A Compact Meander Flexible UHF TAG for Industrial Applications

Latifa El ahmara,∗ , Ahmed Errkika , Aziz Oukairab , Ilham Bouzidac , Larbi Talbib and
Ahmed Lakhssassib
a Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, LMIET, Hassan First University of Settat, Settat, Morocco
b Department of Engineering Computer Science, University of Québec in Outaouais, QC J8X 3X7, Gatineau, Canada
c Digitalization & Microelectronics Smart Devices, MAScIR, Benguerir, Morocco

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT

Keywords: The objective of this paper is to introduce a novel design for a flexible Ultra-High Frequency Tag
ACP (UHF TAG) through the utilization of the meander line technique (MLA) and loop antenna method.
Loop The primary goal is to achieve a compact UHF TAG operating at 868 MHz. The physical dimensions
Meander line technique of the UHF TAG are 110×12×0.1 mm³. The proposed UHF TAG is manufactured using the inkjet
polyamide printing method on a polyamide substrate featuring a relative dielectric constant of 3.5, a tangent
Radiofrequency identification loss of 0.0027, and a height of 0.0508 mm. Through electromagnetic simulation and validation, the
UHF functionality of the proposed UHF TAG covers the UHF band ranging from 854.57 to 883.89 MHz,
UHF TAG with a bandwidth of 29.32 MHz. The reflection coefficient at 868 MHz is approximately -22.46 dB.
The simulated gain measures 1.79 dBi, while the theoretical read range is estimated at 5 meters. The
UHF TAG is produced using silver ink with a thickness of 0.05 mm and assembled using an anisotropic
conductive paste (ACP). Subsequent to electromagnetic simulation, the UHF TAG’s performance is
confirmed through a reading test conducted with a radio frequency identification (RFID) base station.
The results are consistent with the theoretical expectations, showcasing a commendable read range of 5
meters. To safeguard the UHF TAG from challenging environmental conditions, it is enclosed within
a polyethylene film (PE). Following encapsulation, the read range decreases to 3 meters, making it
suitable for RFID applications requiring mid-range capabilities.

1. Introduction
Radiofrequency identification (RFID) has been known
as wireless automatic identification and data capture tech-
nology that allows sharing of information. This technology
has been widely used in industrial applications and public
life, due to its proprieties which facilitate processes and
the integrity of information [1]. A basic radio frequency
identification system consists of 3 main components. (1)
RFID reader is a device that transmits and receives radio
waves to communicate with RFID tags. (2) RFID antennas
convert the RFID reader’s signal into RF waves that can be
picked up by RFID tags. (3) RFID tags are composed of two
components: a printed antenna for transmitting and receiving
signals.
The radio frequency identification transponders are also
divided into three types, depending on power mode used
to communicate data to RFID station. (1) Passive RFID
transponder uses radio waves incoming from RFID station,
which induce a current in the tag’s antenna. Passive RFID
TAG powered up by nearby RFID station to communicate
data. (2) An Active RFID transponder has its own power
source and transmitter on TAG board to ensure the broad-
casting of the signal to RFID station. (3) Battery-assisted
passive has a battery on board to feed microchip-like passive
tag, but it does not have an active transmitter such active tag.
∗ Corresponding author
l.elahmar@uhp.ac.ma (L.E. ahmar)
ORCID (s): 0000-0003-3824-330X (L.E. ahmar)
Table 1
RFID frequency band.
Frequency Band Frequency Range
LF (Low Frequency) 125 kHz - 134 kHz
HF (High Frequency) 13.56 MHz
UHF (Ultra-High Frequency) 860 MHz - 960 MHz
Microwave 2.45 GHz
The Frequency bands allowed for RFID technology with
free license are listed in Table 1. Each frequency band is
characterized by a specific read range, which is influenced by
many factors. Three main factors are; (1) RFID Base station
(BS) factors, it is related to BS components features such
the reader antenna gain and polarization linear or circular.
(2) RFID transponder, it depends on the TAG antenna gain,
polarization, the position of RFID TAG on the items and
assembly defects. And, (3) environment of implementation
that includes humidity, temperature, chemical, and zone of
implementation (urban or rural).
Radio frequency identification tags have undergone sig-
nificant advancements in design, particularly when inte-
grated onto flexible substrates. This innovation in design has
opened up new avenues for applications across industries.
Flexible substrates, often made from materials like polymers
or textiles, enable the creation of RFID tags that can conform
to various shapes and surfaces, enhancing their versatil-
ity. The design considerations for RFID tags on flexible
substrates involve optimizing antenna geometry, selecting
appropriate materials to ensure durability and functionality,
and addressing potential challenges related to signal strength

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 A Compact Meander Flexible UHF TAG for Industrial Applications

and interference. The focal points of this paper contributions segment, length of vertical segment, total length of line ,and
revolve around the novel advancements presented in our the width of the line.
article, which center on the creation and implementation of
an adaptable and condensed RFID tag. This tag displays
an unparalleled level of flexibility, enabling it to easily
conform to a diverse array of surfaces and objects. Within
this paper, a fresh passive RFID tag is introduced, featuring
an antenna structure based on the meander line technique
specifically tailored for the UHF band. What distinguishes
this endeavor is the application of a flexible substrate that can Fig. 1: Meander line arm and electrical equivalent circuit.
be attached to various items, serving a multitude of industrial
objectives such as monitoring personal protective equipment
(PPE), overseeing asset management, and governing inven- The meander line is made up of sections, it is considered
tory supervision, among other use cases. Importantly, the as short-terminated transmission lines. Each section behaves
proposed RFID tag offers exceptional flexibility for affixing as an equivalent inductor 𝐿𝑇 in addition of parasitic capaci-
onto metallic objects, even when subjected to challenging tance 𝐶𝑇 as demonstrated in [4], as follows:
surroundings, due to the exceptional mechanical attributes - Lumped inductance 𝐿𝑇 is created by the vertical parts
of the polyamide material. The assembly process of the of the meander line:
RFID tag employs the inkjet technique, resulting in efficient 𝑙
performance and compact dimensions when compared to the 𝐿𝑇 = 𝐿 × [H] (1)
2
868 MHz frequency [2, 3].
The subsequent sections of this article are organized as Where L is the lumped inductance per length unit.
follows. Section I; This section provides an introduction to - Lumped capacitance 𝐶𝑇 created by the horizontal parts
RFID technology, explaining its fundamental concepts and of the meander line structure:
applications. Section II; In this section, the proposed RFID 𝑙
tag is presented. Additionally, it discusses the application of 𝐶𝑇 = 𝐶 × [F] (2)
2
the meander technique within the tag’s electrical approach,
emphasizing its significance in the design. Section III; Ded- Where C is the lumped capacitance per length unit.
icated to simulation results, Section III offers an in-depth The resonance response of MLA depends on the number
interpretation of electromagnetic simulations conducted. Af- of turns and spacing between two adjacent meander line
ter validating the accuracy of the electromagnetic simulation turns, as presented in (3).
outcomes, the subsequent steps involve prototyping, assem- 𝜆 𝐶
bly, and conducting reading tests to typing and assembling 𝑁 ×𝑆 = = × 𝑓𝑟 (3)
10 10
the RFID tag. Section IV; This section outlines the process
of prosecution of reading tests, highlighting the practical Where, S is spacing between lines, 𝜆 = 𝐶∕𝑓𝑟 , C velocity3 ×
aspects of the proposed design. Section V; The final section 108 m/s and 𝑓𝑟 operating frequency Hz.
wraps up the work, and presentations made by the study in The characteristic impedance of each segment is calcu-
the realm of RFID antenna design. lated from (4).
( )
𝑆
𝑍0 = 276 × log 2 × (4)
2. Design of the proposed RFID TAG 𝑑
The meander line technique stands out as a pragmatic Consequently, increasing the number of turns or spacing of
approach employed in the design of RFID TAG antennas. MLA decreases the resonant frequency [5].
This technique yields a compact circuit layout, resulting in
a diminutive circuit. The dimensions of the meander line 2.2. Meander RFID TAG design
antenna (MLA) are smaller than a quarter of the wavelengths The geometry of the proposed RFID antenna is com-
at the designated operational frequency. Consequently, it’s posed of a rectangular loop and two uniform meander line
classified both in terms of its physical attributes and func- arms associated to the rectangular loop as depicted in Fig. 2.
tional behavior as an electrically small antenna (ESA), in-
corporating inductive effects [4].

2.1. Electrical approach of meander line technique

The design of MLA is accomplished by a set of hori-
zontal and vertical lines to form turns. The meander line is
demonstrated as parallel LC circuit. As illustrated in Fig. 1,
the resonant frequency is related to 5 geometrical parameters Fig. 2: The Structure of the proposed RFID TAG at 868 MHz.
of the meander line: number of turns, length of horizontal

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 A Compact Meander Flexible UHF TAG for Industrial Applications

The rectangular loop is considered as feeding loop for Table 3

the microchip with an inductance effect and the meander RFID material specifications.
line arms is considered as LC circuit. The proposed RFID Material 𝜖𝑟 [𝐹 ∕𝑚] tan 𝛿[𝑑𝐵] ℎ[mm]
antenna is matched to an UHF microchip. It can be repre- PI 3.5 0.0027 0.0508
sented by an impedance having a real and imaginary parts SILVER PEC - 0.05
with highly capacitance effect, subsequently to transmit a
maximum power between the proposed RFID TAG antenna
and the microchip, the input impedance of the proposed 3. Simulation results and discussion
antenna must have an inductance effect [6]. To transfer the
maximum power from the RFID TAG antenna to activate As illustrated respectively in Fig. 3 , and Fig. 4, the
the microchip, the input impedance of the proposed RFID electromagnetic simulation shows a good return loss around
TAG antenna must be equal to the conjugate impedance of -22.46 dB and voltage standing wave ratio equal to 1.16.
the microchip as presented in (5) [7]. The simulated RFID TAG presents an input impedance of
35.03+𝑖×209.3 Ohms which is closely around the conjugate
impedance of the microchip 30.39 + 𝑖 × 211 Ohms at 868
∗
𝑍𝐴𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑛𝑎 = 𝑍𝑀𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑝 (5) MHz. As shown in Fig. 5 [9, 10].

The microchip impedance is computed from equivalent

input parallel capacitance 𝐶𝑝 and equivalent input parallel
resistance 𝑅𝑝 defined from the datasheet. The proposed
RFID TAG antenna is matched to a UHF microchip with a
complex impedance 𝑍𝑀𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑝
∗ = 30.39 + 𝑖 × 211 Ohms at
868 MHz. As demonstrated, the rectangular loop exhibits a
high inductance effect and the meander line structure offers
a compact size proportional to the operating frequency and
can be used to control and shift the resonant frequency band.
The proposed structure encompasses a feeding part using
a rectangular loop as shown in Fig. 2. Two meander line
arms are used to gather the loss caused in structure and to
enhance the efficiency of the antenna. The RFID TAG is
printed on polyamide substrate using silver as metal with
material specifications listed in Table 3. Using EM solver Fig. 3: Simulated return loss of the proposed RFID TAG versus
based on Finite Integration Technique and the theoretical Frequency.
background of MLA concerning the resonance frequency
and geometrical parameters, the proposed antenna parame-
ters are optimized referring to the resonance response at 868
MHz. The proposed RFID TAG length is 110 mm which
is shrunk of about 40 of the dipole length at 868 MHz.
The optimized parameters of the proposed RFID TAG are
resumed in Table 2 [8].

Table 2
Optimal parameters of RFID TAG Design at 868 MHz.
Design part Physical parameter Value [mm]
Substrate 𝑊𝑠 110
𝐿𝑠 12
𝑊 1
𝐿𝐷 8
Meander line 𝐿𝑢 7
𝑆 1 Fig. 4: Simulated VSWR of the proposed RFID TAG versus
𝐸 4.75 frequency.
Loop 𝑊𝐿 18
𝐿𝐿 6

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 A Compact Meander Flexible UHF TAG for Industrial Applications

proposed UHF TAG exported from EM solver. As presented

in Fig. 8, the UHF TAG offers a theoretical read range around
5 m at 868 MHz.

Fig. 5: Simulated input impedance of the proposed RFID TAG

versus frequency.

Fig. 6: Radiation pattern of the proposed UHF TAG against

In Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, respectively, the simulated radiation
angle at 868 MHz frequency.
pattern is a bidirectional pattern with a main lob magnitude
of 1.9 dB, zero side lobs and an angular width equal to 84.3°.
The RFID TAG has exhibited a good gain of 1.726 dBi at
868 MHz. UHF TAGs are known with high reading distances
from 20 cm to 100 m. The theoretical read range is calculated
from FRIIS uplink (6) [11, 12].

√
𝜆 EIRP × 𝐺𝑅 × 𝜏
𝑟= (6)
4𝜋 𝑃th

Where 𝜆 wavelength is calculated at 868 MHz, using UHF

reader with RF power 30 dBm and antenna gain 8 dBi.The
simulated gain of the proposed UHF TAG 𝐺𝑅 = 1.726 dBi
at 868 MHz, so using conversion(7) [13, 14].

𝐺𝑅
Fig. 7: Simulated Gain of the proposed UHF TAG vs. frequency.
𝐺 = 10 10 = 1.51 mW (7)

Where the 𝑃𝑡ℎ is microchip sensitivity or the minimum

threshold power for a tag to respond to reader request during
reading operation.
The Design is matched to ALIEN H3 operating in UHF
band with -15.8 dBm sensitivity, so using (8) to convert
sensitivity to power:

𝑃𝑡ℎ = 10(−𝑆∕10) = 0.0263 mW (8)

The transmission coefficient 𝜏 describes the matching

amount between the input impedance of the antenna and the
impedance of the chip, it is defined in (9).

(4𝑅chip 𝑅Antenna )
𝜏= = 0.0247 (9) Fig. 8: Simulated read range of the proposed RFID TAG vs.
(𝑍chip + 𝑍Antenna )2
frequency.
With 𝑍𝐴𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑛𝑎 and 𝑅𝐴𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑛𝑎 are obtained from simulation
using EM solver at 868 MHz. Using a MATLAB script to
build mathematical (6) and (9), the read range is plotted
vs. frequency/GHz with the input impedance values of the

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 A Compact Meander Flexible UHF TAG for Industrial Applications

4. Assembly and reading test

After the validation of RFID TAG parameters using EM
simulation, the proposed antenna is printed using inkjet 2D
printer. Afterward, the microchip is connected to RFID TAG
using Die bonder process [15, 16].

4.1. Assembly of the proposed RFID TAG

The first prototype, as presented in Fig. 9, is assembled
by using an inkjet printing process for dispensing ink onto
PI substrate with a nozzle diameter of 150 microns. After
printing, the RFID TAG antenna is cured at 180° for 40 min
to ensure sufficient conductor adhesion, as shown in Fig. 10
[17, 18]. Then the microchip is bonded to the proposed TAG
antenna layout with an anisotropic conductive paste (ACP)
and then cured for 15 min at 185° [19, 20].
Fig. 11: Encapsulated RFID TAG.
The encapsulated UHF TAG has been stressed using
a constant climate chamber with a large temperature and
humidity range. To test the reliability and performance of the
tag in its intended environment, it was placed in a climatic
chamber for one week at 40 °C and 75% relative humidity
(RH). The stress test had no impact on either the operational
range or the visual appearance of the tag. Furthermore,
the tag underwent a washing process and maintained its
performance without any noticeable changes.

4.3. Reading test

To validate the prototype and confirm the read range,
a reading test is done using an RFID base station. The
Fig. 9: The prototype of the proposed RFID TAG. experiment reading test of the printed UHF TAG is done
studying two cases without/with PE encapsulation. The test
is performed by an RFID base station (F5860-H) with a
host application to show Received Signal Strength Indicator
(RSSI) values when antenna’s reader and UHF TAG are
aligned. The tested RFID TAG is attached to a foam support,
at first the RFID TAG is placed 20 m from the base station
with a direct line sight, observing the variation of Received
Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) to define the optimal read
range with a wide reading angle. The tested read range
without PE was conform to theoretical read range 5 m and
RSSI =-59.1 dBm. Testing encapsulated TAG in the same
conditions, demonstrates a read range around 3 m. The two
Fig. 10: Assembly procedure of RFID microchip. tested read ranges are suitable for RFID application with
mid-range. Fig. 12 presents RFID base station used for test
and Fig. 13 shows the interface of the Host application for
4.2. Encapsulation of the RFID TAG RSSI values.
Environmental conditions can indeed impact the quality
of the printed traces of the TAG antenna. Ensuring the
integrity of the microchip connection is crucial. One ap-
proach is to use a TEFLON film by applying a thin layer
of TEFLON material onto or around the tag. This film
serves as a barrier between the tag and the surrounding
environment, including the PE material. The non-stick and
chemically inert properties of TEFLON prevent undesired
crystallization of PE, thereby safeguarding the performance
and properties of the RFID tag from any negative effects.The Fig. 12: UHF RFID base station.
encapsulation procedure itself consists of sandwiching the
RFID TAG between two heated plates, subjecting it to a
high temperature of 230 °C, and maintaining pressure for
a duration of 5 minutes. You can refer to Fig. 11 for a visual
representation of the UHF TAG encapsulation process [21].

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 A Compact Meander Flexible UHF TAG for Industrial Applications

of 5 meters in free space and 3 meters encapsulated with

PE. The proposed UHF tag is well-suited for mid-range
applications such as asset management in warehouses and
factories, access control, healthcare, medical care, and more.

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Latifa EL AHMAR et al.: Preprint submitted to Elsevier
Latifa EL AHMAR was born in Ouarzazate, Mo-
rocco, in June 1991. She received a master’s degree
in Automatic, Signal, and Industrial Data Process-
ing from the Faculty of Sciences and Techniques
of Settat, Hassan 1st University, Morocco, in 2018.
She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. degree in physics
and engineering sciences. Her reasrch interest is
around Radio frequency field involving conven-
tional antenna and RFID TAG design.
Ahmed ERRKIK was born in July 1960 in Mo-
rocco. He received a Ph.D. degree in physics from
the University of Technology Compiegne (UTC),
Compiegne, France. He is currently a Professor of
physics in FST University Hassan 1st, Settat, Mo-
rocco, and he is the head of the laboratory LMIET.
He is involved in the design of hybrid, monolithic
active and passive microwave electronic circuits.
Aziz Oukaira received a Ph.D. degree in electrical
engineering from UQO (the University of Quebec
in Outaouais), QC, Canada, in 2020. He is cur-
rently a postdoctoral fellow with the Polystim Neu-
rotechnologies Laboratory, Ecole Poly technique
de Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada.His research is
oriented toward telecommunications applications,
thermal management, rapid prototyping on FPGA,
MEMS, Microelectronics, thermal aspects in VLSI
Microsystems, biomedical signal modeling, ex-
traction of thermal measurements, and detection of
heat zones invisible to the naked eye for surfaces of
integrated systems like IC, SoC and SiP, and par-
allel architecture platforms for embedded systems.
Ilham Bouzida was born in Casablanca, Morocco,
in January 1965. She received the Electronics DUT
diploma from EST Casablanca. She boasts an im-
pressive 17 years of experience in the field of semi-
conductor packaging and quality control, primarily
with ST Microelectronics. Semiconductor packag-
ing stands as a crucial aspect of the electronics
industry, encompassing the encapsulation of inte-
grated circuits (ICs) to shield them from external
factors like moisture, mechanical stress, and tem-
perature fluctuations. Her expertise spans diverse
packaging techniques, materials, and processes,
all dedicated to ensuring the reliability and func-
tionality of semiconductor devices. She’s currently
working at MAScIR as Project Leader Manager,
her research interests include RFID technology and
spectroscopy FTIR & NIR technologies.
Larbi Talbi (Senior Member, IEEE) received
the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical en-
gineering from Laval University, Quebec, QC,
Canada, in 1989 and 1994, respectively. He
completed a postdoctoral fellowship with INRS-
Telecommunications, Montreal, QC, within the
Personal Communications Research Group, from
1994 to 1995, where he led projects supported
by Bell Canada. From 1995 to 1998, he was an
Assistant Professor with the Electronics Engineer-
ing Department, Riyadh College of Technology,
Page 7 of 8
 A Compact Meander Flexible UHF TAG for Industrial Applications

Saudi Arabia. During 1998 to 1999, he was an

Invited Professor with the Electrical and Computer
Engineering Department, Laval University. Since
1999, he has been a Professor with the Department
of Computer Science and Engineering, Univer-
sity of Quebec, Outaouais Ottawa region, Canada,
where he is M.Sc. Program Chair in sciences
and information technologies. He has authored or
coauthored more than 170 journal articles and
conference papers. His research interests include
the experimental characterization and modeling
of UHF/EHF indoor radio propagation channels
and the design of antennas and microwave circuits
for wireless communication systems. Currently, he
is actively involved in major projects related to
the deployment of wireless technologies in under-
ground mines, mainly experimental characteriza-
tion of underground mine channels using MIMO
antennas at 60 GHz, the design of microwave and
RF components using SIW techniques and meta-
materials, and antenna arrays for wireless applica-
tions. He is a member of Ordre des Ingénieurs du
Québec.

Ahmed Lakhssassi (Senior Member, IEEE) re-

ceived the B.Eng. and M.Sc. degrees in electri-
cal engineering from the Université du Québec
à Trois-Rivières (UQTR), Trois-Rivières, QC,
Canada, in 1988 and 1990, respectively, and the
Ph.D. degree in energy and material sciences from
the Institut national de la recherche scientifique
(INRS)-Énergie, Montreal, in 1995. In 1995, he
became a Professor of electro-thermo-mechanical
aspects with the Natural Sciences and Engineer-
ing Research Council of Canada (NSERC)-Hydro-
Quebec Industrial Research Chair, Department of
Electrical Engineering, UQTR. Since 1998, he has
been with the Université du Québec en Outaouais
(UQO), Gatineau. He is currently a Titular Profes-
sor and responsible for the Laboratory of Advanced
Microsystem Engineering (LIMA), developing IP
core and embedded algorithms for microsystems
thermo-mechanical sensors dedicated to thermal
peak detection. He is the author/coauthor of more
than 240 scientific publications and research re-
ports and a thesis advisor of 90 graduate and
undergraduate students who completed their stud-
ies. His research interests include bio-heat thermal
modeling and heat transfer mechanisms in biolog-
ical tissues for thermal therapeutic practices. He
is a Regular Member of the Strategic Alliance in
Microsystems of Québec (ReSMiQ), the largest
research center in microelectronics funded by the
Government of Québec.

Latifa EL AHMAR et al.: Preprint submitted to Elsevier Page 8 of 8