Antennas for RFID tags

Abstract

This communication covers the design and optimization of antennas for RFID tags at UHF and microwave frequencies. Such design will focus on the specific characteristics of RFID applications such as back-scattering mode, variability of substrates and low cost constraints. The introduction includes a short history of RFID development. The second part will address the main characteristics of RFID antennas. The third part introduces the material characterization. Current developments of RFID antennas that meet the objectives of low-cost and size reduction are presented in part four. Design of antennas on plastic substrate using conductive inks will be shown as an example of low-cost approach. Advanced design techniques for size reduction, such as fractal techniques will be introduced and some design examples will be discussed. The fifth part concerns antenna modeling from the system point of view and examples of system simulation of an RFID communication will be shown.