A Novel Battery-Assisted Class-1 Generation-2 RF Identification Tag Design

Abstract

This paper presents a new design of an enhanced passive tag (EPT) that can extend the read range of an EPCglobal class-1 Generation-2 tag by attaching a battery-assisted circuit (BAC) to the tag integrated circuit. The BAC generates a low-power unmodulated continuous wave with frequency outside the tag operating band to supply additional power to the tag. Empirical results demonstrate that a prototype EPT has a much longer read range and is more resistant to multipath fading than a regular class-1 generation-2 tag. Unlike a semipassive tag that depends on its local battery to work, a powerless EPT can function as a regular class-1 generation-2 tag. In other words, an EPT with a charged battery is similar to a semipassive tag; after the EPT runs out of its battery power, it behaves as a regular class-1 generation-2 tag. Note that whether the EPT is powered or not, it is fully compatible with EPCglobal class-1 generation-2 specification.