X-band semi-passive RFID tag on flexible laminate

Development of a prototype low-cost semi-passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag that operates at 10 GHz in the X frequency band is presented. The tag is comprised of a dipole antenna, feed and matching network, a shunt Schottky diode modulator and a microcontroller with an in-built oscillator. The tag is powered by a 3V on-board battery and uses amplitude shift keying (ASK) modulation to communicate with the reader. The X-band RFID tag is design on flexible Taconic laminate. We investigate the performance of the tag´s dipole antenna when printed on polymer using conductive ink. Results presented include the performance of the dipole antenna, feed network, associated software and the tag´s identity as received by an ideal transceiver setup.