Small Footprint. Bigger Possibilities: Introducing MARQUEE UCODE 9
ARC Spec Q qualified RAIN RFID performance, now in an antenna small enough for accessories, compact packaging and other space-constrained items.
As item-level RFID expands into smaller products and packaging formats, available tagging space becomes an increasingly important design constraint.
That creates a difficult balance. The RFID inlay needs to become smaller without giving up the performance required for practical identification, inventory management and supply chain visibility.
Hana RFID developed MARQUEE UCODE 9 (TX2915-Series) around that challenge. With an antenna measuring just 29 × 15 mm, MARQUEE combines an ultra-compact footprint with NXP UCODE 9 and ARC Spec Q qualification. According to Hana’s product briefing, it is the smallest inlay currently qualified for ARC Spec Q.
Why smaller RFID inlays matter
Traditional RFID labels often provide enough space for comparatively large antenna structures. That is not always the case as RFID moves into accessories, smaller retail items and compact packaging.
Branding, barcodes, regulatory information and other printed content all compete for the same limited label area. In some applications, the available space can become a barrier to RFID integration.
A smaller inlay gives converters and packaging designers more flexibility. Instead of designing the label or packaging around the RFID antenna, the RFID component can fit more naturally within the available space.
MARQUEE was developed to help bring reliable RAIN RFID identification into these more space-constrained applications.
Miniaturization is an RF engineering challenge
Making an antenna smaller is not simply a matter of reducing its dimensions.
At UHF frequencies, antenna size, impedance, bandwidth and efficiency are closely connected. As the antenna becomes smaller relative to its operating wavelength, maintaining practical RFID performance becomes more demanding.
For MARQUEE, Hana optimized the antenna geometry and its interaction with the IC as one RF system. The objective was not to create the smallest antenna possible, but to achieve a compact design that still meets a recognized application performance specification.
The successful ARC Spec Q qualification demonstrates that a 29 × 15 mm antenna can deliver independently benchmarked performance while occupying significantly less physical space.
29 × 15 mm: more freedom for label design
MARQUEE’s compact antenna footprint opens additional options for finished RFID label construction.
For converters, the smaller dimensions can provide greater flexibility around die-cut geometry and label formats. For brands, the reduced RFID footprint leaves more room for graphics, product information, barcodes and other functional elements.
This is particularly relevant for accessories and other small retail items, where available label real estate can be limited.
The benefit is straightforward: more flexibility to integrate RFID without forcing the product or packaging design to accommodate a larger antenna.
ARC Spec Q qualified
MARQUEE UCODE 9 has achieved Auburn University RFID Lab ARC Spec Q qualification.
ARC qualification provides an independent performance benchmark and gives converters, brands and RFID solution providers an additional level of confidence when evaluating an inlay for an application.
For a highly compact antenna, the qualification is particularly meaningful. Reducing antenna dimensions while maintaining the characteristics required to satisfy the specification requires careful RF design and control.
According to Hana’s product briefing, MARQUEE is the smallest inlay currently qualified for ARC Spec Q, creating a new compact option within the specification.
Powered by NXP UCODE 9
MARQUEE combines Hana’s compact antenna architecture with the NXP UCODE 9 RAIN RFID IC.
The antenna and IC were developed as an integrated RF system, with the antenna geometry optimized around the electrical characteristics of UCODE 9.
This system-level approach becomes increasingly important as inlays get smaller. With less physical antenna area available, design and manufacturing tolerances can have a greater influence on RF performance.
MARQUEE brings that antenna and IC integration together in a platform designed for commercial production and item-level RFID deployment.
MARQUEE UCODE 9 at a glance
| Specification | MARQUEE UCODE 9 |
|---|---|
| Product series | TX2915-Series |
| Antenna size | 29 × 15 mm (1.140 × 0.590 in) |
| IC | NXP UCODE 9 |
| Frequency | UHF 860–960 MHz |
| Protocol | EPCglobal Gen2v2 / ISO/IEC 18000-63 Type C |
| ARC qualification | Spec Q |
| Inspection | 100% tested |
| Delivery formats | Dry Inlay, Paper Face |
Compact design, scalable manufacturing
RF performance is only one part of a commercially useful inlay.
A compact antenna also needs to be manufacturable consistently and efficiently at volume. MARQUEE reflects Hana’s approach of considering antenna design, IC integration and manufacturing requirements together during product development.
Its smaller footprint can also support more efficient material use depending on the final inlay and converting configuration. At high production volumes, these efficiencies can become meaningful.
This connects miniaturization to a broader objective: enabling new RFID applications while maintaining the quality and scalability required for commercial deployment.
Designed around the application
As RAIN RFID adoption expands, a limited set of standard antenna sizes cannot address every product and packaging requirement.
MARQUEE is part of Hana RFID’s continued development of application-driven inlay platforms. The approach starts with the constraints of the intended use case and considers antenna size, RF performance, IC integration and manufacturability as a complete system.
For MARQUEE, the challenge was clear: bring qualified RAIN RFID performance into significantly less physical space.
The result is an ultra-compact platform designed for accessories, inventory management and supply chain visibility, giving converters and brands another option for bringing item-level intelligence to smaller products.
Small footprint. Bigger possibilities.
For more than two decades, RFID antenna engineering has required a balance between size, performance, bandwidth, materials and manufacturing tolerances. As RFID moves onto a wider variety of items, that balance becomes even more important.
At 29 × 15 mm, MARQUEE UCODE 9 pushes one of those boundaries while meeting ARC Spec Q requirements.
It is a small inlay designed to create more room for RFID.
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Interested in evaluating MARQUEE UCODE 9?
Contact Hana RFID for product information, samples and technical evaluation.
