RFID Reader: Porticos Product Development
Porticos, a product design and product development engineering consulting firm in Morrisville, NC, has developed many products for the Spirit—currently owned by 3M—portfolio. The RFID reader unit displayed is a good example of the type of products Porticos’ hardware engineers are not only capable of conceptualizing but producing.
Product Design Concept
The harsh industrial environment in which items such as RFID readers can be developed requires IP protection. To ensure IP protection, effectively securing the safety of consumers in the future, Porticos’ hardware engineers prioritized the ability to test the RFID reader in a safe environment. They worked hard to allow space in their process for trial and error, while not sacrificing the security of the project overall.
The electronic functionality requires complete RF isolation from the outside world, as well as between the digital and RF sections inside of the unit. The high-power output for the transmitter required creative thermal management solutions. During the design concept process, Porticos kept in mind the need to execute all requirements while not jeopardizing the cost, time spent in production, or build quality.
Their solution was to integrate 3 separate sections—RF, Digital, and Power Supply—within the enclosure design. Porticos’ hardware engineer team conducted a thermal analysis to determine the most efficient means of handling the heat dissipation without requiring force cooling, otherwise known as fans. The resulting housings were die-cast aluminum, with secondary operations for the cosmetics and critical sealing surfaces. These housings were manufactured by Porticos’ partner Funfiek.
The final product passed all radiated emissions and thermal tests with no issues. This resulted in the implementation of the reader into products on the market today. RFID readers are quickly becoming the most necessary piece of technology that many companies are looking to integrate into their products.
Porticos is proud to have designed such an innovative and essential device.
