Performance Evaluation of Radio Frequency Identification Tag Antenna for Commercial Applications
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31272/jeasd.2893Keywords:
Antenna Impedance, Mismatch Loss, Radio Frequency Identification, Reflection Coefficient, Tag’s AntennaAbstract
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) has emerged as an effective technology for automatic identification across industries due to its capability to use radio signals while providing security. The most common type is the passive RFID tag, consisting of an RFID chip and an antenna. The tag's antenna plays a crucial role in determining system performance and impacting various metrics. This paper investigates different designs of commercial tag antennas. With computer processing, selecting the optimal design for business applications becomes more flexible, minimizing the need for specialized expertise. These tags are widely available at low costs, reducing reliance on antenna design tools. The procedure outlined in this paper provides a method for evaluating tag performance. Three standard Ultra High Frequency (UHF) RFID antenna models- tag 1, tag 2, and tag 3- were simulated and evaluated in the 0.6-2 GHz range using the Antenna Toolbox in MATLAB. Comparison metrics include return loss, mismatch loss, bandwidth (BW), and current distribution. The second tag design achieved the best return loss of 18 dBm and a lower Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) of 1.4 dB, while the first design offered the longest range between the tag and the reader.
References
A. Rizzi, A. Volpi, R. Rinaldi, R. Bandinelli, A. Gonzalez, and B. Hardgrave, “Assessing the performances of RFID UHF and HF dual-frequency apparel tags,” International Journal of RF Technologies: Research and Applications, vol. 10, no. 1–2, pp. 39–63, 2019. doi: https://doi.org/10.3233/RFT-180106
Z. Li, “Characterization and performance analysis of UHF RFID tag for environmental sensing applications,” M.A.Sc. thesis, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada, 2012. [Online]. Available: https://uwspace.uwaterloo.ca/items/7e1c113c-8b00-4c5b-95b6-09b5ca5de6e4.
U. F. Roggero, S. V. Nista, H. E. Hernández-Figueroa, L. H. Mei, and S. A. Moshkalev, "Graphene-biopolymer-based RFID tags: A performance comparison," Materials Today Communications, vol. 31, Art. no. 103726, 2022. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtcomm.2022.103726
A. H. F. Marques, D. dos Santos, K. de Oliveira Vieira, M. H. Quadros, P. H. P. Rebello, V. L. D. Ferro, et al., “Environmentally friendly, semi-transparent, screen printed antenna for RFID tag applications,” Brazilian Journal of Physics, vol. 51, pp. 434–438, 2021. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13538-021-00892-w.
L. Wang and C. A. Alexander, “Factors affecting RFID system performance and non-parametric analysis,” American Journal of Systems and Software, vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 94–100, 2014. available: https://pubs.sciepub.com/ajss/2/4/3/
E. Ofosu Addo, B. Kommey, A. S. Agbemenu, and H. Kumbong, “On the design and implementation of efficient antennas for high frequency-radio frequency identification read/write devices,” Engineering Reports, vol. 3, no. 10, Art. no. e12407, 2021. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/eng2.12407.
M. Škiljo, P. Šolić, Z. Blažević, and T. Perković, "Analysis of passive RFID applicability in a retail store: What can we expect?," Sensors, vol. 20,no.7, Art. no. 2038, 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/s20072038
Y. Duroc, "From identification to sensing: RFID is one of the key technologies in the IoT field," Sensors, vol. 22, Art. no. 7523, 2022. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/s22197523.
D. Y. Mo, C. Y. T. Ma, D. C. K. Ho, and Y. Wang, “Design of a reverse logistics system with Internet of Things for service parts management,” Sustainability, vol. 14, no. 19, Art. no. 12013, 2022. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912013.
D. Bagay, "Information security of Internet things," Procedia Computer Science, vol. 169, pp. 179-182, 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2020.02.132.
M. H. Kashani, M. Madanipour, M. Nikravan, P. Asghari, and E. Mahdipour, “A systematic review of IoT in healthcare: Applications, techniques, and trends,” Journal of Network and Computer Applications, vol. 192, Art. no. 103164, 2021. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnca.2021.103164.
B. Ç. Uslu, E. Okay, and E. Dursun, “Analysis of factors affecting IoT-based smart hospital design,” Journal of Cloud Computing, vol. 9, Art. no. 67, 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13677-020-00215-5.
Y. Zhang, X. Liu, Z. Yang, Z. Li, X. Zhang, and B. Yuan, "Capturing Features and Performing Human Detection from Human Gaits Using RFID," Sensors, vol. 22, Art. no. 8353, 2022. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/s22218353.
S. Shao, “Design and optimization of passive UHF RFID tag antenna for mounting on or inside material layers,” Ph.D. dissertation, Dept. Electrical and Computer Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA, 2015. [Online]. Available: https://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1435758466.
X. Chen et al., “The design and simulation of UHF RFID microstrip antenna,” IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, vol. 113, Art. no. 012192, 2018. doi: https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/113/1/012192.
D. M. Dobkin and S. M. Weigand, “Environmental effects on RFID tag antennas,” in IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest, Long Beach, CA, USA, 2005, pp. 135–138. doi: https://doi.org/10.1109/MWSYM.2005.1516541.
J. Grosinger, “Feasibility of backscatter RFID systems on the human body,” EURASIP Journal on Embedded Systems, vol. 2013, Art. no. 2, 2013. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/1687-3963-2013-2.
Y. Mouzouna, M. Taouzari, H. Nasraoui, A. Sardi, J. El Aoufi, and A. Mouhsen, “Designing of a new miniaturized tag antenna using the meander technique and low cost paper substrate for bottle labeling applications,” International Journal on Communications Antenna and Propagation (IRECAP), vol. 8, no. 3, p. 214, 2018. doi: https://doi.org/10.15866/irecap.v8i3.14213.
R. Jouali et al., “Design of an analog RFID-based tag antenna with opened circuited L-shaped stubs for applications in localization,” Electronics, vol. 11, no. 7, Art. no. 1027, 2022. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics11071027.
Z. Liu, Z. Zhao, X. Yu, M. Liu, and R. Ji, “A novel reverse design method of tag antenna based on image analysis,” Journal of Algorithms & Computational Technology, vol. 14, 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/1748302620906969.
H. Yilmaz, O. Nacar, Ö. Sezgin, E. Bostanci, M. S. Güzel, and Ö. Sevínç, "Custom RFID location simulator," in 2018 2nd International Symposium on Multidisciplinary Studies and Innovative Technologies (ISMSIT), 2018, pp. 1-7. doi: https://doi.org/10.1109/ISMSIT.2018.8567272
C. Kam, “902–928 MHz UHF RFID tag antenna design, fabrication and test,” M.S. thesis, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, USA, 2011. [Online]. Available: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/598/.
Y.-L. Chen, D. Liu, S. Wang, Y.-F. Li, and X.-S. Zhang, "Self-powered smart active RFID tag integrated with wearable hybrid nanogenerator," Nano Energy, vol. 64, Art. no. 103911, 2019. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2019.103911.
M. Hussain, Y. Amin, and K.-G. Lee, "A compact and flexible UHF RFID tag antenna for massive IoT devices in 5G system," Sensors, vol. 20, no. 19, Art. no. 5713, 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/s20195713.
S. Wang, Y. Liu, and T. T. Ye, "“Unconventionally Shaped” Antenna Design for UHF RFID Tags," International Journal of Antennas and Propagation, vol. 2021, Art. no. 9965252, 2021. doi: https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/9965252.
J. D. Griffin, G. D. Durgin, A. Haldi, and B. Kippelen, "RF tag antenna performance on various materials using radio link budgets," IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, vol. 5, pp. 247-250, 2006. doi: https://doi.org/10.1109/LAWP.2006.874072.
T. S. Bird, "Definition and misuse of return loss [report of the transactions editor-in-chief]," IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine, vol. 51, no. 2, pp. 166–167, 2009. doi: https://doi.org/10.1109/MAP.2009.5162049.
K. Bangash, M. M. Ali, H. Maab, and H. Ahmed, "Design of a millimeter wave microstrip patch antenna and its array for 5g applications," in 2019 International Conference on Electrical, Communication, and Computer Engineering (ICECCE), 2019, pp. 1-6. doi: https://doi.org/10.1109/ICECCE47252.2019.8940807
C. A. Balanis, Antenna Theory: Analysis and Design, 4th ed. Hoboken, NJ, USA: John Wiley & Sons, 2015.
Downloads
Key Dates
Received
Revised
Accepted
Published Online First
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Aseel Hameed Al-Nakkash, Jumana Abdulhadi Jarallah, Ali Salman Kurji (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
