High Frequency RFID Module Design and Performance Comparison between Different Antenna Geometries for TV Applications

Heba Yüksel

doi:10.19113/sdufenbed.682004

Abstract

This paper examines the design of a 13.56 MHz Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader that is used in secure TV access applications. It also presents the performance analysis between different geometry and sizes of the reader’s antennas in order to achieve the optimum operational excellence. Four different antenna geometries and sizes are designed and analyzed; square (4 loop and 6 loop), rectangular, and circular antennas. In order to find the best way for achieving the optimum performance, simulations, calculations, and measurements have been implemented by comparing the antennas in terms of gain, read distance, and cost performances with the availability of proximity of metals and smart cards, considering accuracy and reliability. The reader design for secure TV access is aimed to work with a passive tag. The rectangular antenna operated at the 13.56 MHz of frequency level with a return loss of -27 dB. The 6 loop square antenna and circular antenna operated with frequencies different than the optimum frequency of 13.56 MHz for the desired application, so the adjustments and other tests were not necessary for such antennas. It has been observed that for such TV applications, the best performance in terms of read range and gain, is achieved for a read distance up to 5 cm using the 4 loop square antenna operating at the 13.56 MHz of frequency level with a return loss of -30 dB. Some enhancement techniques to optimize system performance against the capacitive effects of close proximity to metals and smart cards are also discussed like detuning the capacitor values in the matching circuit. This paper aims to fill the gap in literature in observing RFID systems’ performance with comparison of different size and geometry antennas by setting forth the best antenna geometry with metal and smart card effects.

Highlights

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology allows people to achieve a contactless identification of an item, an animal or a person by using radio waves
This paper aims to fill this gap in the literature through observing RFID systems’ performance with comparison of different size and geometry antennas and setting forth the best antenna geometry with metal and smart card effects
In order to find the best way for achieving the optimum performance, simulations, calculations, and measurements have been implemented by comparing the antennas in terms of gain, read distance, and cost performances with the availability of proximity of metals and smart cards, considering accuracy and reliability

Summary

Introduction

RFID technology allows people to achieve a contactless identification of an item, an animal or a person by using radio waves. A basic RFID system usually includes two main devices; a reader and a transponder or tag. The reader initiates the communication with the tag and enables the identification operation. The reader includes an antenna as a component which can operate at frequency ranges from 125 KHz to 5.8 GHz. The reader’s antenna generates the interrogating electromagnetic field which makes communication with the tag possible. Passive tags don’t have their own power source, so they are powered and the communication is achieved by the incoming Radio Frequency (RF) communication signal from the reader. They have the shortest read range but they are the cheapest at the same time. Another positive feature of such tags is they are the easiest when it comes to integrating into products and their life time is almost indefinite [1, 2]

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