GEDC RFID
ACTIVITY
June 16, 2006
Faculty:
Prof. Manos M. Tentzeris
Graduate Students:
S. Serkan Basat, Li Yang, Amin Rida, Anya Traille
Research Scientists: Dr. Daniela Staiculescu, Dr. Swapan Bhattacharya
Undergraduate Students:
Franklin Falcon
RFID Technology
Antenna
Chip
Assembly/Package
Smart Packaging
Case
Item
Food/ Healthcare
Drinking
…
Packaging
Battery
Chip
Antenna
3
4
5
6
GEDC RFID/Wireless Sensors Research Focus
RFID/Sensors
Network
Security
Anti-counterfeiting
Multistandard
HF, VHF, RF
Integrated Module
(System-on-Package)
Low-cost
Materials
(Paper, Organics)
Antennas
IC’s
Sensors
Power Sources
7
GEDC Roadmap: RFID/Sensors
2007
2008
2009
2010
RFID’s+4G Cell Phones
UHF RFID 868/924 MHz
Chipless RFID - low power
Telecom+Bio
Cognitive PAN – integration w/ multisensors
Multistandard RF (ISO,EPC)
Combination w/ mm-wave ultrafast
Biomonitoring / smart prosthetics
Multistandard readers
2011
Bionic control
Wearable compact readers
Automotive/Pharma RFID’s
Interactive Mobile Telediagnostics
Hydrophobic Paper-based, cond.inks
Ultracompact antennas UHF/HF
Nanomagnetics, piezo
Cognitive RFID’s: Spectrum Sensing
Embedded Printed batteries
USN: Wireless sensor net
Low cost/Low Power Ad-hoc nets
Tri-mode (passive/semiactive/active) RFID’s
Security (containers, encod)
June 13, 2006 by M.Tentzeris,
etentze@ece.gatech.edu
Technologies
Applications
2006
MIMO-RFID’s
8
Collaborating Companies










State-of-Georgia Port Authority + Savi Networks [RFID’s for
containers/Security RFID’s]
Siemens/Quad-graphics [paper-based chipless RFID’s]*
Pirelli [RFID’s +Sensors, automotive RFID’s]
National Semiconductors [RFID readers’
architectures/RFIDs+Sensors]
Avery Dennison [RFID Antennas/Low power
RFID’s/Benchmarks]*
Cisco [Passive RFID’s/Low power RFIDs]*
LXE [RFID Testbed for containers]*
NCR [RFID Testbed for different standards]*
Carrierweb [RFID’s for containers]*
Samsung Techwin [RFID’s for space/telecom apps]*
* Presence in Georgia

Collaboration with GTRI [Dr.G.Bennet – Optoelectronics,
Anya Traille – SEAL]
9
Components of RFID Smart Tags

Two Types of RFID tags
Passives –
Antenna and IC, no internal power source
Receive energy from the reader
Active [Semi-passive, Semi-active, Battery assisted,
Semiconductor] –
Antenna, IC, and an integrated power source
10
RFID Applications

Widespread usage in many
services:
-Healthcare and
pharmaceutical applications
-access control
-sensor and metering
applications
-payment systems
-communication and
transportation
-parcel and document
tracking
-distribution logistics
-automotive systems
-livestock or pet tracking
11
Application Domains of RFID
Antenna on paper
12
13
RF Tag for Tire
14
Wireless Sensor Architecture
Antenna
Demodulation
Digital
Data
Digital Logic &
MODEM
Voltage
Multiplier
Power
EEPROM
• Package / Material / Assembly
• Antenna/Matching
Modulation
• RF/Analog Block
• Power management / Battery
• Comm. system / Modem
• Embedded OS System
• Ad-Hoc Network Management
Digital Data
ADC
Sensor
15
Chipless RFID Technology
 RFID tags do not contain an IC=> Information stored purely
in the electromagnetic materials (data capcity< 32 bits)
embedded in the substrate
 Two types of Chipless RFID tags:
a) Aluminum fibers are embedded into paper and reflect a
signal which are interpreted as data
b) Chemical particles that are also embedded in paper possess
varying degrees of magnetism become active when exposed to
the EM waves
- chemicals emit a unique signal, which interprets the signal
as a binary number
- uses as many as 70 chemicals => 70 different signals =>
70-digit binary number
- a unique binary number can be assigned on each item
16
Chipless RFID Technology

Security measures that can be used with the
technology:
---Document Tracking---*In Photocopiers to prevent unauthorized copying
*Applications that require a document be photocopied
onto the same type of paper
*Installing readers in a building to track an original or
copied document
*Prevention of counterfeit documents and tracking
manufactured products

Printed tags can be detected up to 10 feet

System does not work very well in areas containing
large quantities of water or metal objects ( Water
absorbs RF signals and metals reflect the signals)
17
Market Study Reports

The RFID market is expected to reach $4.7 billion
worldwide by 2007, according to Venture Development
Corporation

Growth rate over 40% since 2003

The semi-passive RFID market is expected to reach at least
$1.6 billion by 2007, representing 33% of the market.

Semi-passive (battery-assisted) RFID technology is
expected to erode passive RFID primarily due to increased
read/write advantages
19
How to build improved performance RFIDs?
Improved matching techniques:

Depending on the IC
impedance (i.e. Zic=6.2-j127,
17-j350,73-j113) to give
conjugate matching (Zant= Ric
+jXic, Zic=Ric-jXic)
p
1) Inductively coupled feed structure
- Good matching when phase of
Zic large (i.e. 17-j350)
2) Series stub feed structure
- Good matching when phase of
Zic small (i.e. 73-j113)
3) Series stub +Inductively coupled
feed
Increased directivity:

Use of dual radiating bodies to
compensate (i.e. directivity is
increased from 1.8 dBi to 2.7
dBi using dual body structure)
for directivity when tag is
embedded in or on the
substrate

Trade-off between
omnidirectionality and
directivity
 Directivity = 2.69dBi
 Radiation Efficiency
= 86.8%
y
f
x
z
20
Single half-wavelength Horn Antenna
x
The radiation pattern of this antenna





Antenna size : 3 in x 3 in (7.62 cm x 7.62 cm)
Input impedance : 59.7+j96.4 Ω @ 915MHz
Radiation efficiency : 95%
Return loss: -16.3 dB (Zic=73 – j113)
Directivity:2.18 dBi
****Tapered horn design is used to maintain the
performance even if the antenna is embedded
in material with a lower or higher dielectric
constant (Er). This also improves the frequency
bandwidth.
**** Provides smoother transition from the input
pads
23
Single half-wavelength Horn Antenna
Design #3
Zant = 44+j100.1 Ω
***
Design #4
Zant = 60+j96.4 Ω
Higher read range compared to a 4”x4” commercial design (26 ft) in the industry
Higher ID2 & ID3 read range compared to the same tag(-5 to 30 dBm)
25
Arc-shape antenna
 Directivity = 1.99dBi
 Radiation Efficiency = 89.7%
Copper thickness: 18 um
LCP thickness: 50.8 um (2 mil)
27
Dual radiating type antennas
 Directivity = 5.62dBi
 Radiation Efficiency = 79.9%
Copper thickness: 18 um
LCP thickness: 50.8 um (2 mil)
29
Dual polarized half-wavelength Antenna
x
The radiation pattern of this antenna





Antenna size : 3 in x 3 in
Input impedance : 19.2+j*112.5 @ 915MHz
Radiation efficiency : 98%
Return loss: -16.85 dB (Zic=73 –j*113)
Directivity:2.25 dBi
Copper thickness: 18 um
LCP thickness: 50.8 um (2 mil)
Average current distribution
30
Paper Electronics
Motivation:

Why Consider Paper as a Substrate?
-
Environmental Friendly
Large Reel to Reel Processing
Low surface profile with appropriate coating
Compatible for printing circuitary by direct write methodologies
Host nanoscale additives (e.g. fire retardant textiles)
Dielectric constant εr close to air’s (5-6 % power reflection)
Lowest cost material made by Humankind
33
RFID LABEL TAGS: Paper or Plastic?

Adding a contactless smart label would
significantly increase a documents overall
thickness to encapsulate the chip
- Plastic module: 350 um thickness with a
surface of 7 mm X 7 mm
- Paper module: 150 um thickness with a
surface less than 11 mm2(equivalent to 2
sheets of 80g/mm2 paper)
Source: International Paper
34
RFID LABEL TAGS: Production Process




A separate RFID inlay is encoded
and then bonded to the substrate
after the label has been printed
Process eliminates the need for
inserting transponders into blank
label stock before the label stock
is printed
Printing process can damage
stock containing transponders,
this process eliminates this
problem by allowing the printing
to happen first
Printing system can be used on
any kind of paper
35
Battery Assisted RFID


RFID Challenges
Activate the active
- Need at least 1 Vrms reader signal to activate IC

Backscattered signal integrity
- Reflected signal should be strong enough to the reader

Operation in different international frequency bands

Limited read/write range for passive tags
- Can be improved significantly integrating with power source
37
Recent Breakthroughs in Thin Film Battery
ORNL
NEC
300 micron thin
No heavy metals
Environment friendly
Polymer electrolyte
Carrier film Plastics
Press Release
Jan 29, 2006
Philips
Lithylene™ battery
Free form factor
Porous lithium
Polymer electrolyte
Licensed to
Stone Battery, Taiwan
March 2006
Thin film Li battery
Flexible
Smaller
Lighter
Infinite Power
Rechargeable
Manufacturable Solutions
LITE*STAR
Press release
Dec 21, 2005
50 Micron battery
LiPON electrolyte,
Lithium anode,
LiCoO cathode
Voltage of up to 4.0 V
38
Battery Charging Options

Option #1
- Solar Charging in limited
light
- Weak inductive pulse
charging
- RF signal charging

Option #2
- Overhead regulator
conditions ( ~1.5 Vdc) must
be met to operate the
circuit
- Close proximity inductive
pulse charging
39
Printable Thin Film Batteries

Low-Cost Direct Write Methodology
 Ink Jet Printing
 Lithography
 Screen printing

Substrate - Paper

Electrodes – Specially formulated printable conductive Inks

Electrolytes – Ion containing polymer gels

Fabrication Steps
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Print Cathode
Print Anode
Print electrolytic polymer gel
Connect power source to antenna
Encapsulate the battery assembly (Packaging)
40
Proposed Printable Paper-Thin Micro-Battery
e-
-
RFID
Antenna
e-
+
e-
e-
Paper Substrate
Polymer gel electrolyte
Activated conductive
carbon/polymer
Printable
Conductive INK
42
Ink Jet Printing
Resistors
100 micron solder
V. Shah, Microfab Technologies, IMAPS ATW on Integrated Passives, Ogunguit, 2002
43
GATECH RFID TESTBED




Symbol (Matrics) XR400 Reader
Kit
Conductive paste inkjet printer
and test kit
HP Vector Network Analyzer
- HP 8517B S-parameter Test Set
- HP 8510C Network Analyzer
Tektronix Real-Time Spectrum
Analyzer (RSA3408A) with Rhode
and Schwarz Vector Signal
Generator (SMJ100)
XR 400 Reader Kit
HP Vector Network Analyzer
R&S SMJ100A
RSA3408A
44
GATECH RFID TESTBED PLAN




Symbol (Matrix) XR 400 Reader
- Overall read range performance of tags
- Read range tests in 7 different benchmarking
environments (wood, plastic, glass, free-space,
metal in close proximity, metal in touch,
liquids/water)
Conductive Paste Inkjet Printer and test kit
- Antenna design evaluation on various organic
substrates (i.e. LCP, paper)
- Tag performance evaluation using different
conductive pastes and comparison analysis w.r.t.
metal etching fabrication process
- Fabrication and antenna/IC assembly
HP Vector Network Analyzer
- Antenna Input Impedance measurements
- Input Impedance in the presence of the 7
benchmarking environments for the detuning effect
Tektronix Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer (RSA3408A)
with Rhode and Schwarz Vector Signal Generator
(SMJ100)
- Dynamic performance characterization of different
standards in the presence of the 7 benchmarking
environments
- RFID Design optimization of antenna+IC+module
packaging (i.e battery, sensor module)
- Environmental noise and interference (tag +
reader) analysis
- Reader optimization => Reader antenna Positioning
and multiple reader interference
GEDC RFID TESTBED ROOM
FLOOR PLAN
45
Real-Time RFID Performance Measurement



Reader measures only the read distance (limited
performance information)
Uses the Tektronix Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer
(RSA3408A) for dynamic performance measurement
Snapshot feature capability (i.e. 36 MHz for RFID 902928 MHz)
46
Why RFID Real-Time Measurement Setup?
Uses the Tektronix Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer
(RSA3408A) with Rhode and Schwarz Vector
Signal Generator (SMJ100)
 VSG produces EPC or ISO standard modulation
at specified power levels
 Antenna in air/anechoic chamber measures
response from device under test (i.e. tag or a
mounted tag)
 Responses are received by the RTSA
 Advantages:
1) study of detuning effects
2) Any international standard can be analyzed
(different frequencies and modulation schemes)
3)Detection of instantaneous spurious noise and
environment interference

47