Impinj has introduced xSpan, a new RAIN RFID gateway that delivers the real-time identity and transition detection of inventory, assets and other business-critical items. Ideal for use in facility entrances and exits, doorways, hallways, hospital rooms and similar spaces, xSpan is optimized to track items as they move along a path. xSpan has the aesthetics to blend into high-end retail stores yet is rugged enough for warehouse logistics and shipping environments.

RAIN RFID is a wireless technology that connects items to the internet.

xSpan joins Impinj’s existing xArray gateway in providing both item identity and location along a path. Impinj’s gateway products are part of the connectivity layer of the Impinj platform, which includes endpoints, connectivity and software.

xSpan’s features combine real-time monitoring and transition detection in a simple-to-deploy package. A single xSpan provides continuous item visibility in a coverage area up to 1,000 square feet. Multiple xSpans combined with other Impinj connectivity devices can cover larger areas. Able to track items as they move along a path, xSpan can help companies understand when items are entering or exiting areas or transitioning between zones.

xSpan is power-over-Ethernet (PoE), low-profile and lightweight, making it versatile and easy to install on both ceilings and walls. xSpan maintains peak performance with Impinj’s patented Autopilot technology, which automatically optimizes xSpan’s settings based on its environment.

“Businesses that need to monitor items transitioning from one space to another, or determine item location along a path, will find the Impinj xSpan well-suited to their requirements,” said Craig Cotton, vice president of marketing and product management.

xSpan can be deployed standalone or as part of the Impinj platform or in a mixed RAIN deployment. Users who deploy the Impinj platform, including Impinj endpoints, connectivity devices and enterprise-class software, will achieve enhanced functionality over a mixed deployment. Impinj’s enterprise-class software, ItemSense, delivers item identity and location information from xSpan and other Impinj connectivity devices to partner applications, while also simplifying system configuration, deployment and management. The system is being introduced this month.