Optimisation design for EEPROM embedded in UHF-RFID passive transponders

Abstract

Low cost and low power are the major requirements for radio-frequency identification (RFID) applications. In this article, optimisation techniques on ultra-high frequency (UHF) RFID passive transponders are proposed to achieve low power without loss of area. The optimisations cover the key sub-circuits, such as the charge pump, discharge scheme and sense amplifier in the embedded electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) of UHF RFID-passive transponders. A 256-byte EEPROM for UHF RFID application with an 0.8 mm × 0.7 mm chip area was designed and manufactured based on an SMIC 0.18 μm EEPROM process. The simulations and measurements show that, compared to the conventional design, a reduced power loss of more than 20% is achieved without a loss in the chip area.