Dual-Band RFID Tag Antenna Based on the Hilbert-Curve Fractal for HF and UHF Applications

A novel single-radiator card-type tag is proposed which is constructed using a series Hilbert-curve loop and matched stub for high frequency (HF)/ultra high frequency (UHF) dual-band radio frequency identification (RFID) positioning applications. This is achieved by merging the series Hilbert-curve for implementing the HF coil antenna, and square loop structure for implementing the UHF antenna to form a single RFID tag radiator. The RFID tag has directivity of 1.75 dBi at 25 MHz, 2.65 dBi at 785 MHz, 2.82 MHz at 835 MHz and 2.75 dBi at 925 MHz. The tag exhibits circular polarisation with -3 dB axial-ratio bandwidth of 14, 480, 605 and 455 MHz at 25, 785, 835 and 925 MHz, respectively. The radiation characteristics of the RFID tag is quasi-omnidirectional in its two orthogonal planes. Impedance matching circuits for the HF/UHF dual-band RFID tag are designed for optimal power transfer with the microchip. The resulting dual-band tag is highly compact in size and possesses good overall performance which makes it suitable for diverse applications

Design and development of novel radio frequency identification (RFID) tag structures

The objective of the proposed research is to design and develop a series of radio frequency identification (RFID) tag structures that exhibit good performance characteristics with cost optimization and can be realized on flexible substrates such as liquid crystal polymer (LCP), paper-based substrate and magnetic composite material for conformal applications. The demand for flexible RFID tags has recently increased tremendously due to the requirements of automatic identification in various areas. Several major challenges existing in today's RFID technologies need to be addressed before RFID can eventually march into everyone's daily life, such as how to design high performance tag antennas with effective impedance matching for passive RFID IC chips to optimize the power performance, how to fabricate ultra-low-cost RFID tags in order to facilitate mass production, how to integrate sensors with passive RFID tags for pervasive sensing applications, and how to realize battery-free active RFID tags in which changing battery is not longer needed. In this research, different RFID tag designs are realized on flexible substrates. The design techniques presented set the framework for answering these technical challenges for which, the focus will be on RFID tag structure design, characterization and optimization from the perspectives of both costs involved and technical constraints.Ph.D.Committee Chair: Tentzeris, Manos; Committee Member: DeJean, Gerald; Committee Member: Ingram, Mary; Committee Member: Kavadias, Stylianos; Committee Member: Laskar, Jo

Design of a planar wideband patch antenna for UHF RFID tag

In this article, a planar wideband microstrip patch antenna for ultrahigh frequency (UHF) radio identification (RFID) tag is presented. By incorporating two resonating C-shape patches, two resonances are excited close to each other to create wide impedance bandwidth to cover the entire operating frequency of UHF RFID system between 860 and 960 MHz for universal mental mountable tag. For complex impedance matching between the antenna input terminal and the references microchip whose impedance is Zchip = (31-j212) Ω, a small rectangular loop feed structure was utilized where both of the resonating patches are magnetically coupled. The antenna design and simulation were carried out using finite element method based software, Ansoft HFSS v13. The simulated and measured radiation patterns at operating frequency of 915 MHz are in good agreement. the simulated and measured impedance bandwidth (Return Loss >_3 dB) of 159 and 155 MHz were obtained that are well above the required 100 MHz bandwidth

Novel Passive RFID Temperature Sensors Using Liquid Crystal Elastomers

When transporting perishable foods in the Cold Supply Chain (CSC), it is essential that they are maintained in a controlled temperature environment (typically from -1° to 10°C) to minimize spoilage. Fresh-food products, such as, meats, fruits, and vegetables, experience discoloration and loss of nutrients when exposed to high-temperatures. Also, medicines, such as, insulin and vaccines, can lose potency if they are not maintained at the appropriate temperatures. Consequently, the CSC is critical to the growth of global trade and to the worldwide availability of food and health supplies; especially, when considering that the retail food market consists mostly (approximately 65%) of fresh-food products. The current method of temperature monitoring in the CSC is limited to discrete location-based measurements. Subsequently, this data is used to assess the overall quality of transported goods. As a result, this method cannot capture all the common irregularities that can occur during the delivery cycle. Therefore, an effective sensor solution to monitor such items is necessary. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a pragmatic wireless technology with a standardized communication protocol. Thus far, passive RFID temperature sensors have been investigated. However, each design has a limitation from which a set of design guidelines for an improved sensor solution is developed. That is, the new sensor should: (a) be compact to be applicable on individual products, (b) utilize purely passive technology to ensure longevity and cost-effectiveness, (c) monitor goods in a continuous fashion (e.g., operate through multiple room-to-cold and cold-to-room temperature cycles), and (d) operate in an independent mode, so that no resetting is required. In this research, antenna systems and RF circuit design techniques are combined with Liquid Crystal Elastomers (LCEs) to develop three novel temperature sensors. LCEs are temperature responsive polymers that are programmable and reversible. Notably, LCEs return to their original state when the stimulus is removed. Also, for the first time, cold-responsive LCEs are incorporated into the designs presented in this research. Two of the developed sensors convey temperature changes through the controlled shift in the operating frequency. The third design conveys temperature threshold crossings by reversibly switching operation between two RFID ICs (or two Electronic Product Codes). Finally, all designs have been fabricated and tested with favorable results in accordance to the above mentioned guidelines

A planar wideband microstrip patch antenna for UHF RFID tag

In this research, a planar wideband microstrip patch antenna for passive radio frequency identification (RFID) tag is proposed. To enable universal operation by covering the operating frequency of ultra-high frequency (UHF) RFID band from 860 MHz to 960 MHz, two C-shaped patches are employed. Both of the patches are inductively coupled fed by a rectangular loop feeding network for complex impedance matching with the referenced microchip impedance. The proposed antenna is designed for tagging metallic objects. To simplify the fabrication process and to reduce cost, a planar antenna structure is chosen over multi or cross layered configuration. The simulation and measurement results show impedance bandwidth of 159 MHz and 155 MHz (Return loss ≥ 3 dB) respectively when mounted on metal plate

Low power wireless technologies for AC current sensing

This thesis is concerned with the development of a novel RFID ac current sensing technique for smart power monitoring systems. The research aims to explore designing self-tuning RFID tags and antenna designs and transforming simple tags into passive ac current sensors.The sensing mechanism by which a self-tuning RFID tag is linked with a varactor tuning circuit and integrated into a current transformer is described. The proposed sensing tag structure is less complex and provides a cost-effective solution for power monitoring when many tags on individual appliances communicate wirelessly with a centrally mounted single RFID reader in the views of the tags to be read.New optimised RFID tag antenna designs for a current transformer are introduced. Antenna miniaturisation techniques are adopted in designing tag antennas to achieve compact physical integration with the transformer housing while maintaining the tag link. These optimisedtag antennas are designed in order to reduce the size of the tag system.The proposed current sensing concept is further explored to utilise two tag antennas in a single design. The two tag antennas are coupled with different tuning circuits and integrated into a single transformer for increasing the current sensing range of the sensor. The antenna design techniques of designing two tag antennas in close proximity with each other and how the mutual coupling between the tag antennas can be reduced are also studied