An Ultra-Rugged UHF RFID Reader Antenna: A New Design for Convention Center Loading Docks [Wireless Corner]

摘要

At present, the ultrahigh frequency (UHF) radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology is more popular than several other autoidentification (auto-ID) technologies. An ultrarugged UHF RFID reader antenna is made from a concrete substrate that is sandwiched between a stubbed quarterwave radiator and a folded ground plane is proposed for fixed UHF RFID readers. This linearly polarized antenna operates between 865 and 868 MHz with a 3.5-dBi peak gain and a 160-MHz, -15-dB |S-11| bandwidth. The 3.5- and 2-dBi gain bandwidth are 80 and 140 MHz, respectively. The antenna is intended to be used in convention center loading docks and is thus tested for extreme environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity, condensation, and rain as well as the effect of superstrates and metals. More than one concrete tile antenna can be operated by using one RFID reader to realize a distributed antenna system (DAS). The antenna is conformal and can blend with the environment without affecting the existing aesthetics. The antenna creates a wide circumferential read zone (similar to 5.6-m diameter) and reads tags up to 6.5 m at the boresight in free space.