Antenna systems for passive RFID tags

• US 7,855,697 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2007
• Issued: 12/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fiber Mountain, Inc. (Green Lambda Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wagner, Richard Edward, Thurow, Bradley Richard, Chamarti, Aravind, Sutherland, James Scott, Whiting, Matthew Scott, Downie, John David
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Thienvu V
• Application Number:
  US11/891,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20090045961A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,226 Days
• Field of Search: 343/895, 343/700.MS, 343/767, 343/770
• US Class Current: 343/895
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/16 with feed intermediate between the extremities of the antenna, e.g. centre-fed dipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/24 Shunt feed arrangements to single active elements, e.g. for delta matching

Abstract

Antenna systems for passive radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags. The antenna systems have a very small form factor with good power harvesting and good performance in proximity to other antennas. The antenna system includes at least one, and preferably two, parallel serpentine antenna elements formed on, or otherwise supported by, an antenna substrate so that a RFID-tag integrated circuit (IC) can be electrically contacted to the antenna system at one end of the antenna substrate. A conducting wire that runs in the same direction as the at least one serpentine antenna element is used to match impedance and enhance antenna performance and power flow between the antenna and the IC. An impedance-matching circuit may be employed in place of the conducting wire to facilitate impedance matching between the antenna and the IC.

Claims

1. An antenna system for a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising:

an antenna substrate;

an integrated circuit (IC) disposed on an end of the antenna substrate or adjacent to the end of the antenna substrate;

at least one serpentine antenna element having a first length and formed on the antenna substrate and electrically connected to the IC and extending from the IC in a first direction;

a conducting wire having a second length different from the first length electrically connected to either the IC or the at least one serpentine antenna element and extending on the antenna substrate in the first direction or substantially in the first direction; and

a shunt electrically connected to the at least one serpentine antenna element and to the conducting wire, the shunt configured to facilitate impedance matching between the antenna system and the IC.

2. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the at least one serpentine antenna element comprises a first serpentine antenna element and a second serpentine antenna element.

3. A RFID tag, comprising:

the antenna system of claim 1; and

an integrated circuit (IC) electrically connected to the antenna system.

4. A RFID system, comprising:

at least one RFID tag according to claim 3; and

a RFID reader configured to RF-communicate with the at least one RFID tag.

5. A method performing RFID, comprising

providing the RFID system of claim 4;

and

sending a RF interrogation signal from the RFID reader to at least one RFID tag to power the at least one RFID tag and to receive a RFID-tag signal therefrom.

6. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the at least one serpentine antenna element is either a wire or a conductive pattern in the antenna substrate.

7. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the conducting wire is either a wire or a conductive pattern in the antenna substrate.

8. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the conducting wire is electrically connected to a distal end of the at least one serpentine antenna element.

9. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the shunt is either a straight conductor or a serpentine conductor.

10. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the shunt is electrically connected between the at least one serpentine antenna element and the conducting wire on the proximal end of the antenna substrate.

11. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the shunt is electrically connected between the at least one serpentine antenna element and the conducting wire on a distal end of the antenna substrate.

12. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the shunt is electrically connected to the at least one serpentine antenna element and to the conducting wire on a proximal end of the antenna substrate.

13. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the conducting wire runs in the same direction as the at least one serpentine antenna element.

14. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the conducting wire is straight.

15. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the conducting wire is not straight.

16. An antenna system for a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag that includes an integrated circuit (IC), comprising:

an antenna substrate having a proximal end and a distal end;

a first serpentine antenna element and a second serpentine antenna element, the first and second serpentine antenna elements each supported by the antenna substrate and each having a proximal end and a distal end;

first and second antenna feed points arranged at the antenna substrate proximal end and connected to the respective proximal ends of the first and second serpentine antenna elements so as to provide an electrical connection to the IC, which is arranged adjacent the antenna substrate proximal end;

a conducting wire electrically connected to either the first or second serpentine antenna element or the first or second antenna feed point, such that the antenna length of either the first or second serpentine antenna element is longer than the antenna length of the second or first serpentine antenna element, respectively; and

a shunt electrically connected to the first and second serpentine antenna elements or one of the first and second serpentine antenna elements and the conducting wire, the shunt configured to facilitate impedance matching between the antenna system and the IC.

17. The antenna system of claim 16, further including first and second antenna pads at the respective distal ends of the first and second serpentine antenna elements.

18. The antenna system of claim 16, wherein the conducting wire is straight.

19. The antenna system of claim 16, wherein the first and second serpentine antenna elements and the conducting wire are formed of a metal conducting line formed on the antenna substrate.

20. The antenna system of claim 16, wherein the antenna substrate has a length LM, the antenna system has an operating wavelength of λ

a form factor FF=LM<

λ

/2.

21. A RFID tag, comprising:

the antenna system of claim 16; and

the integrated circuit (IC) electrically connected to the antenna system via said first and second antenna feed points.

22. A RFID system, comprising:

at least one RFID tag according to claim 21; and

a RFID reader configured to RF-communicate with the at least one RFID tag.

23. The antenna system of claim 16, wherein the shunt is electrically connected between the first and second antenna feed points.

24. An antenna system for a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag that includes an integrated circuit (IC), comprising:

an antenna substrate having a proximal end and a distal end;

a first serpentine antenna element and a second serpentine antenna element, the first and second serpentine antenna elements each supported by the antenna substrate and each having a proximal end and a distal end;

first and second antenna feed points arranged at the antenna substrate proximal end and electrically connected to the respective proximal ends of the first and second serpentine antenna elements so as to provide an electrical connection to the IC, which is arranged adjacent the antenna substrate proximal end;

a conducting wire electrically connected to either the first or second serpentine antenna element or the first or second antenna feed point, such that the antenna length of either the first or second serpentine antenna element is longer than the antenna length of the second or first serpentine antenna element, respectively;

an impedance-matching circuit electrically connected to one of the first and second serpentine antenna elements and configured to facilitate impedance-matching and current flow between the antenna system and the IC; and

a shunt electrically connected to the first and second serpentine antenna elements and configured to facilitate impedance matching between the antenna system and the IC.

25. The antenna system of claim 24, wherein each of the first and second serpentine antenna elements further includes at its distal end a flat antenna pad.

26. The antenna system of claim 24, wherein the antenna system has an operating wavelength of λ

, the first and second serpentine antenna elements each have a length LM, and wherein the antenna system has a form factor FF=LM<

λ

/2.

27. A RFID tag, comprising:

the antenna system of claim 24; and

the integrated circuit (IC) electrically connected to the antenna system via said first and second antenna feed points.

28. A RFID system, comprising:

at least one RFID tag according to claim 27; and

a RFID reader configured to RF-communicate with the at least one RFID tag.