volume | PIER Journals

Abstract

In this paper, a compact circularly polarized antenna based on a resonant quadrifilar spiral structure for the application of UHF RFID handheld reader is proposed and demonstrated experimentally. To reduce antenna size and improve impedance matching, the original resonant arms are revised by bending inverted-F structures and printing them on dielectric substrate, and the four arms are fed by a four-way phase shift network. Such an antenna indicates stable circular polarization performance and wide beam-width. The gain bandwidth (>2 dBi) can cover the frequency band from 902 MHz to 928 MHz, which is suitable for most of the popular UHF RFID system in the world. Moreover, the 1×4 array and 2×2 array based on previously demonstrated antenna unit are numerically investigated. The array performances, including the gain, beam scanning and low side-lobe are discussed.

1. Finkenzeller, K., RFID Handbook, 2nd Ed., John Wiley&Sons, New York, 2003.
doi:10.1002/0470868023

2. Karmakar, N. C., Handbook of Smart Antennas for RFID Systems, Wiley-IEEE Press, USA, 2010.
doi:10.1002/9780470872178

3. Chen, X., G. Fu, S. X. Gong, and W. Zhao, "Circularly polarized stacked annular-ring microstrip antenna with integrated feeding network for UHF RFID readers," IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, Vol. 9, No. 1, 542-545, 2010.
doi:10.1109/LAWP.2010.2051791

4. Chen, Z. N., X. Qing, and H. L. Chung, "A universal UHF RFID reader antenna," IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol. 57, No. 5, 1275-1282, 2009.
doi:10.1109/TMTT.2009.2017290

5. Mireles, E. and S. K. Sharma, "A novel wideband circularly polarized antenna for worldwide UHF band RFID reader applications," Progress In Electromagnetics Research B, Vol. 42, 23-44, 2012.
doi:10.2528/PIERB12051019

6. Wang, Z., S. Fang, S. Fu, and S. Jia, "Single-fed broadband circularly polarized stacked patch antenna with horizontally meandered strip for universal UHF RFID applications," IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol. 59, 1066-1073, 2011.
doi:10.1109/TMTT.2011.2114010

7. Yusuf, Y. and X. Gong, "A low-cost patch antenna phased array with analog beam steering using mutual coupling and reactive loading," IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, Vol. 7, No. 1, 81-84, 2008.
doi:10.1109/LAWP.2008.916689

8. Abbak, M. and I. Tekin, "RFID coverage extension using microstrip-patch antenna array," IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine, Vol. 51, No. 1, 185-191, 2009.
doi:10.1109/MAP.2009.4939065

9. Liao, W.-J., S.-H. Chang, Y.-C. Chu, and W.-S. Jhong, "A beam scanning phased array for UHF RFID readers with circularly polarized patches," Journal of Electromagnetic Waves and Applications, Vol. 24, No. 17–18, 2383-2395, 2010.
doi:10.1163/156939310793675646

10. Nasimuddin, Z., N. Chen, and X. Qing, "Asymmetric-circular shaped slotted microstrip antennas for circular polarization and RFID applications," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 58, No. 12, 3821-3828, 2010.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2010.2078476

11. Nasimuddin, Z., N. Chen, and X. Qing, "A compact circularly polarized cross-shaped slotted microstrip antenna," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 60, No. 3, 1584-1588, 2012.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2011.2180334

12. Agarwal, K., Nasimuddin, and A. Alphones, "RIS-based compact circularly polarized microstrip antennas," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 61, No. 2, 547-554, 2013.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2012.2225816

13. Nasimuddin, X. Qing, and Z. N. Chen, "A wideband circularly polarized stacked slotted microstrip patch antenna," IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine, Vol. 55, No. 6, 84-99, 2013.
doi:10.1109/MAP.2013.6781708

14. Lin, Y. F., Y. K. Wang, H. M. Chen, and Z. Z. Yang, "Circularly polarized crossed dipole antenna with phase delay lines for RFID handheld reader," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 60, No. 3, 1221-1227, 2012.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2011.2180319

15. Lee, J.-N. and J.-H. Jung, "Design of the planar cross dipole reader antenna for UHF RFID systems," Journal of Electromagnetic Waves and Applications, Vol. 26, No. 7, 962-972, 2012.
doi:10.1080/09205071.2012.710424

16. Ta, S. X., H. Choo, and I. Park, "Planar, lightweight, circularly polarized crossed dipole antenna for handheld UHF RFID reader," Microwave and Optical Technology Letters, Vol. 55, No. 8, 1874-1878, 2013.
doi:10.1002/mop.27674

17. Bang, J.-H., C. Bat-Ochir, H.-S. Koh, E.-J. Cha, and B.-C. Ahn, "A small and lightweight antenna for handheld RFID reader applications," IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, Vol. 11, 1076-1079, 2012.
doi:10.1109/LAWP.2012.2217311

18. Lin, Y.-F., C.-H. Lee, S.-C. Pan, and H.-M. Chen, "Proximity-fed circularly polarized slotted patch antenna for RFID handheld reader," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 61, No. 10, 5283-5286, 2013.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2013.2272677

19. Hsu, H.-T. and T.-J. Huang, "A 1 × 2 dual-band antenna array for radio-frequency identification (RFID) handheld reader applications," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 62, No. 10, 5260-5267, 2014.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2014.2340897

20. Farswan, A., A. K. Gautam, B. K. Kanaujia, and K. Rambabu, "Design of koch fractal circularly polarized antenna for handheld UHF RFID reader applications," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 64, No. 2, 771-775, 2016.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2015.2505001

21. Son, W. I., W. G. Lim, M. Q. Lee, S. B. Min, and J. W. Yu, "Printed square quadrifilar spiral antenna for UHF RFID reader," IEEE AP-S International Symposium, 303-308, 2007.

22. Lee, S.-J., D.-J. Lee, H.-S. Jang, H.-S. Tae, and J.-W. Yu, "Planar square quadrifilar spiral antenna for mobile RFID reader," The 9th European Radar Conference (EuRAD), 618-621, 2012.

23. Liu, Q., J. Shen, H. Liu, Y. Wu, M. Su, and Y. Liu, "Low-cost compact circularly polarized directional antenna for universal UHF RFID handheld reader applications," IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, Vol. 14, 1326-1329, 2015.
doi:10.1109/LAWP.2015.2404033

24. Kilgus, C. C., "Multielement, fractional turn helices," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 16, No. 4, 499-500, 1968.
doi:10.1109/TAP.1968.1139231

Dr. Xuefeng Zhao

Dr. Yongjun Huang

Dr. Jian Li

Dr. Qing Zhang

Dr. Guangjun Wen