Design and analysis of a low-cost passive radio frequency identification tag

Abstract

Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a means of remotely identifying objects through radio frequency communication. An RFID system provides a means to capture information inexpensively and accurately. This system allows real-time accessibility and delivery of object information, which helps track assets and shipments globally. A transponder integrated circuit (IC) is used for storing and retrieving information about a remote object. A passive RFID tag consists of an antenna and a radio frequency compatible transponder IC labeled, or attached, onto products for unique identification. This thesis deals with passive RFID tag antenna design and analysis of the read range performance of the tag on objects of different dielectric materials. Given the limits of the operating power of the transponder IC and the RFID reader transmitting power, the design issues are the read range of the tag, size of the tag, and impedance matching the tag antenna to the transponder IC. Also in this thesis a step-by-step process used to design a passive RFID tag is presented. Finally, the fundamental constraints of the design, and their associated tradeoffs, as well as measurements and analysis of the designed passive UHF RFID tag, are given.