Written by Dann Anthony Maurno, Editor-In-Chief, and Louis Sirico

In a surprise move, leading UHF Gen 2 radio frequency identification (RFID) solutions provider Impinj, Inc. today announced the acquisition of Intel Corporation’s (INTC) RFID Operation – owners of the award-winning R1000 RFID reader chip.

A little over a year ago, Intel introduced the R1000 reader chip which incorporates the complete transmit, receive, demodulation, and baseband functions of the EPCglobal UHF Class 1 Gen 2 standard into one integrated circuit (see technical specifications below).  By consolidating 90% of the components found in a traditional discrete reader into a single IC, it reduces the design complexity for manufacturers that want to develop reader products.  Since the R1000’s release, it has been incorporated into more than two dozen different products ranging from short-range embedded modules to long-range dock door readers (see break-out box of manufacturers using the R1000). From this point forward, it will be known as the Impinj Indy R1000 Reader Chip.

Kerry Krause, formerly with Intel’s RFID Operation and now Vice President of Reader Silicon for Impinj, took time to walk IndustryWizards.com through the details.  Krause made the move to Impinj along with six other former Intel employees. Financial details are undisclosed.

The official take is that "The UHF RFID market is a strong opportunity, and we believe this business and its assets are an optimal fit for Impinj,” according to Rich Wykoff, general manager of Intel’s New Business Initiatives (NBI) incubator. "Intel’s NBI incubator program is practiced at establishing new businesses in emerging markets, and Impinj’s acquisition of the RFID Operation demonstrates the incubator’s ability to create valued businesses in new technology areas."