Smart cable for Radio Frequency Identification in aeronautical applications

A smart cable for Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) aeronautical and transportation applications is proposed. The cable is designed to provide RFID connectivity at 2.45 GHz inside airplanes, subways, tunnels, etc. and can be made of five hotspot periodically separated by a distance of 3.2 m. Each hotspot consists of one switch, one patch antenna and one Wilkinson power combiner, except the last hotspot which consists of one switch, one inset feed patch antenna and one load. The system ensures a coverage area of 16 m length by 2.5 m height with at least a power level of −39 dBm to be received at the tag assuming an input power of 30 dBm.