We designed C.scan to deliver portable power that is easy to carry and use. It is lightweight and has a wand style antenna for convenient scanning, yet has a powerful dual-processor architecture optimized for high-speed RFID transactions. For example, the ASK C.scan reader and C.label combination is the only solution that can inventory a library bookshelf at walking speed.”
The C.scan is the latest in the ASK family of portable contactless readers designed specifically to read and write C.labels. The C.scan is suitable for data capture, and is capable of personalizing, reading, modifying and controlling contactless RFID labels.
The dual processor architecture is based on the ARM7 32-bit CPU for the application and user interface, and a ST 9 microcontroller for the contactless functions. By using dedicated separate processors ASK can deliver very high transaction speeds, controlling up to 100 items a second. The terminal includes a large backlit graphics display measuring 2.25″ square (57 mm square) that is suitable for up to 20 lines of 26 characters each.
Some other features are:
– Optional HCC 100 docking station provides battery charging and USB connection of the C.scan to a PC
– Standard three keys (Menu, OK, Cancel) plus up/down navigation key, or an optional 12 keys keyboard
– Software controlled buzzer and three LEDs for user feedback
– Weight of 11.2 ounces (320 grams) including the rechargeable Lithium-ion battery
C.scan is compliant with the ISO 14443 standards both type A and B. It supports ASK C.label and MIFARE® labels. An Application Development Platform is available for C.scan application software development.
About ASK S.A.
Founded in 1997, ASK is today the world leader in the design, development, marketing and manufacturing of dual interface contactless smart cards, paper contactless tickets and paper smart labels. ASK, named one of the top 10 emerging technology companies in Europe, has already supplied more than 7 million contactless cards and paper contactless tickets that are in operation in more than 40 cities in Europe, Asia and America. Clients include SNCF and RATP in Paris; transit operators in Newark, Toronto, Lisbon, Lyon, Venice, Naples, Taipei and Nice and the Rhein-Ruhr region; and BMS, an E-purse project in France sponsored jointly by the financial services and transport industries. The ASK manufacturing and personalization operations are near Nice in Sophia Antipolis, France with commercial offices in Paris, Hong Kong and the USA. In October 2001 ASK announced that it acquired the manufacturing assets for the Venus contactless smart cards developed by Motorola.
C.ticket® and C.label® are registered trademarks of ASK S.A. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.