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 BhattacharyaUndergraduate Students:

Franklin Falcon

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RFID Technology

Antenna Chip

Assembly/Package

Case Item

Smart Packaging

Food/DrinkingHealthcare …

Chip Antenna

Packaging

Battery

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GEDC RFID/Wireless Sensors Research Focus

RFID/Sensors Network

AntennasIC’s

Integrated Module(System-on-Package)

Sensors Power Sources

Low-cost Materials

(Paper, Organics)

SecurityAnti-counterfeiting

MultistandardHF, VHF, RF

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20112006 2007 2008 2009 2010

GEDC Roadmap: RFID/Sensors

Telecom+BioTelecom+BioTelecom+BioTelecom+BioRFID’s+4G Cell PhonesRFID’s+4G Cell PhonesRFID’s+4G Cell PhonesRFID’s+4G Cell PhonesUHF RFID 868/924 MHzUHF RFID 868/924 MHzUHF RFID 868/924 MHzUHF RFID 868/924 MHz

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Chipless RFID - low powerChipless RFID - low powerChipless RFID - low powerChipless RFID - low power

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Combination w/ mm-wave ultrafastCombination w/ mm-wave ultrafastCombination w/ mm-wave ultrafastCombination w/ mm-wave ultrafast

Cognitive PAN – integration w/ Cognitive PAN – integration w/ multisensorsmultisensors

Cognitive PAN – integration w/ Cognitive PAN – integration w/ multisensorsmultisensors

Nanomagnetics, piezoNanomagnetics, piezoNanomagnetics, piezoNanomagnetics, piezo

Low cost/Low Power Ad-hoc nets Low cost/Low Power Ad-hoc nets Low cost/Low Power Ad-hoc nets Low cost/Low Power Ad-hoc nets

Cognitive RFID’s: Spectrum SensingCognitive RFID’s: Spectrum SensingCognitive RFID’s: Spectrum SensingCognitive RFID’s: Spectrum Sensing

Multistandard RF (ISO,EPC)Multistandard RF (ISO,EPC)Multistandard RF (ISO,EPC)Multistandard RF (ISO,EPC)

Hydrophobic Paper-based, cond.inksHydrophobic Paper-based, cond.inksHydrophobic Paper-based, cond.inksHydrophobic Paper-based, cond.inks

Ultracompact antennas UHF/HFUltracompact antennas UHF/HFUltracompact antennas UHF/HFUltracompact antennas UHF/HF

Embedded Printed batteriesEmbedded Printed batteriesEmbedded Printed batteriesEmbedded Printed batteries

USN: Wireless sensor netUSN: Wireless sensor netUSN: Wireless sensor netUSN: Wireless sensor net

Tri-mode (passive/semiactive/active) RFID’sTri-mode (passive/semiactive/active) RFID’sTri-mode (passive/semiactive/active) RFID’sTri-mode (passive/semiactive/active) RFID’s

Security (containers, Security (containers, encod)encod)

Security (containers, Security (containers, encod)encod) MIMO-RFID’sMIMO-RFID’sMIMO-RFID’sMIMO-RFID’s

Wearable compact readersWearable compact readersWearable compact readersWearable compact readers

Bionic control Bionic control Bionic control Bionic control Biomonitoring / smart prostheticsBiomonitoring / smart prostheticsBiomonitoring / smart prostheticsBiomonitoring / smart prosthetics

Multistandard readersMultistandard readersMultistandard readersMultistandard readers

Interactive Mobile TelediagnosticsInteractive Mobile TelediagnosticsInteractive Mobile TelediagnosticsInteractive Mobile TelediagnosticsAutomotive/Pharma RFID’sAutomotive/Pharma RFID’sAutomotive/Pharma RFID’sAutomotive/Pharma RFID’s

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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]

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Components of RFID Smart Tags

Two Types of RFID tags Passives –

Antenna and IC, no internal power sourceReceive energy from the reader

Active [Semi-passive, Semi-active, Battery assisted, Semiconductor] –

Antenna, IC, and an integrated power source

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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

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Application Domains of RFID

Antenna on paper

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Acrobat Document

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RF Tag for Tire

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Wireless Sensor ArchitectureWireless Sensor Architecture

Demodulation

Voltage Multiplier

Modulation

AntennaDigital Data

Power

Digital Data

• Package / Material / Assembly• Antenna/Matching• RF/Analog Block• Power management / Battery• Comm. system / Modem• Embedded OS System• Ad-Hoc Network Management

• Package / Material / Assembly• Antenna/Matching• RF/Analog Block• Power management / Battery• Comm. system / Modem• Embedded OS System• Ad-Hoc Network Management

Sensor

Digital Logic &MODEM

ADCEEPROM

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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

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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)

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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

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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)

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

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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

y

x

f

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Directivity = 2.69dBi

Radiation Efficiency = 86.8%

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Single half-wavelength Horn 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

The radiation pattern of this antenna

x

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Single half-wavelength Horn Antenna

Design #4 Design #3

Zant = 44+j100.1 Ω 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)

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Arc-shape antenna

Directivity = 1.99dBi

Radiation Efficiency = 89.7%

Copper thickness: 18 um

LCP thickness: 50.8 um (2 mil)

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Dual radiating type antennas

Directivity = 5.62dBi

Radiation Efficiency = 79.9%Copper thickness: 18 um

LCP thickness: 50.8 um (2 mil)

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Dual polarized half-wavelength 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

The radiation pattern of this antenna

Average current distribution

x

Copper thickness: 18 um

LCP thickness: 50.8 um (2 mil)

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Paper Electronics

Lowest cost material made by Humankind

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)

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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

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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

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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

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Recent Breakthroughs in Thin Film Battery

NEC

300 micron thin No heavy metalsEnvironment friendlyPolymer electrolyte

Carrier film - Plastics

Press Release Jan 29, 2006

Infinite Power Solutions LITE*STAR

50 Micron battery LiPON electrolyte, Lithium anode, LiCoO cathode Voltage of up to 4.0 V

ORNL

Thin film Li batteryFlexibleSmallerLighterRechargeableManufacturable

Press releaseDec 21, 2005

Philips Lithylene™ battery

Free form factorPorous lithiumPolymer electrolyte

Licensed to Stone Battery, TaiwanMarch 2006

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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

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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. Print Cathode 2. Print Anode 3. Print electrolytic polymer gel4. Connect power source to antenna5. Encapsulate the battery assembly (Packaging)

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Proposed Printable Paper-Thin Micro-Battery

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Printable Conductive INK

Activated conductive carbon/polymer

Paper Substrate

Polymer gel electrolyte

RFID Antenna

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Ink Jet Printing

Resistors100 micron solder

V. Shah, Microfab Technologies, IMAPS ATW on Integrated Passives, Ogunguit, 2002

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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)

R&S SMJ100A RSA3408A

HP Vector Network Analyzer

XR 400 Reader Kit

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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

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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 902-928 MHz)

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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