An optimization study on multi-section dipole antenna designs for printed UHF RFID

Abstract

In this paper, we present an optimization study on multi-section dipole antenna designs for printed UHF RFID, in which the antenna structure is divided into several unequal sections of radiating areas. The optimization work is extensively performed on the thickness, the length, as well as the width of each section in order to obtain optimal-performance multi-section printed dipole antennas at the lowest possible cost. The simulation results illustrate that a four-section dipole antenna structure with each succeeding section having the width approximately equal to half the width of its prior section achieves superior antenna efficiency performance. The conductive ink consumption of this antenna design is reduced around 51% when compared with the conventional flat layer design in order to achieve the same level of antenna efficiency performance as the ideal copper-trace dipole antenna.