Design and development of antennas for UHF RFID applications

• Main Author: Ouyang, Lili.
• Other Authors: Lu Yilong
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Electrical and electronic engineering::Antennas, wave guides, microwaves, radar, radio
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/39790
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

With the extensive use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) applications such as electronic toll collection, animal identification and library security systems have greatly facilitate the efficiency of our life. RFID technology offers many advantages over barcode, for instance, security and durability. Among various frequency ranges of RFID tag, Ultra high frequency RFID tags offers long read range and higher data rates which adds in more flexibility in applications like supply chain logistics, etc. However, UHF’s shorter wavelength also results in its poor performance when it is in vicinity to dielectric and metal materials. Therefore, in this project, we aimed to investigate the effects of dielectric and metal on the performance of 3 UHF RFID tags antennas, and introduce various techniques that can improve its performance in different dielectric and metal housing. In this project we will first introduce the basics of the RFID system and antenna theories. We then introduce performance measurements as well as the design goals of the antennas. By using High Frequency Structure Simulator, we set up 3 dielectric and metal housing for 3 respective UHF RFID tags. After a series of parametric analysis and performance comparison on the impedance matching, S11 return loss, directivity, gain, realized gain, and polarization ratios, effects of metal and dielectric on UHF RFID tags has been analyzed and discussed. We also proposed 3 improved designs solutions for the improving the antennas in dielectric and metal housing. Our performance analysis on the final design has successfully achieved the design goal.