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TAG siMulAtion
Radio frequency identification (RFID) makes it possible to catalogue, label and track items quickly in demanding environments. At the heart of all RFID systems is the tag an inductive coil or antenna usually connected to a small microchip.
When interrogated by an RFID reader, this chip generates a
unique data string which allows the tag to be identified and,
if necessary, can provide additional information to the reader.
Figure 1: H-field (left) and surface current density (right) for a typical LF RFID tag.
Z
Theta
Y
Phi
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
-180
-135
-90
-45
45
Theta / degrees
Figure 2: A high-frequency RFID tag (top) and its farfield pattern at its resonant
frequency (bottom).
90
135
180
For this, the Optenni Lab tool is ideal. Optenni Lab shares a
close two-way link with CST STUDIO SUITE, allowing simulation results and circuit models to be shared between the
two products. The matching circuits can then be optimized
to get a good match across a wider range of frequencies, and
the effect of the optimized circuits can be included directly in
a new 3D simulation.
The inclusion of circuit simulation tools means that the analysis can be more detailed than a simple S-parameter calculation. The electronic components of the chip and reader can
be combined with a 3D model of the system (Figure 7), and
using the AC Task, a realistic data transmission can be simulated. This will take into account distortions to the signal
caused by modulation and demodulation, reection within
the system, and unwanted parasitic effects such as interference from other tags.
0,0
S [Magnitude in dB]
S [Magnitude in dB]
-5
-0,2
-10
-0,4
-15
-0,6
-20
-0,8
-1,0
-1,2
r = 2.5 mm
r = 12.5 mm
r = 5 mm
r = 15 mm
r = 7.5 mm
r = 17.5 mm
r = 10 mm
r = 20 mm
-25
-30
-35
0,2
0,4
0,6
0,8
1,2
1,4
1,6
1,8
Frequency / GHz
1,2
1,22
1,24
1,26
1,28
1,3
1,32
1,34
1,36
1,38
1,4
Frequency / GHz
r = 5 mm
r = 6 mm
r = 7 mm
r = 8 mm
r = 9 mm
r = 10 mm
r = 11 mm
r = 12 mm
r = 13 mm
r = 14 mm
r = 15 mm
r = 16 mm
r = 17 mm
r = 18 mm
Figure 5: (top) A bent RFID tag model. (bottom) The S-parameters from a pa-
from a parameter sweep over the arm length r, not taking complex chip im-
rameter sweep over the radius of curvature, taking into account the complex
chip impedance.
30
25
25
Output power / mW
30
20
15
10
15
10
20
10
15
20
25
30
-15
-10
-5
Distance / mm
10
15
60
75
90
Out-of-plane rotation
30
30
25
25
Output power / mW
Output power / mW
In-plane rotation
20
15
10
20
15
10
Offset / mm
-90
-45
45
90
15
30
45
Figure 6: The effect of different possible alignment problems in a 13.56 MHz RFID-based near-field communication (NFC) system.
15 V
AM Signal Generator
1.0e3 n
200
1.0e3 p
antenna_input
HF
1000
1000 p
(b)
N:1
20
5
Input
TAG_1
1n
(a)
20
1 SPICE 3
50
nfet
1.4 p
1n
TAG_1
20
TAG_4
2
3
TAG_3
3
anode
1.4 p
20
LP-Filter
Filtered_Envelope
(d)
30 n
Demodulator
50
30 n
HF_eliminated
21 p
21 p
(a) Input
100 p
0,01
0,00
10
-0,01
-0,02
Voltage / V
Voltage / V
ideal_diode
cathode
Diode
0.001 n
62.75 n
50
12
(c)
SPICE
6
4
-0,03
-0,04
-0,05
-0,06
-0,07
0
-2
-0,08
-0,09
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
50
100
Time / ns
6E-05
150
200
250
300
Time / ns
8E-06
7E-06
4E-05
6E-06
Voltage / V
Voltage / V
2E-05
0E+00
-2E-05
5E-06
4E-06
3E-06
2E-06
-4E-05
1E-06
-6E-05
0E+00
50
100
150
Time / ns
200
250
300
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
Time / ns
Figure 7: Schematic view of a full tag-and-reader simulation, showing the time-domain signals at various points throughout the system. The 3D model is the large block
on the center-right.
Figure 8: A pallet containing multiple RFID-tagged pill boxes (left), close to a reader (right).
S [Magnitude in dB]
-40
-45
-50
-55
-60
-65
-70
-75
-80
1st row
2d row
-85
3rd row
4th row
-90
0,8
0,85
0,9
0,95
Frequency / GHz
1,05
1,1
Figure 11: The farfield of the RFID tag in situ. Red areas indicate transmission peaks.
Conclusion
Traditional RFID design methods can be complemented by
EM simulation in order to better understand the behavior of
the device. Parameterization and optimization means that
multiple design variations can be investigated as part of a
what-if analysis, and the antennas can be tuned and matched
for better efficiency. The whole system can also be simulated, including the reader, multiple tags, and the devices surroundings, allowing engineers to examine how the system
will behave in a realistic environment. These environmental
effects can be very hard to detect without using simulation.
Author
Marc Rtschlin, Market Development Manager for Microwave and RF Applications, CST AG
About CST
Founded in 1992, CST offers the markets widest range of
3D electromagnetic field simulation tools through a global network of sales and support staff and representatives.
CST develops CSTSTUDIO SUITE, a package of high-performance software for the simulation of electromagnetic fields in all frequency bands, and also sells and supports complementary third-party products. Its success
is based on a combination of leading edge technology,
a user-friendly interface and knowledgeable support
staff. CSTs customers are market leaders in industries
as diverse as telecommunications, defense, automotive,
electronics and healthcare. Today, the company enjoys a
leading position in the high-frequency 3D EM simulation
market and employs 280 sales, development, and support personnel around the world.
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CST Computer Simulation Technology AG, Bad Nauheimer Str. 19, 64289 Darmstadt, Germany