Compact Platform Tolerant UHF RFID Tag for Near Field RF Applications

A T-matched meander line passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag is designed for near-field Ultra High Frequency (UHF) communication. A new method is introduced to effectively limit the read range of the UHF RFID tag, ensuring its functionality within near field region. The proposed RFID tag antenna, with overall dimensions of 43 x 10 x 1.6 mm³, demonstrates a strong electric and magnetic field in the near-field region. The tag incorporates the Higgs 4 IC chip from Alien Technology, which provides enhanced sensitivity and a rapid read rate for storing unique identifiers. The designed tag is platform-tolerant. Comprehensive read range measurements were conducted for various common mountable platforms. Key performance metrics, including impedance, radiation pattern, bandwidth, and the impact of ground size on gain, were thoroughly analyzed. Experimental results confirm that the proposed tag exhibits robust identification capabilities in the near-field zone, making it well-suited for item-level tagging applications.