Development of Smart Antenna for RFID Reader

Radio frequency identification (RFID) systems have many important applications in the 900 MHz frequency band. A 3x2-element planar smart antenna for RFID readers in a low cost compact package is developed. The smart antenna covers 860-960 MHz frequency band with more than 10 dB input return loss, 12 dBi broadside gain and up to 40deg elevation beam scanning with a 4-bit reflection type phase shifter array. Once implemented in the mass market, RFID smart antennas will contribute tremendously in the areas of RFID tag reading rates, collision mitigation, location finding of items and capacity improvement of the RFID system.