Traditional printed trading cards for sport or fantasy games for collectors are bridging the gap between the real and digital worlds. This paper describes a newly developed ultra-thin, flexible NFC chip with a thickness of only 13microns. When connected with an antenna and inserted into a trading card, the flat topology has no negative impact on the card print quality and feel of the card, both essential items for maintaining collectable card value. The NFC function of the chip for contactless connection of the card content into the IoT world will be discussed.

Martin graduated from the University of Sheffield with an Honours degree in electronic engineering in 1983. He moved to Germany in 1984 and founded SES RFID Solutions in 2003. He serves as the CEO with responsibility for global business and new technology with particular focus on IoT and connected devices.

SES RFID Solutions is an industry leader in the design and manufacture of cutting edge electronic components and systems for automotive tire identification and sensing (WIRETX) plus ultra thin eco-friendly inlays (ECO-FLEX) for cards, labels and smart packaging.

 

The WIRETX products use patented UHF RFID tags that are embedded into tires for product identification from point of manufacture until the end of life. The ECO-FLEX inlays utilise an innovative flexible plastic NFC chip developed together AUO of Taiwan and printed antennas to produce ultra thin inlays on thermo-plastic or paper substrates.