Work In Progress: Integrating the RF Characteristics of RFID into Undergraduate EE Courses

Radio frequency identification is becoming important for the tracking of goods and capital items, as well as being used for sensor networks to send data. A reader, which is a receiver and transmitter, sends an interrogating signal to the tag. The tag, be it active or passive, responds and the response, detected by the reader is decoded and transferred to the users IT systems. There are several frequency ranges for tags, ranging from the low kHz, to the ISM frequency at 13.56 MHz to tags operating in the Part 15 and ISM bands near 900 and 2400 MHz. In addition, RFID tags may be active or passive and may be permanently programmed or field rewritable. Each of the classes of tags has fundamental engineering limitations, based upon size, frequency range, and/or data requirements. There are also may design choices for readers based on whether the reader is to be fixed or handheld. The purpose of this work-in-progress is to outline how the RF design consideration effect RFID choices and how the design of RFID systems is being included in courses on electromagnetics and communications, both in terms of system design and in design of individual components. Design of antennas for the tag and reader, as well as, an understanding of the fundamental limits based upon frequency choice can be included in an undergraduate electromagnetics course. System design, including link budget, modulation type and overall system parameters can be included as good example in a communications course. This work-in-progress will also outline chip requirements for the tags and a discussion on how specific cost requirements for tags influence the designs, book