A fully EPC compatible multi frequency passive RFID tag with −11.4 dBm sensitivity

This paper presents a fully passive multi frequency RFID transponder according to the EPC HF and EPC Class 1 Gen 2 UHF standard. The combination of inductive and electro-magnetic coupling increases the applicability and flexibility of state-of-the-art RFID transponders especially for these areas of applications where RFID transponders should operate in both the HF and the UHF RF field. An easy integration into existing systems makes the multi frequency transponder competitive on the market because commercial HF and UHF readers can be used. Only two input pins are necessary to connect the chip to a broadband antenna by using the concept of combining a balanced HF and an unbalanced UHF frontend. The chip operates from 13.56MHz to 2.45GHz and is developed in a 0.13 μm low cost CMOS technology.