The Design of a High-Performance Multisine RFID Reader

We report on the design of an enhanced EPC Gen2/ISO18000-6C-compliant UHF RFID reader with waveform optimization capability. By properly designing the powering waveform, e.g., a multisine (MS) signal, the power transfer to the transponders is improved, and therefore, the communication range is extended. We measured the sensitivity of a commercial RFID chip being interrogated by the developed reader both in CW and MS operating modes, and observed a sensitivity gain of more than 3 dB relative to the CW, for an optimal nine-tone MS signal.