Long Range, Compact, Flippable UHF RFID Tag for Metallic Base Environments, Compliant With ETSI / FCC Bands

Abstract

A compact flippable tag antenna of size ( $36\times 30\times 3.15$ ) $mm^{3}$ has been developed using double folded technique, for effective operation on metallic surfaces in ETSI/FCC bands. The antenna features a distinctive three-layered structure with serrations incorporated into the top, middle, and bottom layers. The top layer is connected to the bottom layer through inductive stub. The RFID chip connected between the bottom and middle layers. The tag is designed for dual band operation (ETSI and FCC) through the introduction of a flipping technique in combination with double-folded configuration used for effective impedance matching between the tag antenna and chip in both the bands. The tag works for ETSI band when the top layer act as a radiator while the bottom layer is attached to the metal plate. Further, when tag is flipped, it works for FCC band. In measurement scenarios, the fabricated tag achieves a maximum read range of 12.25 m in ETSI band and 9.9 m in FCC band when mounted on a metallic plate of size $20\times 20$ cm2. The proposed tag’s performance is compared with already reported design through the evaluation of the figure of merit (FoM). With its dual band functionality and, metal-compatible design, the proposed tag eliminates the need for multiple tags or change in electronic product code (EPC) across intercontinental routes, making it highly suitable for tracking metal packages or containers in global logistics applications.