A Flipping UHF RFID Sensor-Tag for Metallic Environment Compliant with ETSI/FCC Bands

A novel dual-band ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) radio frequency identification (RFID) sensor tag, designed to operate on metallic surfaces, is proposed. This particular UHF RFID sensor tag is capable of operating in both the main RFID frequency bands of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) and the Federal Communication Commission (FCC). The dual-band operation of the UHF RFID sensor tag is based on a very simple concept; by flipping the UHF RFID sensor tag on a metallic surface, it can operate either in the ETSI or FCC RFID frequency bands. The impedance and radiation characteristics of the UHF RFID sensor tag are presented with an extensive analysis of the effects of the metallic surface on the UHF RFID sensor tag. In addition, an equivalent model of the UHF RFID sensor tag, which includes the effects of the metallic surface on the sensor tag, is proposed. The UHF RFID sensor tag has a small form factor and presents a satisfying read range of around 3 m for both the operating frequency bands in a metallic environment as well as a read range of 1.4 m when operating in free space.