Printed, Flexible, Compact UHF-RFID Sensor Tags Enabled by Hybrid Electronics

Carol L. Baumbauer, Matthew G. Anderson, Jonathan Ting, Akshay Sreekumar, Jan M. Rabaey, Ana C. Arias, Arno Thielens

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

62 Scopus citations
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Abstract

Sensor data can be wirelessly transmitted from simple, battery-less tags using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). RFID sensor tags consist of an antenna, a radio frequency integrated circuit chip (RFIC), and at least one sensor. An ideal tag can communicate over a long distance and be seamlessly integrated onto everyday objects. However, miniaturized antenna designs often have lower performance. Here we demonstrate compact, flexible sensor tags with read range comparable to that of conventional rigid tags. We compare fabrication techniques for flexible antennas and demonstrate that screen and stencil printing are both suitable for fabricating antennas; these different techniques are most useful at different points in the design cycle. We characterize two versions of flexible, screen printed folded dipoles and a meandered monopole operating in the 915 MHz band. Finally, we use these antennas to create passive sensor tags and demonstrate over the air communication of sensor data. These tags could be used to form a network of printed, flexible, passive, interactive sensor tags.
Original languageAmerican English
JournalScientific Reports
Volume10
DOIs
StatePublished - 6 Oct 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • electrical and electronic engineering
  • mechanical engineering

EGS Disciplines

  • Electrical and Computer Engineering

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