Frequency Switchable Global RFID Tag Antennae with Metal Compatibility for Worldwide Vehicle Transportation

Abstract

This paper presents an effective way to design an RFID tag antenna to operate at three different frequencies by incorporating a switching technique. PIN diode has been used to switch the RF frequency because of its good efficiency and simplicity. The conventional dipole-based RFID tag has been improvised with added co-planar ground and PIN diode. The layout of the antenna is designed with a size of 0.083 λ0 × 0.094 λ0 at UHF (80–960) MHz, where λ0 is the free-space wavelength corresponding to the mid-point of the targeted UHF range. The RFID microchip is connected to the modified ground and dipole structures. Bending and meandering techniques on the dipole length help to match the complex chip impedance with the dipole impedance. Additionally, it scales down the total structure of the antenna. Two PIN diodes are placed along the dipole length at appropriate distances with proper biasing. The ON-OFF switching states of the PIN diodes enable the RFID tag antenna to switch over the frequency ranges (840–845) MHz (India), 902–928 MHz (North America), and 950–955 MHz (Japan).