volume | PIER Journals

Abstract

A broadband circularly polarized patch antenna with high gain and wide axial ratio beamwidths is proposed for ultra-high-frequency (UHF) RF identification (RFID) applications in this paper. The antenna is composed of a square patch, a feed network printed on the bottom side of the substrates and an antenna radome. The CP radiation of the proposed antenna is excited by four cylinder probes which transmit four signals that have equal amplitude with quadrature phase difference (0˚, 90˚, 180˚, and 270˚) generated from the feed network. To obtain an optimum peak gain and a broad CP bandwidth, 100 Ω isolation resistor is omitted in the feed network for obtaining high radiation efficiency, and the effects of varying the feed positions and dimensions of the various parameters on the antenna performances are respectively investigated. Simulation results are compared with the measurements, and a good agreement is obtained. The measured results show that the proposed antenna can provide broad impendence bandwidth of 19.7% (815-993 MHz) (reflection coefficient less than -15 dB), a maximum gain of 9.65 dBi, and a 3-dB axial ratio (AR) bandwidth of about 11% (860-960 MHz). The results indicate that the proposed antenna is an excellent candidate for UHF RFID reader system. At last, read performance of the proposed antenna array in RFID systems is presented, which verify the superior features of the proposed antenna in practical RFID system applications.

1. Finkenzeller, K., RFID Handbook, 2nd Edition, Wiley, New York, 2003.
doi:10.1002/0470868023

2. Jamlos, M. F., A. R. B. Tharek, M. R. B. Kamarudin,P. Saad, O. Abdul Aziz, and M. A. Shamsudin, "Adaptive beam steering of RLSA antenna with RFID technology," Progress In Electromagnetics Research, Vol. 108, 65-80, 2010.
doi:10.2528/PIER10071903 Google Scholar

3. Li, X. and J. Liao, "Eye-shaped segmented reader antenna for near-field UHF RFID applications," Progress In Electromagnetics Research, Vol. 114, 481-493, 2011. Google Scholar

4. Amin, Y., Q. Chen, H. Tenhunen, and L.-R. Zheng, "Performance-optimized quadrate bowtie RFID antennas for cost-effective and eco-friendly industrial applications," Progress In Electromagnetics Research, Vol. 126, 49-64, 2012.
doi:10.2528/PIER12020805 Google Scholar

5. Chen, Z. N., X. Qing, and H. L. Chung, "A universal UHF RFID reader antenna," IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech., Vol. 57, No. 5, 1275-1282, May 2009.
doi:10.1109/TMTT.2009.2017290 Google Scholar

6. Lin, C. L., et al. Antenna Engineering Handbook, 1st Edition,Publishing House of Electronics Industry, China, 2002.

7. Kwa, H. W., X. Qing, and Z. N. Chen., "Broadband singlefed single-patch circularly polarized antenna for UHF RFID applications," In Proc. IEEE AP-S Int. Symp., 1-4, San Diego, CA, 2008. Google Scholar

8. Chi, L. P. and S. S. Bor, "A wideband wide-strip dipole antenna for circularly polarized wave operations," Progress In Electromagnetics Research, Vol. 100, 69-82, 2010.
doi:10.2528/PIER09112201 Google Scholar

9. Tsai, C.-L., "A coplanar-strip dipole antenna for broadband circular polarization operation," Progress In Electromagnetics Research, Vol. 121, 141-157, 2011.
doi:10.2528/PIER11082407 Google Scholar

10. Nasimuddin, Z., 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, Dec. 2010.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2010.2078476 Google Scholar

11. Tong, K.-F. and T.-P. Wong, "Circularly polarized U-slot antenna," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 55, No. 8, 2382-2385, Aug. 2007.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2007.901930 Google Scholar

12. Lam, K. Y., K.-M. Luk, K. F. Lee, H. Wong, and K. B. Ng., "Small circularly polarized U-slot wideband patch antenna," IEEE Antenna Wireless Propag. Lett., Vol. 10, 87-90, 2011. Google Scholar

13. Heidari, A. A., M. Heyrani, and M. Nakhkash, "A dual-band circularly polarized stub loaded microstrip patch antenna for GPS applications," Progress In Electromagnetics Research, Vol. 92, 195-208, 2009.
doi:10.2528/PIER09032401 Google Scholar

14. Wang, C.-J. and C.-H. Lin, "A circularly polarized quasi-loop antenna," Progress In Electromagnetics Research, Vol. 84, 333-348, 2008.
doi:10.2528/PIER08081002 Google Scholar

15. Kasabegoudar, V. G. and K. J. Vinoy, "A broadband suspended microstrip antenna for circular polarization," Progress In Electromagnetics Research, Vol. 90, 353-368, 2009.
doi:10.2528/PIER09012901 Google Scholar

16. Tiang, J.-J., M. T. Islam, N. Misram, and J. S. Mandeep, "Circular microstrip slot antenna for dual-frequency RFID application," Progress In Electromagnetics Research, Vol. 120, 499-512, 2011. Google Scholar

17. Sze, J.-Y. and S.-P. Pan, "Design of broadband circularly polarized square slot antenna with a compact size," Progress In Electromagnetics Research, Vol. 120, 513-533, 2011. Google Scholar

18. Yang, S. S., K.-F. Lee, A. A. Kishk, and K.-M. Luk, "Design and study of wideband single feed circularly polarized microstrip antennas," Progress In Electromagnetics Research, Vol. 80, 45-61, 2008.
doi:10.2528/PIER07110604 Google Scholar

19. Zarifi, D., H. Oraizi, and M. Soleimani, "Improved performance of circularly polarized antenna using semi-planar chiral metamaterial covers," Progress In Electromagnetics Research, Vol. 123, 337-354, 2012.
doi:10.2528/PIER11110506 Google Scholar

20. Herscovici, N., Z. Sipus, and D. Bonefacic, "Circularly polarized single-fed wide-band microstrip patch," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 51, No. 6, 1277-1280, Jun. 2003.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2003.812241 Google Scholar

21. Chung, K. L. and A. S. Mohan, "A systematic design method to obtain broadband characteristics for singly-fed electromagnetically coupled patch antennas for circular polarization," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 51, No. 12, 3239-3248, Dec. 2003.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2003.820949 Google Scholar

22. Sudha, T., T. S. Vedavathy, and N. Bhat, "Wideband single-fed circularly polarized patch antenna," Electron. Lett., Vol. 40, No. 11, 648-649, May 2004.
doi:10.1049/el:20040407 Google Scholar

23. Kim, S. M. and W. G. Yang, "Single feed wideband circular polarized patch antennam," Electron. Lett., Vol. 43, No. 13, 703-704, Mar. 2007.
doi:10.1049/el:20070677 Google Scholar

24. Wang, Z., S. Fang, S. Fu, and S. Jia, "Single-fed broadbandcircularly polarized stacked patch antenna with horizontally meandered strip for universal UHF RFID applications," IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech., Vol. 59, No. 4, 1066-1073, May 2011.
doi:10.1109/TMTT.2011.2114010 Google Scholar

25. Shekhawat, S., P. Sekra, D. Bhatnagar, V. K. Saxena, and J. S. Saini, "Stacked arrangement of rectangular microstrip patches for circularly polarized broadband performance," IEEE Antennas Wireless Propag. Lett., Vol. 9, 910-913, 2010.
doi:10.1109/LAWP.2010.2076361 Google Scholar

26. Chen, X., G. Fu, S. X. Gong, et al. "A novel microstrip array antenna with coplanar parasitic elements for UHF RFID reader," Journal of Electromagnetic Waves and Applications, Vol. 23, No. 17-18, 2491-2502, 2009. Google Scholar

27. Chang, T. N. and J.-H. Jiang, "Enhance gain and bandwidth of circularly polarized microstrip patch antenna using gap-coupled method," Progress In Electromagnetics Research, Vol. 96, 127-139, 2009.
doi:10.2528/PIER09081010 Google Scholar

28. Sun, L., Y. L. Sun, and Y. H. Huang, "A novel wide band and broad beamwidth circularly polarized antenna," Journal of Electromagnetic Waves and Applications, Vol. 25, No. 10, 1459-1470, 2011. Google Scholar

29. Row, J.-S. and S.-W. Wu, "Circularly-polarized wide slot antenna loaded with a parasitic patch," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 56, No. 9, 2826-2832, Sep. 2008.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2008.928769 Google Scholar

30. Han, T.-Y., Y.-Y. Chu, L.-Y. Tseng, and J.-S. Row, "Unidirectional circularly-polarized slot antennas with broadband operation," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 56, No. 6, 1777-1780, Jun. 2008.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2008.923380 Google Scholar

31. Zhang, M. T, Y. B. Chen, and Y. C. Jiao, "Dual circularly polarized antenna of compact structure for RFID application," Journal of Electromagnetic Waves and Applications, Vol. 20, No. 14, 1895-1902, 2006.
doi:10.1163/156939306779322611 Google Scholar

32. Tsai, C. L., S. M. Deng, and C. H. Tseng, "Antennas with two shorted rectangular-ring slots coupled by microstrip line for the opposite sense CP in the wide-band operations," Journal of Electromagnetic Waves and Applications, Vol. 23, No. 10, 1367-1375, 2009.
doi:10.1163/156939309789108534 Google Scholar

33. Wang, A. N. and W. X. Zhang, "Design and optimization of broadband circularly polarized wide-slot antenna," Journal of Electromagnetic Waves and Applications, Vol. 23, No. 16, 2229-2236, 2009.
doi:10.1163/156939309790109289 Google Scholar

34. Row, J.-S., "The design of a squarer-ring slot antenna for circular polarization," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 53, No. 6, 1967-1972, Jun. 2005.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2005.848482 Google Scholar

35. Tang, X., K.-L. Lau, Q. Xue, and Y. Long, "Design of small circularly polarized patch antenna," IEEE Antennas Wireless Propag. Lett., Vol. 9, 728-731, 2010.
doi:10.1109/LAWP.2010.2060182 Google Scholar

36. Wu, G.-L., W. Mu, G. Zhao, and Y.-C. Jiao, "A novel design of dual circularly polarized antenna fed by L-strip," Progress In Electromagnetics Research, Vol. 79, 39-46, 2008.
doi:10.2528/PIER07092001 Google Scholar

37., Ahdi Rezaeieh, S. and M. Kartal, "A new triple band circularly polarized square slot antenna design with crooked T- and F-shaped strips for wireless applications," Progress In Electromagnetics Research, Vol. 121, 1-18, 2011. Google Scholar

38. Panda, J. R. and R. S. Kshetrimayum, "A printed 2.4 GHz/5.8 GHz dual-band monopole antenna with a protruding stub in the ground plane for WLAN and RFID Applications," Progress In Electromagnetics Research, Vol. 117, 425-434, 2011. Google Scholar

39. Bian, L., Y.-X. Guo, L. C. Ong, and X.-Q. Shi, "Wideband circularly-polarized patch antenna," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 54, No. 9, 2682-2686, Sep. 2006.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2006.880782 Google Scholar

40. Guo, Y.-X., L. Bian, and X. Q. Shi, "Broadband circularly polarized annular-ring microstrip antenna," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 57, No. 8, 2474-2477, Aug. 2009.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2009.2024584 Google Scholar

41. Zhao, X., L. Zhao, and K. Huang, "A circularly polarized array composed of linear polarized microstrip patches fed by metamaterial transmission line," Journal of Electromagnetic Waves and Applications, Vol. 25, No. 11-12, 1545-1553, 2011.
doi:10.1163/156939311797164927 Google Scholar

42. Chen, X., G. Fu, S.-X. Gong, Y.-L. Yan, and W. Zhao, "Circularly polarized stacked annular-ring microstrip antenna with integrated feeding network for UHF RFID readers," IEEE Antennas Wireless Propag. Lett., Vol. 9, 542-545, 2010.
doi:10.1109/LAWP.2010.2051791 Google Scholar

43. Li, J.-F., B.-H. Sun, H.-J. Zhou, and Q.-Z. Liu, "Miniaturized circularly-polarized antenna using tapered meander-line structure," Progress In Electromagnetics Research, Vol. 78, 321-328, 2008.
doi:10.2528/PIER07090801 Google Scholar

44. Lau, P.-Y., K. K.-O. Yung, and E. K.-N. Yung, "A low-cost printed CP patch antenna for RFID smart bookshelf in library," IEEE Trans. Industrial Electronics, Vol. 57, No. 5, 1583-1588, May 2010.
doi:10.1109/TIE.2009.2035992 Google Scholar

45. Chen, X., G. Fu, S.-X. Gong, J. Chen, and X. Li, "A novel double-layer microstrip antenna array for UHF band RFID," Journal of Electromagnetic Waves and Applications, Vol. 23, No. 11-12, 1479-1487, 2009.
doi:10.1163/156939309789476211 Google Scholar

46. Liao, W.-J., S.-H. Chang, and Y. C. Chu, "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 Google Scholar

47., Invengo tags, XC-TF8025-C02 Inlay," Shenzhen, China, 2012 http://www.invengo.cn/Products show.asp?proid=973&classid=1&rsClass=6&threeID=31..
doi:10.1163/156939310793675646 Google Scholar

Dr. Ping Wang

Dr. Guangjun Wen

Dr. Jian Li

Dr. Yongjun Huang

Dr. Liu Yang

Dr. Qing Zhang