Frequently Asked Questions - RFM offers a full set of custom embedded wireless networking solutions like Zigbee wireless mesh sensor networks, RF modules, IC transceiver, IC transmitters and IC receivers. RFM, Inc. manufactures low power wireless and RF radio modules, wireless mesh nodes for distributed sensing on distributed sensor networks. Low Power radio, n../arrowband and short range devices, front end saw filters, active RFID, RFIC, coupled resonator filters, single silicon chips in the 70MHZ and 300-1000Mhz range.

Question:
Why Use Wireless?

Answer:
Carrying signals over wires is the traditional approach to connect equipment for monitoring and control. But advances in wireless technology now make this a superior connectivity approach in many cases. Using wireless connections offers many advantages:

Lower Hardware Cost – The hardware for wireless connections can cost no more than wired communications interfaces. And for any significant distance, the considerable cost of the wire itself, with conduit and other associated material, can be avoided.

Lower Installation Cost – The cost of installing wiring can be incredibly expensive, especially to retrofit to existing equipment and sites, and especially for wiring runs of more than a few 10’s of feet. Wireless avoids these costs also.

Less Disruptive Installation – Installing wiring is intrusive, causing downtime and disruption to on-going operations. It may not even be permissible to install wires if the equipment is in a facility that someone else controls. Installing a wireless connection is usually quick, easy and unobtrusive.

Portable or Moving Equipment – Most portable or moving equipment has not been connected for monitoring and control because wiring is not feasible. Using wireless, this equipment can be managed to improve its productivity and performance.

Ad Hoc Deployments – Some applications only require sensors to be deployed temporarily. Or the location of the sensors needs to change to respond to other changes at the facility. This is much easier and less expensive to do using wireless connections.

Wireless connections perform equivalent to wiring in most monitoring and control applications – at lower cost and with more versatility.
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Question:
What is the Anatomy of a Wireless Sensor?

Answer:
There are a number of wireless technologies that can be used to provide connectivity in place of wires. Each technology has its own strengths and tradeoffs, and is optimized for certain applications and situations. In many cases, the best solution may involve using multiple wireless technologies in concert.

A wireless connectivity solution is part of an overall system – a system intended to deliver remote monitoring and control. There are several elements of these systems. The wireless connectivity elements must be integrated well with each other, and with the overall application system.

The diagram show the basic anatomy of a wireless connectivity solution.

The sensors and actuators are the elements that are being remotely monitored or controlled. They can measure a wide variety of parameters. They may be embedded in the equipment and managed by an on-board controller, or they may be retrofitted or attached to the equipment.

The field node is the wireless element that interfaces with the sensors and actuators, and has a radio for communicating with the rest of the network. The field node may be directly integrated with the sensors and actuators, or separate and attached to them through an industry standard interface.

Router nodes may be present to receive wireless signals from one node and transmit them on to others. Router nodes are needed to expand the size of the network beyond what just one transmitter can reach, and to provide redundant communications pathways to make the network reliable. Router nodes may be dedicated devices, or just another function of a field node.

A gateway node provides the linkage between the monitoring and control application and the wireless network, with its attached sensors and actuators. The gateway node may connect directly to an application computer, but more often it connects to a communications gateway that communicates with the application computer over another network, such as the Internet. The gateway node may actually be built into that communications gateway.

The connection between a remote management application and the communications gateway is made over a wide area network. That network may be the Internet, telephone lines, or another type of wireless network such as cellular or satellite. The wide area connection may actually be over a combination of these networks.

A monitoring and control application receives and analyzes sensor data, and it issues control commands to actuators. It may present sensor data to an operator, and accept manual command instructions, or it may analyze the data on its own and make automated decisions for notification and control.
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Question:
How does RFM manufacture its wireless component products?

Answer:
The Company outsources its manufacturing as follows: one manufacturer in the Philippines (Automated Technology (Phil.) Inc., one manufacturer in Taiwan (Tai-Saw Technology Co., Ltd) and one manufacturer in Japan (Morioka Seiko Instruments, Inc., a division of Seiko Instruments, Inc.) for volume assembly of its products.

Volume offshore assembly produces components in three distinct package types. These packages include the TO39 components, surface-mount (SMT) components and module devices. TO39 component manufacturing involves the assembly of single-die devices into leaded metal packages in which the leads are used to mount the packages through holes in printed circuit boards. SMT package products contain SAW die and in some cases, other electronic components as well. In this manufacturing process, automated procedures allow up to 400 devices to be processed at a time using custom-designed equipment representing a unique application of existing manufacturing technology. Module manufacturing consists of assembling multiple devices, one or more of which is a SAW.
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Question:
What are RFM core technologies?

Answer:
RFM core technologies include SAW technology and RF circuit design expertise. SAW devices are manufactured on piezoelectric materials such a quartz by applying thin-film metal patterns using semiconductor processing techniques. SAW devices convert RF voltages to mechanical (acoustic) waves that travel on the surface of the piezoelectric material. The acoustic waves are guided and sampled to implement very precise RF filtering and frequency control functions. RF circuit design, the second core technology, is another area of expertise for RFM as its engineers understand the complexity of RF design and the many problems our customers encounter when developing a wireless product or application. These core technologies enable RFM to remain competitive in the marketplace by offering a diverse range of products. Furthermore, with an expansive technical support staff and the focus on customer satisfaction, RFM benefits from blending this technological expertise of SAW technology and RF circuit design to provide value-added solutions and functionally integrated products.
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Question:
What is RFM quality policy?

Answer:
RFM's policy is to "exceed customer expectations by offering innovative product solutions developed by listening and responding to our customers and employees." Our focus is to deliver a wide range of high quality wireless products to our customers, on time, supported by a corporate environment focused on continual improvement. RFM is ISO9001:2000 registered and is supported by manufacturing partners which are registered and compliant to the TS16949:2002 automotive quality standard.
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Question:
What markets and industries does RFM serve?

Answer:
RFM focuses on specific market opportunities where SAW technology solutions coupled with RF design expertise address current and emerging application requirements. Key markets include automotive, consumer, industrial, medical and telecommunications. Some of the many applications, which include SAW technology, are listed below.