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ABSTRACT
This document demonstrates the system level effects and expected ramifications of designing RFID tags that
are smaller than the optimized length.
1) Alien Technology, Morgan Hill CA, Senior Staff Design Engineer, 2001 to 2009, while at Alien
responsible for both RFID tag and antenna designs in the 866MHz, 915MHz and 960MHz range.
2) Motorola Inc, San Jose CA, Senior Project Design Engineer, 1991 to 2001, while at Motorola
responsible for multiple RFID Reader Designs and led project teams to introduce the same designs into
full production.
www.mentor.com/electromagnetic-simulation/
Introduction readers have two antennas, one for
transmission and a second for reception.
RFID Systems Overview Others, however, use a single antenna to
RFID has embraced different core transmit and receive. Readers, as discussed
technologies over the past few years. As their in this paper, have a single antenna.
means to communicate with and to power a
Objective of this Paper
remote transponder, Near Field Systems use
Often times, an RFID tag must be reduced in
capacitive or inductive coupling. Other systems
size from its optimal design in an effort to meet
use Far Field Electromagnetic Waves. All RFID
the individual tag requirements. When this
systems, however, have one common trait: they
occurs the designer must attempt to create an
couple energy to a remote transponder, called a
impedance match between the tag antenna and
tag, over airspace and monitor the returned RF
the RFID IC by adding inductance to the
identifier contained within the tag.
antenna. This approach is called Meandering
This paper is concerned with Far Field and when adequate inductance has been
systems and in particular systems within the provided an impedance match occurs. With the
UHF band. These RFID systems are more proper impedance match, the tag will receive
commonly known as EPC Gen 2 systems and the maximum energy available at any particular
they operate within three primary frequency point within the read zone of the system.
ranges 1) 866MHz 2) 915MHz and 3) 960MHz.
These bands are allocated for different Target Audience and Approach
geographical areas of the world and all must be This paper is directed towards UHF RFID
considered at some times during the design of tag designers. It is intended to provide practical
an RFID tag or system. tools for the designer to calculate secondary
effects of the tag design, as observed at the
All Gen 2 RFID systems include at least one
system level, when requirements dictate that
of each of the following components.
the tag must be reduced from its optimized size.
1) An RFID transponder, commonly called a
It can be observed that when a tag has been
tag, which contains an IC or chip. The chip
reduced in size using meandering, it sometimes
is uniquely programmed with a number
performs differently from a second tag even
called its ID. These RFID Tags are basically
though both have similar matching
small antennas with the IC across an
characteristics.
antenna port.
In actual practice, a particular tag can
2) An RFID interrogator, commonly called a
perform differently on one manufacturer’s
reader, transmits power to the tag. The
system than from another. This can be seen
reader also receives the RF identifier from
even when transmitting exactly the same power
the tag and also has the ability to
from the same antenna and using the same
communicate with the tag as necessary.
physical tag. In terms of both read range and
3) An RFID antenna can either be external to
noise immunity one particular system can
the reader or incorporated within. The
produce a substantially different level of
antenna transmits/receives RF energy
performance than a second.
between the tag and the reader. Some
www.mentor.com/electromagnetic‐simulation 2
This paper uses three distinct tag design This tag was designed to center its
examples, all of which have similar complex performance about 915MHz and remain as flat
matching characteristics at the target frequency. as possible. Both the loop and length were
Tag characteristics, other than matching, will adjusted to reach maximum performance over
then be considered to see how they affect frequency. As can be seen in the CMF plot at the
system performance. The paper will then end of this section, the match is flat and covers
present methods by which to predict these all of the frequencies used in Gen2 UHF designs.
characteristics. Finally a comparison of these Ref‐B, 60% of Optimized Length
characteristics, from the examples, will be
evaluated. Following the evaluation a summary
of the findings will be given to aid the designer
in future designs.
Note: This paper uses CMF, complex matching factor,
to represent matching characteristics. In CMF a 0dB
Fig. 2
level is a perfect complex conjugate match where the
imaginary impedances cancel and the resistance is Single Side Design on a substrate of εr=2.9
equal. As expected with a 0dB CMF, maximum power Substrate Thickness = .06 mm
will transfer from a source to its load. Conductor thickness = .005mm
Length = 73.26 mm
Example RFID Tag Designs Width = 13.21 mm
The following three tags were designed to Again this design is centered on the 915MHz
demonstrate the secondary effects intended in band. Refer to Fig. 4 and notice the bandwidth
this paper. These tags are intended for reductions from the Ref‐A design. Notice also
demonstration purposes only and are not the meandering that adds inductance to the
production ready. design to force a complex conjugate match.
Ref‐A, Optimized Length
Ref‐C, 30% of Optimized Length
Fig. 1
Fig. 3
Single Side Design on a substrate of εr=2.9
Double Side Design on a substrate of εr=4.0
Substrate thickness = .06 mm
Substrate Thickness = 1.5875 mm
Conductor thickness = .005mm
Conductor thickness = .005mm
Length = 125.29 mm
Length = 38.98 mm
Width = 13.05 mm
Width = 12.59 mm
www.mentor.com/electromagnetic‐simulation 3
This tag is substantially smaller than Rev‐A Basic Parameters
(123mm to 39mm). As a result, in order to Unit Length: mm
provide sufficient inductance a thicker substrate Min Length: 1e-006
was used to allow traces on both sides of the tag Grid Size .01
Table 1
and FR4 material was used to increase the εr.
This design would require secondary operations Thickness Espr TanD() Mur Sigma
to fill the vias and as such would most likely be Layer 0 0 1 0 1 0
cost prohibitive in the UHF RFID market. It is Layer 1 Plst .06 2.9 0 1 0
Layer 1 FR4 1.5875 4.0 0 1 0
used however in this case to demonstrate the
Layer 2 1 e+15 1 0 1 0
particular frequency match and performance Conductor .005 1 0 1 4.7e+7
requirements intended for this paper. Table 2
Simulation Setup
Start/Stop Freq(GHz): .7 to 1.1 GHz
Step Freq (GHz): 401
Frequency: Linear
Meshing Frequency: 1.5 GHz
Cells per Wavelength: 15
Scheme: Classical, No FASTA
Matrix Solver: SMSA
After Setup: Invoke Local IE3D Engine
Adaptive Intili‐Fit Enabled
Large / Small Error .005 / .2 dB
Post Processing: Built In & Modua
Fig. 4 Complex Match Factor Plots for RFID tags
Radiation Pattern File.pat Enabled
Table 3
Simulation Overview
Direct CMF Display
IE3D from Mentor Graphics was used to
simulate the example tags for the Complex IE3D has direct capability of extracting the
Match Factor plots of Fig 4. The following Conjugate Match Factor of an antenna. To
are the setup parameters used to achieve produce the Conjugate Match Factor, IE3D uses
these plots. Trial versions of this software Lumped Elements to alter the 50 ohm
are available upon request. Contact impedance of the port. The designer is required
Mentor Graphics for details to construct a schematic using Modua and enter
(http://www.mentor.com/electromagnetic‐ the discrete impedance parameters as specified
simulation/products/ie3d‐si). in the product specification for the particular
RFID chip. After running the tag simulation, the
designer can then modify the port impedance
using Lumped Elements.
Table 4.1 is an overview of the IE3D
commands to construct the IC model required
to produce the proper CMF plot.
www.mentor.com/electromagnetic‐simulation 4
From the Program Manager Select Gain Plots
IE3D and then Modua One of the parameters of concern is the tag
Element Resistor at the parallel specification value
gain plots vs. frequency. IE3D can easily
Element Capacitor at the parallel specification
produce gain plots and other data vs. frequency.
Element Port and attach to the top of the resistor
Element Short and attach to bottom of the resistor
The following is the method used to extract the
Element Connection connect top of C & R together gain plot data from IE3D. This method will yield
Element Connection connect bottom of C and R only a few points in the plot; the others are
Select Control and then Frequencies interpolated due to the Intelli‐Fit option in the
Start/Stop Freq = .7 and 1.1 Number of Freq = 401 simulation setup. If additional data points are
Process Simulate desired, remove the Intelli‐Fit selection in the
Save S‐Parameters as IC.sp pre‐simulation setup. Without the Intelli‐Fit
option, a gain point will be created for each of
Table 4.1 the specified frequencies.
The following is an overview of the
commands required to produce a CMF Plot
using IE3D. From the Radiation Pattern – Pat View Window
Display, Gain vs. Frequency Display
From the simulation results select Process then Select Maximum
S Parameters and Lumped Equivalent Circuit…. Rt‐Clk on Graph and select, Browse Graph Data
Add Graph Display only one frequency column
Conjugate Match Factor (dB) Highlight data, Cnt‐C, Place data in spreadsheet
Change Zs Table 7
Import IC.sp as created to reflect chip impedance
Plot (to observe the CMF plot) The simulation data collected as shown
Table 5.2 above was then used to create the plot of Fig4
and, except where noted, subsequent plots that
Table of Impedance Parameters
are included in this paper. The Excel commands
In this paper we are comparing the used to create these plots will not be discussed.
impedance parameters as a function of
frequency in an effort to determine the Basic Limiting Factors
secondary effects of meandering. As such, we As most readers of this paper are keenly
did not create the CMF plots as described above aware, a tag cannot function unless it has
but rather extracted the impedance parameters adequate power. The power is transmitted at
and created these plots using Microsoft Excel. the antenna and then falls off due to space loss
The following overview lists the commands as the distance from the antenna increases. The
required to extract the impedance path from the antenna to the tag is called the
characteristics, as used in this paper, from IE3D. Forward Link and the calculations that
From the simulation select the Modua Window then determine the maximum distance are called the
Control, then Define Display Data Forward Link Budget. Likewise when a tag is
Real and Imaginary Part of Z‐Parameters
powered and modulating, it can be limited by
Save as a text file for post processing
the return path. The path from the tag to the
Table 6
www.mentor.com/electromagnetic‐simulation 5
reader is called the Return Link and the The RFID tag, which is basically another
calculations are called the Return Link Budget. antenna with its own gain, is located along the
A typical tag design considers the Complex reader antenna bore site and collects its power
Conjugate Match Factor as the primary measure from the RF energy. The tag however, requires a
of tag performance. This assumes that the minimum power level (PTagThreshold or PTagTH) to
system is Forward Link Limited, which operate. As long as the tag is close enough to
experience shows is typical for most RFID tags. the reader antenna to exceed the power
When a system is Forward Link Limited, it is threshold, it will operate and transmit back to
implied that as long as the tag is powered, the the reader. The following equation shows this
reader has adequate receiver gain and noise relationship.
immunity to demodulate the return signal. If a 1A) PTagTH = PXMT + GANT + S.L
tag is forward link limited, with a particular
As stated, the tag converts the RF energy into
system, it will function at the maximum
the required energy to power its IC This
distance from the transmit antenna, where the
conversion is a function of three factors. The first
tag receives adequate power.
is the fact that a perfect impedance match (CMF
The maximum distance from the tag to the of 0dB) delivers half of the available power to
antenna where the system correctly reads the the chip. Also it is very difficult to maintain a
content of a tag is commonly called the Read perfect match since the impedance of the chip
Range. Again experience has shown that most changes during the modulation state (see fig 7).
RFID tags are forward link limited and as such, For this paper we will assume a 90% effective
CMF is a good first order measure to achieve match for a CMF of 0dB. Therefore the following
maximum read range. equation will represent this conversion.
1B) TagConv = 10*Log (.90*.50) = ‐3.47dB
Forward Link, Reader to Tag
A typical Gen2 UHF RFID reader produces 1 The second factor is the inherent chip
Watt of output power (30dBm) into a 6dBi efficiencies. The chip efficiency is a primary
directional antenna. The result is 36dBm of function of the front end rectifier and the
switching losses of the modulator. These are
effective radiated power along the antenna bore
beyond the scope of this paper so we shall
site. The radiated power is then attenuated as a
simply assume a chip efficiency of 90% and
function of distance from the antenna by the
move along. This efficiency loss can therefore be
standard space loss equation as follows:
stated as shown below:
1C) EffChip = 10*Log (.90) = ‐0.46dB
4л Finally the tag, as an antenna, has gain. When
Space Loss (dB) = 10 * Log these three factors are combined with the I.C.
л
threshold or ICTH, they determine the tag
Eqn. 1 S.L.(dB) = 20 * Log threshold as follows:
л
1D) PTagTH = ICTH + GTag + TagConv + EffChip
www.mentor.com/electromagnetic‐simulation 6
If we combine 1A) with 1D) we get the known states to modulate this backscatter level
following: and communicate with the reader (see Fig 7).
1E)ICTH+GTag+TagConv+EffChip= PXMT+GANT+S.L The reader meanwhile monitors the delta
between the two reflected signals as the return
Now solving for ICTH along with the fixed modulation.
values for EffChip, TagConv, PXMT and GANT yields
the following: Backscatter Overview
1F) ICTH = 39.93dBi + S.L ‐ GTag Measuring Backscatter
The following is a block diagram of a current
or
Gen2 RFID reader Modulation/Demodulation
Eqn.2 ICTH = 39.93dBm + 20*Log л
‐GTag scheme.
RFID Reader Modulation / Demodulation
Q Block Diagram
In this equation the Range R, is the Forward
ANT
Link Range or RF.L. 90°
I
Solving for RF.L. yields
Eqn.3 RF.L. = . /
л
Oscillator
As a check for accuracy we will assume
Modulation
values for the tag antenna gain and the ICTH and
then determine the calculated read range at
915MHz (λ=.32764). A typical dipole should Fig. 5
produce around 2dBi of tag antenna gain. The Given sufficient resources and the support of
ICTH of a RFID chip will vary with frequency but the reader manufacture, most RFID readers can
for our example we shall use an achievable value be modified to display the tag backscatter. This
of ‐13dBm or 50μW. We can then calculate the is accomplished by sampling the two
predicted Forward Link Range: quadrature outputs of the mixer, the “I
channel” and the “Q channel”. If these two
RF.L. = . ≈ 9.18meters @ 915MHz
л signals, called the “I” and “Q” signals are
This is well within reason for a current Gen2 externally processed they can reflect the tag
design. backscatter signal. The tag back scatter will be
represented by the vector sum of these as
Return Link, Tag to Reader
represented in the following equation.
The mechanism that RFID uses to transmit
back to the reader is called Backscatter.
Backscatter is the portion of the incident wave Once this signal has been established, the
that the tag reflects back to the reader due to a reader can then be modified to sweep individual
mismatch of impedances between the tag frequencies within the desired spectrum while
antenna and the RFID integrated circuit. The measuring this backscatter for each frequency.
RFID IC changes its impedance between two
www.mentor.com/electromagnetic‐simulation 7
The data can then be processed to produce a we have only considered the antenna gain as a
backscatter plot over frequency. fixed +2dB level at 915MHz. This is a typical gain
for a half wave dipole and was used as a check
Given this backscatter measurement, the tag
to see if the expected read range was within
designer can measure the signal returned to the
reason. As we proceed however, we will need to
reader. Of major importance here, one will see
obtain the actual antenna gain as a function of
later that the bandwidth of the backscatter
frequency.
signal does not track the bandwidth of the
CMF. As a matter of fact it is typically much The reflection gain is developed at the IC
narrower and in many cases can be skewed port as a function of the available power, the tag
either towards one or the other corner of the antenna impedance and the chip impedances
CMF bandwidth. Since RFID tags are used with during its two dynamic states. These two states
many different readers, each with a different are 1) with modulation impedance and 2)
receiver characteristic, it therefore becomes without modulation impedance (see fig 7).
necessary to determine the backscatter plot In both states we can assume that the IC
for every new tag design. This is required to remains powered at its minimum threshold
determine the performance a tag might exhibit level. This is true because the tag collects and
with any particular system. stores sufficient energy while not modulating
that it remains powered during modulation.
The problem exists, that this level of
With this established we can also state that a
hardware modification is typically beyond the
perfectly matched antenna and chip would have
scope of the tag designer. As such other
no reflected signal while not modulating. It
methods may be required to look at the tag
then would reflect power back to the antenna
backscatter. Another method is now considered:
during its modulation state. In practice
an attempt to calculate the back scatter signal
however, a perfect match never exists so both
received at the reader.
states reflect some power.
Calculating Backscatter
The difference between these two reflected
If we assume, as we certainly may, that a powers is the reflection gain. The tag
complex conjugate match assures that the tag is backscatter power is a function of this reflection
powered at its maximum distance from the gain, the incident power available at the tag
transmit antenna, we can then look at Return antenna and the tag antenna gain. The
Link factors that might limit the system developed power is then transmitted by the tag
performance. Of particular concern to a tag antenna. The following section demonstrates
design are two factors 1) Antenna Gain and 2) how to calculate the Tag Backscatter using the
Reflection Gain. manufacturer’s chip characteristics and the
It has previously been shown how to extract impedance parameters that result from the
the antenna gain from an IE3D simulation. Also IE3D tag simulation.
the antenna gain has already been considered in
the forward link path. The antenna gain
however, must be considered again for the
return path. To this point, for the forward link
www.mentor.com/electromagnetic‐simulation 8
Predicting Tag Backscatter Modulation
Rcp Ccp Switch
Reflection Coefficients
Port
Consider the series circuit as shown in the Connections
IC
schematic of Fig 6. In this schematic we see the Cbs
source as the voltage component of the power
coupled to the tag antenna with the antenna
Fig. 7
impedance of Z1. We also see the load
Where
impedance as the RFID chip with its internal
Rcp = Chip parallel resistance
impedance of Z2. As stated, IE3D directly
Ccp = Chip parallel capacitance
computes the antenna series impedances and
the RFID chip impedances can be found on the Cbs = Modulation capacitance
manufacturer’s product specification. For simplicity of most calculations however,
we need to convert these parameters to series
equivalents. The following equations show these
Z1 relationships.
Z2 Eqn. 4 Rcs =
V
and
Fig 6 /
The reflection coefficient can be calculated as XCS = −
Eqn. 5 ( )
follows:
6A) Г
Where
Г is the reflection coefficient Where
Z1 is the source (antenna) impedance Rcs = Chip Series Equivalent Resistance
Z2 is the load (chip) impedance Ccs = Chip Series Equivalent Capacitance
Manufacturer’s Product Specifications Notice that RCS is a frequency dependent
Take a look at the schematic of an RFID chip term. Also keep in mind when calculating the
in Fig7. Notice that the impedance parameters Rcs and Xcs in the modulation mode, the
exist as parallel values. This schematic is a modulation capacitance, Cbs, must be added to
typical pictorial representation of the properties the non‐modulating capacitance.
that a manufacturer’s product specification for Reflection Gain
their chip will show. Given the chip impedance parameters, the
antenna impedances from IE3D and equations 4
and 5, we can now calculate the reflection
coefficient for both states of the chip/antenna
www.mentor.com/electromagnetic‐simulation 9
system. These two reflection coefficients yield Where
the reflection gain as follows: Xcp = 1/ωCcp
6B) G REFLECTION = 20 * LOG |Г1‐Г2| and
Or
Xbs = 1/ωCbs
Eqn. 6 GREF = 20 * LOG |Г1‐Г2|
Where Tag Backscatter
Г1 is the reflection coefficient w/o the The RF energy collected by the tag keeps the
backscatter (BS) load IC powered as long as the tag is within the
Г2 is the reflection coefficient with the BS load forward link range limit. For the reverse link
however, we need to determine the amount of
6C) Г1 = & Г2 =
power the tag backscatters towards the reader
Where antenna. The minimum forward link power is
ZA is the chip impedance (w/o the BS load) reflected back to the antenna from the IC (load
in this example). The tag antenna has its own
+ antenna reactance
gain as we have previously discussed. So given
ZB is the chip impedance (with the BS load) the reflection gain (GRef), the minimum forward
+ antenna reactance link power (PMFL) and the tag gain (GTag), as
and calculated by IE3D, we can now create a tag
Ra is the IE3D Simulation antenna resistance backscatter equation as follows:
6G) TAGBS(dB) = PMFL + GTag + GRef
Notice that the reflection equations are
Since PMFL is the available incident power at RF.L.
slightly modified from Eqn 6A. This is due to
the Forward Link limited range, it follows that:
the fact that power is only developed in the
resistive term of the load and we are only PMFL = 36dBm + 20 * Log
л
concerned with reflected power. where R = RF.L. = . / or
л
Therefore PMFL= 36dBm + ICTH ‐ 39.93 + GTAG + CMF
From these we can now establish as
6D) ZA
where Eqn.7
Xa is the IE3D Simulation antenna reactance TAGBS(dB ) =
6E) ZB 36dBm + ICTH ‐ 39.93 + 2GTAG + CMF + GREF
where Note however that the tag backscatter
Zbs is the chip Impedance with BS load will be attenuated by space loss and subject to
the gain of the reader antenna and receiver
6F) Zbs gain.
www.mentor.com/electromagnetic‐simulation 10
Example Tag Characteristics
The graphs of this section were created
using IE3D simulation and post processing
results along with derived equations for
reflection gain (GREF). Each graph displays both
the CMF and reflection gain vs. frequency, over
the frequency bands of concern for this paper.
Table 7, following the graphs, shows the
individual tag characteristics for each frequency
band of concern for Gen2 RFID (866, 915 and
Fig. 9
960MHz).
Obvious frequency shifts occur to these
plots when their associated tags are placed on
dielectrics. At this time however, we shall only
focus on the free space application as presented
here in an effort to look for secondary
characteristics that affect performance due to
non‐optimized length.
With this stated, table 7 shows that within
the 915MHz band (902MHz to 928MHz), all
three tags have similar CMF characteristics.
Fig. 10
Over this band they appear to be within 1.5dB of
each other. All other things being equal, you Example Tag Characteristics
Rev-A Rev-B Rev-C
would then expect that each of these tags would MHz dB MHz dB MHz dB
perform similarly based solely upon CMF. FL 810 -2.97 831 -3.50 878 -4.02
C. FO 938 -0.00 902 -1.09 908 -1.02
M. FH 1008 -3.01 982 -3.56 952 -4.04
F. BW 198 152 74
Fc 909 -0.48 907 -1.07 915
Fig. 8
www.mentor.com/electromagnetic‐simulation 11
Read Range vs. Reverse Link been considered. Also, external noise effects
have been ignored, again for clarity of this paper
If we consider a tag at the maximum forward
and in an effort to focus upon tag parameters.
link distance, we are assured that the tag is
With this stated however, these parameters
powered and transmitting its ID data back to
allow us to monitor the return link as a function
the reader. As long as the tag is forward link
of frequency for tag parameters other than
limited, the reader will correctly read the tag
CMF. The results can then be compared for
data. If however, other factors limit the return
system ramifications.
signal to a level where the reader can no longer
demodulate the tag data, the tag is said to have Reverse Link Range
became reverse link limited. We shall therefore Looking at Fig 11, it is assumed that PThreshold
consider the expected signal at the reader and is specified after the receiver gain. It follows
determine what limits this signal. therefore, that the reader receiver threshold
power PRcvrThreshold can be stated as follows:
RFID Reader – Tag System
The following block diagram shows an RFID PRcvrThreshold = PAntFace + GAnt + GRcvr
reader‐tag system with parameters for both. or
Obviously the characteristics are not typical.
PRcvrTH = PAF + GAnt + GRcvr
They are intended for demonstration purposes
and to highlight the system characteristics of The power at the antenna face can also be
concern to this paper. stated as below:
PAF = TAGBS + Return Path Space Loss
or PAF = TAGBS + S.L.
G=6dBi
Rev Link
Now direct substitution yields the following:
Range
Eqn. 8
RFID Reader RFID Tag
PRcvrTH = TAGBS + SL + GAnt + GRcvr
1. POut = 30dBm 1. RP = 1.5kΩ
2.PThreshold = 2. CP = 1pF
We can therefore apply the known
‐10dBm 3. CBS =0.5pF
parameters of Fig 11 while leaving the tag and
3. GRcvr = 55dB 4. PTagTH =
reader parameters as variables. When this is
‐13dBm
accomplished it will yield the following:
‐10.0dBm = TAGBS + 20 * Log +6dBi + GRcvr
л
Fig 11
Solving for Return Link (Range) = RR.L. yields
Take a look at the reader and tag
characteristics in figure 11. Obviously, the reader
Eqn. 9 RR.L. = /
parameters have been simplified from those of л
an actual reader. Antenna mismatches, internal
noise, and even frequency response have not
www.mentor.com/electromagnetic‐simulation 12
As a check and to compare with the Forward expect. Both the Rev‐A design and the Rev‐B
link calculation we previously accomplished, we designs have more than 10 meters of margin at
will calculate the RR.L. at 915MHz for the same all three frequencies. The Rev‐C design
tag parameters. however, has lower margins and must be closely
considered for system performance. So just to
For a Tag at 9.18 meters as initially calculated
demonstrate the system performance aspect, we
TAGBS = 36 ‐13 ‐39.93 +4+0 = ‐12.93 dBm will look at the situation with all the same
Now given the receiver gain as GRcvr = 55dB parameters but with less receiver gain. As an
example consider the same design but with only
9A) R.L. = . / = 21.63 meters
л 45dB of receiver gain. The results of this
From this it is obvious that the return link situation can be seen in table 9. Notice that all
range is much larger than the forward link of the tags are now forward link limited. This is
range. As we expected, this tag is forward link exactly the effect we must consider with
limited at 915MHz. different readers using the same tag design.
Effects of Meandering
When we examine the example tags using the
reader parameters of Fig 11, we find the
following conditions exist:
Receiver Gain at 45dBm
Receiver Gain at 55dBm
Range R. L. (meters)
Range F.L. (meters)
Example
Range R. L. (meters)
Range F.L. (meters)
Margin R. L.
Range Limit
GREF (dBm)
CMF (dB)
Example Tag
Margin R. L.
Range Limit
GREF (dBm)
CMF (dB)
Tag Performance
Performance At Key
At Key Frequencies
Frequencies
866MHz
Rev‐A .17 ‐.02 9.68 22.0 F 12 Rev‐B ‐2.69 ‐0.54 9.11 6.56 R ‐3
Rev‐B ‐2.69 ‐0.54 9.11 20.8 F 11 Rev‐C ‐16.38 ‐6.13 4.79 4.45 R ‐.3
Rev‐C ‐16.38 ‐6.13 4.79 10.9 F 6 Rev‐A .35 ‐0.09 9.08 6.54 R ‐3
915MHz
‐2.22 ‐0.23 8.52 19.4 F 11 Rev‐B ‐6.40 ‐1.22 7.60 5.47 R ‐2
Rev‐B ‐6.40 ‐1.22 7.60 17.3 F 10 Rev‐C ‐16.51 ‐5.50 4.64 3.34 R ‐1
Rev‐C ‐16.51 ‐5.50 4.64 10.56 F 6
Table 9
Table 8
As can be seen, the range is limited by CMF
at all frequencies. This means that the tag
designs are forward link limited as we would
www.mentor.com/electromagnetic‐simulation 13
Backscatter Margins systems, start to require more receiver gain to
remain forward link limited.
The next question is how much margin is
This same effect can be seen to be even more
necessary. As previously mentioned, often the substantial for the Rev‐C design. This is true
backscatter will not be centered inside the CMF even though the read range is now so small that
plot. Also you will see that when a tag is loaded this tag would not read anyway, so it does not
with an external dielectric, it will change the become the limiting issue.
relative position of the backscatter plots. To
demonstrate this we will now look at the plots
of the same tags with the tag now placed upon a
1.0 mm plastic receptor. The following plots
show the effect of this for the Rev‐A and Rev‐B
designs.
Figure 14
From the above plots it becomes obvious
that a designer cannot only consider the CMF
and ignore the backscatter during a design. The
backscatter also must always be considered.
We can see from the above graphs there is a
Figure 12
major difference between the three tags. The
same analysis that was accomplished in Free
Space must now be accomplished for the loaded
case to determine the margins. This however
will be left to the reader of this paper.
Finally, tag designs are a compromise
between CMF, Gref and the application
intended for the tag. As can be seen, the
margins in many cases will reduce so that the
tag is no longer Forward Path Limited but
rather becomes Return Link Limited. The exact
margins necessary are established uniquely for
Figure 13 each design. But in all cases, the CMF, the
backscatter, and the dielectric loading must all
Notice the skewing of the backscatter vs. the be considered.
CMF plots. This skewing will directly reduce the
backscatter to the receiver, and with some
www.mentor.com/electromagnetic‐simulation 14
Conclusions
From the above it can be concluded that most RFID tags are Forward Link Limited. For some
systems however or for small tags the Return Link can become a limiting factor. This paper describes an
approach to predict the back scatter for a particular tag and system and determine the Return Link
Budget for that system. With this in mind we can make the following general statements.
Future Papers
This paper is one of three intended to aid in the development of UHF RFID tags. The following
papers are expected in the near future.
UHF RFID Tag Design, Bandwidth Requirements when Intended for Multiple Applications
1. Testing requirements and reference dielectrics.
2. Effects of stray coupling upon bandwidth.
3. Finite Dielectrics effect on accuracy.
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