RFDNA: A wireless authentication system on flexible substrates

The design and development of RFDNA, an RF authentication system consisting of wirelessly transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals in the presence of a constellation of dense metals called certificates of authenticity that act as reflecting obstacles, has been performed. The unique feature of this system is that the authentication is physical (hardware-based). Therefore, an integration process necessitates the manufacturing of certificates of authenticity to be durable and able to withstand normal wear and tear. In this system, one of the drawbacks has been the materials that have been used in the design. The materials for the readers have been designed on bulkier, non-conformable substrates, such as FR4. Additionally, the certificates of authenticity consisted of metal wires that have been densely placed into heated plastic that is hardened to maintain the wires´ position. In order to realize a more practical implementation, a new class of certificates of authenticity and readers need to be manufactured on flexible substrates. This paper will focus on the design of a new antenna for an RFDNA reader on flexible substrates.