Radio Frequency Identification Chip Research Articles

3D Printed RFID Tag Antenna Miniaturized Through Volumetric Folding and Slow-Wave Structures

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is becoming important with emerging applications for smart cities. RFID Tags are required to be small in size, low in cost and must exhibit as long read range as possible. There is a direct tradeoff between Tag antenna size and its read range. In this work, we study this tradeoff through the use of a relatively higher dielectric constant substrate, volumetric folding, and slow-wave structures (SWS). A 3D antenna design is chosen due to two reasons, 1) it can be folded on a 3D structure, 2), the 3D structure can be used as a package for electronics (in case of active RFID implementation). To enable a low-cost realization, the antenna substrate (package) has been 3D printed with filaments of <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${\varepsilon }_{r}={5}.{3}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> . A dipole antenna has been folded on this 3D substrate, in a way that the electromagnetic fields radiating from various segments of the antenna do not cancel with each other. Finally, the antenna is loaded with specially designed SWS, whose values have been estimated using artificial transmission line theory. The final antenna design, operating at 866.9 MHz, has a <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${ka}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> of 0.26 and demonstrates a radiation efficiency of 32%. The antenna is integrated with a commercial RFID chip (Monza R6) through a silver paste and the measured read range is 2.73 m, while the corrected read range is 4.05 m when the impedance mismatch is considered. Despite being one of the smallest and the lowest cost design (involving 3D printing), the Tag demonstrates one of the highest read range.

A new design of UHF tag antenna for clothing identification using SRR

In this paper, we present a new antenna for radio frequency identification (RFID) tag operating in the Moroccan ultra high frequency (UHF) band around 868 MHz, this antenna is designed on a flexible plastic substrate of relative permittivity 3 and low tangential losses which is 0.002. The proposed tag is designed to identify clothing in supermarkets. The tag antenna has a miniature size of 38 mm in length and 26 mm in width. This miniature size was obtained by using two rectangular split ring resonator (RSRR). The impedance matching of the RFID chip with the antenna was carried out by a double T-matching structure. The antenna is designed, simulated and optimized using computer simulation technology (CST) microwave studio software and good results have been obtained in terms of impedance matching, gain and read range.

Screen Printed Antennas on Fiber-Based Substrates for Sustainable HF RFID Assisted E-Fulfilment Smart Packaging.

Intelligent packaging is an emerging technology, aiming to improve the standard communication function of packaging. Radio frequency identification (RFID) assisted smart packaging is of high interest, but the uptake is limited as the market needs cost-efficient and sustainable applications. The integration of screen printed antennas and RFID chips as smart labels in reusable cardboard packaging could offer a solution. Although paper is an interesting and recyclable material, printing on this substrate is challenging as the ink conductivity is highly influenced by the paper properties. In this study, the best paper/functional silver ink combinations were first selected out of 76 paper substrates based on the paper surface roughness, air permeance, sheet resistance and SEM characterization. Next, a flexible high frequency RFID chip (13.56 MHz) was connected on top of screen printed antennas with a conductive adhesive. Functional RFID labels were integrated in cardboard packaging and its potential application as reusable smart box for third party logistics was tested. In parallel, a web-based software application mimicking its functional abilities in the logistic cycle was developed. This multidisciplinary approach to developing an easy-scalable screen printed antenna and RFID-assisted smart packaging application is a good example for future implementation of hybrid electronics in sustainable smart packaging.

Channel Emulation for the Characterization of Wearable RFID Systems.

Wearable sensors with RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags are considered to be an integral part of the upcoming revolution in the IoT (Internet of Things) sector. As with many deployed IoT sensor systems, dynamic environment conditions present challenges in reliably measuring system performance; this difficulty is enhanced due to proprietary details about the sensors, such as an RFID chip embedded within a novel knitted antenna acting as a passive sensor. A repeatable and scalable platform is necessary to evaluate the performance of the entire system in the pre-deployment stage in order to compare the predicted effects of varying components, design, and integration of sensors in an integrated IoT device. This paper demonstrates the development of an RFID channel emulation testbed in the United States ISM band (902-928 MHz). The testbed includes a commercial RFID interrogator, a custom-built circuit board housing a commercial passive RFID chip, and a dynamic spectrum environment emulator (DYSE) for wireless channel emulation. A single link scenario was considered where the DYSE emulates the antenna gain fluctuation due to the sensing of breathing with a fabric-based RFID. Two regular and one irregular breathing scenarios were emulated, and breathing rate or anomaly was detected from post-processed RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) data received by the RFID interrogator.

Design of UHF RFID Sensor-Tags for the Biomechanical Analysis of Human Body Movements

This paper presents the design and the development of a Battery Assisted Passive Radio-Frequency IDentification (RFID) tag in the Ultra High-Frequency band integrated with inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors tested for the biomechanical analysis of human body movements. Enhanced by a compact and efficient meandered Planar Inverted-F Antenna (PIFA), the device exploits a specific RFID chip having a dual-access -wired and wireless- to the memory. A properly decoupled cell battery is also foreseen to boost the chip sensitivity and to supply power to an ultra-low power microcontroller and to the sensors. The device has been realized using off-the-shelf low-cost discrete components on FR4 substrate, validated, and tested in capturing real human movements. Two sensor-tags have been applied on the pelvis and on the torso of an individual moving in front of the RFID Reader antenna. Afterward, sensor data have been collected, processed, and filtered with specific algorithms, and used to control a musculoskeletal virtual model in the OpenSense software tool. The results show that the whole system correctly reproduces the performed movements, demonstrating the appropriateness of the proposed RFID-sensor in wireless movement capture applications.

Conceptualization of Smart System Based on RFID Technologies for Controlling Vehicle Speed

The Internet of things and its (IoT) application become more and more effective in various fields of our life. It provides many tangible and intangible advantages. The success of (IoT) Applications required many complimentary dimensions like the enhancements of needed technologies, developing appropriate business models in addition to the security issues. Radio frequency identification (RFID) is one of the widely used technology that belong to IoT family. This paper will introduce a concept model which is performed in Saudi Arabia, and it can be applied in another country as well. Country’s specific requirements regarding legal issues and the use of IoT applications and technologies are taken into consideration, too. This idea is about Smart streets where reader for speed data is used from RFID chip placed in vehicles in order to control the speeds instead of the widely used camera system to increase the safety.

Textronic UHF RFID Transponder.

In order to respond the growing interest towards radio frequency identification textile transponders, the authors propose a new approach to design radio frequency identification (RFID) devices by introducing the RFIDtex concept. The coupling system of inductive loops is implemented in the textronic structure with the RFID interface in order to split the transponder into two independently manufactured components. Then both modules can be easily integrated into the RFIDtex tag. The presented simulation and measurement results prove the concept of manufacturing a relatively small antenna in the form of a meandered dipole sewn in with a single thread, and further, that can be connected to the RFID chip through the coupling system without galvanic junctions. The achieved parameters clearly indicate that the tag can correctly communicate with the read/write device as well as the coupling between its both parts works properly, and the impedance matching is possible in this case. The possibility of confectioning products with electronic identification tags at the textile factory site and improved resistance to the impact of environmental conditions are the main advantage of the proposed approach to the RFID devices designing. The RFIDtex transponder idea proposed by the authors was restricted in the patent no PL 231291 B1.

Setup-Independent UHF RFID Sensing Technique Using Multidimensional Differential Measurement

Ultrahigh frequency radio-frequency identification (UHF RFID) technology using transducer-integrated antennas provides a cost-effective option for sensing. A novel setup-independent UHF RFID sensing system that can overcome challenges caused by the measurement setup with a priori unknown mutual distance and orientation between the tag and the read/write device (RWD) is proposed. The concept is based on using off-the-shelf radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips having self-tuning capability, which maximizes power transfer coefficient between RFID chip and RFID antenna. An ON-OFF differential (OOD) measurement is implemented to provide setup-independent sensing. The OOD parameters form a 3-D vector that can support more sensing states than prior art using single-dimensional information. Power transfer efficiency (PTE) and tag sensor efficiency (TSE) are defined, where PTE is the minimal power transfer coefficient in all sensing states and TSE is the minimal pairwise Euclidean distance of the OOD parameters. The RFID antenna layout is optimized by optimizing PTE and TSE simultaneously so as to offer sensing robustness without sacrificing communication performance in all sensing states. A water filling-level sensor has been designed and evaluated. Theoretical predications are favorably compared with experimental results under different measurement setups, having different relative distances and orientations between the tag and RWD.

Harmonic Voltage Reflection Analysis of UHF RFID Chips

In recent years, the exploitation of the nonlinear behavior of ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) radio frequency identification (RFID) chips has gained popularity. This article presents a measurement platform for the harmonic characterization of UHF RFID chips. The measurement of the incident and reflected wave at the RFID chip terminals is performed using a digital sampling oscilloscope (DSO). A novel signal-processing methodology is presented to extract time-domain reflection coefficient equivalents from a DSO measurement at the different load modulation states. Using a simultaneous measurement of the reflection coefficient with a vector network analyzer, the obtained measurement results were validated. Furthermore, a comparison to using real-time sampling and a power spectral density analysis is presented.

Long-Range Miniaturized Ceramic RFID Tags

Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a mature technology, which allows performing contactless data readout via wireless communication links. While communication protocols in this field are subject to regulations, there is a room of opportunities to improve the hardware realization of antennas devices, which support the technology. In particular, readout range extension and miniaturization of passive RFID tags is an important objective with far going impact on retail, security, IoT, and many others. Here we introduce a new concept of high-permittivity ceramic tag, which relies on different physical principles. Instead of using conduction currents in metallic wires to drive electronic chips and radiate electromagnetic waves, high permittivity components rely on an efficient excitation of displacement currents. Those are efficiently converted to conduction currents, powering a memory chip. The practical aspect of this approach is improved robustness to environmental fluctuations, footprint reduction, and readout range extension. In particular, our high permittivity ceramic ({\epsilon} ~ 100) elements have demonstrated a 25% reading range improvement in respect to commercial tags. In case, when state of the art readers and RFID chips are used, the readout distances of the developed ceramic tags are approaching 23 m and could be further extended with improved matching circuits.

Reliable UHF Long-Range Textile-Integrated RFID Tag Based on a Compact Flexible Antenna Filament.

This paper details the design, fabrication and testing of flexible textile-concealed Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags for wearable applications in a smart city/smart building environment. The proposed tag designs aim to reduce the overall footprint, enabling textile integration whilst maintaining the read range. The proposed RFID filament is less than 3.5 mm in width and 100 mm in length. The tag is based on an electrically small (0.0033) high-impedance planar dipole antenna with a tuning loop, maintaining a reflection coefficient less than −21 dB at 915 MHz, when matched to a commercial RFID chip mounted alongside the antenna. The antenna strip and the RFID chip are then encapsulated and integrated in a standard woven textile for wearable applications. The flexible antenna filament demonstrates a 1.8 dBi gain which shows a close agreement with the analytically calculated and numerically simulated gains. The range of the fabricated tags has been measured and a maximum read range of 8.2 m was recorded at 868 MHz Moreover, the tag’s maximum calculated range at 915 MHz is 18 m, which is much longer than the commercially available laundry tags of larger length and width, such as Invengo RFID tags. The reliability of the proposed RFID tags has been investigated using a series of tests replicating textile-based use case scenarios which demonstrates its suitability for practical deployment. Washing tests have shown that the textile-integrated encapsulated tags can be read after over 32 washing cycles, and that multiple tags can be read simultaneously while being washed.

Enabling Low Cost Flexible Smart Packaging System With Internet-of-Things Connectivity via Flexible Hybrid Integration of Silicon RFID Chip and Printed Polymer Sensors

A flexible hybrid integration strategy combing both advantages of the silicon chip and the printed polymer sensors is demonstrated for low cost smart packaging with internet-of-things connectivity. In the system, the silicon chip, as the general part, performs wireless energy harvesting, sensor signal acquisition, data processing and transmission through mature standard interfaces. The functions, form factor, and substrate of the printed polymer sensors can be customized according to the packaging requirements. To prove the feasibility, a 13.56 MHz radio frequency identification (RFID) chip with multi-sensor interface is designed and taped out. Ammonia and anti-open sensors are fabricated using the same conducting polymer (PEDOT:PSS) through solution printing processes. After characterization of their performance individually, a flexible smart packaging system is implemented with packed pork by integrating the RFID chip and the sensors onto a packaging film. Both the product quality and the integrity of the packaging are able to be conveniently inspected with a smartphone.

Design of UHF RFID Baseband Chip with Temperature Sensing

The radio frequency identification (RFID) with temperature sensor can achieve accurate management and body temperature measurement in animal husbandry. It also can improve the efficiency and epidemic prevention. A ultra high frequency (UHF) RFID chip baseband integrated with a specific temperature sensor is designed compliant with “Information Technology Radio Frequency Identification 800/900MHz Air Interface Standard” (GB/T 29768). Firstly, according to the overall function, the unit division and structure design of digital baseband are given. Secondly, a baseband temperature sensor control unit connected with temperature sensor is proposed. Finally, the whole function simulation and experiments on FPGA are completed. The experimental results show that the designed UHF RFID baseband can satisfy the communication of both sides and realize the interaction with the temperature sensor.

Liquid Pressure Sensing System With Coupling RFID and HMM Based on Distance Measurement

Liquid pressure measuring is of increasingly importance to promote sustainable operation of civil and industrial equipment. In this paper, a novel approach based on distance measurement is proposed by using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and Hidden Markov Model (HMM). Two RFID tags, which interrogated by reader, are mainly used to build a liquid pressure sensing system (LPSS). At the same time, an ultra-high-frequency RFID chip with self-tuning capability aiming to achieve impedance matching is exploited. While HMM takes pride in its real-time processing and high efficiency so as to make a reasonable prediction of liquid pressure. The feasibility of proposed scheme is verified by double tags coupling circuit design and simulation. Through hardware construction and testing, reliable pressure measurement is achieved in an indoor scenario ( $0.5\textit {cm}\leq {d}\leq 7\textit {cm}$ ). Meanwhile, parameter evaluating model (PEM) and sequential estimation model (SEM), which are based on Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) and HMM respectively, have been proposed to achieve online denoising.

Abstract P4-02-19: First reported use of the Faxitron LOCalizer™ Radiofrequency Identification (RFID) system in the axilla- A pilot trial in targeted axillary dissection (TAD)

Abstract Introduction: Adequately marking suspicious lymph nodes before neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients is commonly done by introducing a titanium clip followed by stereotactic hook wire location. However, clip dislocation and/or wire dislocation are common problems. Furthermore, locating a clip within the axilla is problematic since stereotactic location may be anatomically challenging. An ideal solution would be a clip which can be easily found without the use of a stereotactic intervention. This pilot trial proves the concept of using radiofrequency identification devices (RFID) in targeted axillary dissection (TAD).Methods: This pilot trial represents a single center, consecutively recruited, evaluation (n=10) for targeted axillary dissection using the Faxitron LOCalizer™ radiofrequency identification chip system. Patients were given the choice between wire guided TAD vs. LOCalizer™ TAD. Primary endpoints were: percentage of successful location /failure to locate. Secondary endpoints were major and minor complication rates as well as surgeon evaluated outcome.Results: Primary endpoints showed a 100% location rate of the suspicious lymph nodes at a 0% major complication (revision surgery) rate. Additional guided wire marking was not necessary for lymph node location. Surgeons evaluated the new system as being safe to use and only slightly more difficult to place than a standard clip or a wire system.Conclusion: This pilot trial proved the concept of TAD via a RFID system. When using this system, preoperative stereotactic lymph node marking is no longer required, thus patients may be spared additional x-ray exposure. Using the LOCalizer™ system should therefore be considered for any TAD. Citation Format: Wolfram Malter, Christian Eichler, Julian Puppe, Fabishy Thangarajah, Peter Mallmann, Barbara Krug, Mathias Warm, Johannes Holtschmidt. First reported use of the Faxitron LOCalizer™ Radiofrequency Identification (RFID) system in the axilla- A pilot trial in targeted axillary dissection (TAD) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-02-19.

Ethical Issues of Radio Frequency Identification Chips Implanted in Human Bodies: A Review

Objectives: This study belongs to the overview of an IT innovation technology known as “Radio Frequency Identification” (RFID) and its implantation in human bodies. Methods/analysis: This study provides critical analysis and review on ethical issues of RFID chips implanted in human bodies. Although there are some certain benefits to use this innovation in human bodies but on the other side its usage has very severe health impacts on human life. This study deals with RFID ethical issues, boundaries and constraints which confined its use. Findings: The major outcome of this study is to discuss and highlight these ethical issues and challenges due to which the deployment and implementation of this technology has become a controversial and debatable issue. Also focus on “legislation deficiencies” lying in RFID usage and suggest recommendations to improve it, so that its usage may continue for the betterment of mankind. Novelty /improvement: This article provides cutting edge knowledge on ethical issues of RFID chips implanted in human bodies for researchers of this domain. Keywords: RFID Legislation, Ethical Issues, Chip Implantation.

Harmonic RFID Communication Using Conventional UHF System

In this paper, a harmonic radio frequency identification (hRFID) system is proposed to overcome the challenges that limits the capabilities of a conventional UHF radio frequency identification (RFID) system, such as self-jamming and multi-path interference without any extensive modifications to the existing infrastructure. The proposed system exploits the third harmonic generation from the existing RFID chips for communication. The system is realized by designing an additional RF interface layer between the conventional RFID interrogator and an RFID tag. The interface layer transmits the query signal at the fundamental frequency and receives the backscattered harmonic signal from an RFID tag. It down converts the backscattered third harmonic signal to the fundamental frequency, and feeds it back to the conventional UHF interrogator for extracting the information. A dual band antenna design is also shown for improving the radiation efficiency of hRFID tags using a conventional RFID ICs with improved signal to noise ratio (SNR) and increased read range. A path is shown for improving an hRFID system by performing a study that relates the read range, RFID IC’s sensitivity, and the noise level with efficiency. The proposed system can be easily adapted to any of the current RFID applications.

Low-Cost Inkjet-Printed RFID Tag Antenna Design for Remote Healthcare Applications

This paper presents a low-cost, inkjet printed radio frequency identification (RFID) tag antenna for remote healthcare applications. The electrically small tag consists of nested-slot configuration and parallel strips. The tag antenna is exploited as a sensor by modifying its equivalent circuit to mitigate the effects of water, blood sample phantom, and the human body. As a result, the proposed RFID tag antenna with compact dimensions of 40 × 14 mm2, features a conjugate match with Impinj R6 RFID chip ranging from 890 to 937 MHz. Moreover, this tag has a read range of 3 m, 2.5 m, and 1.5 m on the water bottle, intravenous (IV) solution and blood bag, respectively. However, the read range of RFID tag on an empty water bottle or IV solution bag is 0.5 m. By comparing the read range of tag on empty and solution filled IV bags, the proposed tag was used as a water proximity sensor. Experimental testing of the tag is performed for sensing the level of the IV solution. Also, this tag is tested after mounting on the liquid mixture (a mixture of salt and sugar is used as a phantom to mimic the blood) filled plastic bags, which leads to a low-cost solution for blood storage management. Experimental results show a good agreement of the proposed tag toward its use in healthcare applications, which leads to better healthcare facilitation regarding cost, time, and care.

Automatic Attendance System

As we have come across many inventions to reduce the human efforts and already many systems have been introduced to do so. The specialty about this system is that in this system the chances of proxies reduces since the PIR(Passive INFRARED) sensor installed in the class will scan the number of heat signatures in the class first then accordingly the teacher will take attendance. This system uses the RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chips that will be already placed inside the ID card in order to make the process simpler.

Different Substrate Materials for Designing a Passive UHF RFID Tag Antenna

The Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology has been increasingly used for various application such as tracking of products, smart cards, identification, item management, security etc. In this paper, the performance parameter of the passive UHF RFID tag antenna has been studied for four different substrate materials viz., FR4 epoxy, PET, Rogers 4350, Taconic TLY materials. A simple meandered dipole antenna has been designed using a T-match stub for impedance matching of the tag antenna with the attached RFID chip. These different substrates are then designed separately, for the same antenna geometry. The effect of using these substrates on RFID tag antenna parameters such as reflection coefficient, antenna gain, VWSR, radiation pattern, impedance, ease of optimization level, read range, and radiation efficiency are then observed.