Original URL: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/02/19/rfid_powder/
Boffins develop RFID 'powder' chips
By John Leyden
Published Monday 19th February 2007 15:39 GMT
Tiny Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips, 64 times smaller than current devices, have been developed by Hitatchi in Japan.
Little bigger than a grain of sand at 0.05 x 0.05mm, the chips come with a 128-bit memory capable of storing an identification number of up to 38 digits.

RFID powder chips (right) are 64 times smaller than Hitachi's existing technology
Advances in semiconductor miniaturisation technology and the use of electron beams to "write data on the chip substrates" allowed Hitachi to develop these RFID "powder" chips, which it hopes to bring to market within three years.

Anti-counterfeiting protection in admission tickets, gift certificates, and currency are among the applications under consideration, Pink Tentacle reports (http://www.pinktentacle.com/2007/02/hitachi-develops-rfid-powder/). ®
US.gov tunes out scathing RFID privacy report (2 November 2006)http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/11/02/rfid_study_disavowed/ Irish passports go RFID, and naked (23 October 2006)http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/10/23/smart_chips_for_smart_crooks/ EU mulls RFID privacy laws (17 October 2006)http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/10/17/eu_rfid_consultation/ RFID software market 'poised to explode' (9 October 2006)http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/10/09/rfid_software_market/ Shops must use RFID with care (28 September 2006)http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/09/28/rfid_privacy_warning/ US gets RFID passports (15 August 2006)http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/08/15/us_gets_rfid_passports/ RFID chips could aid surgical litter-bugs (19 July 2006)http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/07/19/rfid_surgery_debris/