Multi-Chip RFID Antenna Integrating Shape-Memory Alloys for Detection of Thermal Thresholds

Low-cost wireless measurement of objects' temperature is one of the greatest expectation of radiofrequency identification technology for the so many applications in cold supply-chain control and safety assessment in general. In this context, the paper proposes a dual-chip UHF tag embedding shape memory alloys (SMA) able to transform the variation of the tagged item's temperature into a permanent change of antenna radiation features. This event-driven antenna is hence able to selectively activate the embedded microchips according to the temperature above or below a given threshold. A general design methodology for the resulting two-ports tag antenna is here introduced and then applied to prototypes able to work at low (around 0°C) and high (80°C) temperatures.