What is an Asset-Management EEPROM?

Originally Published MDDI July 2003

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT INSIGHT

Asset-management EEPROMs are those designed specifically to be used as identifying tags on physical objects. These small integrated circuits (ICs) consist of a small amount of permanent memory that can either be read or written to through a simple interface. Communication with this family of EEPROMs can be through either a simple serial connection or a noncontact inductive loop that provides power to the device as well.

Companies such as Atmel (San Jose) manufacture a range of solutions, from six-pin ICs that require integration by the OEM, to completely packaged inductive tags that only require mechanical attachment to the device.

The host side is more complicated. The instrument must provide power to the EEPROM and a means of communication, either through a physical connection or inductively. The host-instrument software must support both the low-level communication protocol and the higher-level interface.

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