Printed, flexible, compact UHF-RFID sensor tags enabled by hybrid electronics
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.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Oct 06, 2020
- Source ID
- 10.1038/s41598-020-73471-9
Entities
People
- Akshay Sreekumar
- Ana Claudia Arias
- Arno Thielens
- Carol L. Baumbauer
- Jan M. Rabaey
- Jonathan Ting
- Matthew G. Anderson
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory
- Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Ministry of Defense
- National Science Foundation