Progress Towards the First Wireless Sensor Networks Consisting of Inkjet-Printed, Paper-Based RFID-Enabled Sensor Tags

This paper discusses the evolution towards the first integrated radio-frequency identification (RFID)-enabled wireless sensor network infrastructure using ultra-high frequency/radio frequency (UHF/RF) RFID-enabled sensor nodes and inkjet-printed electronics technologies on flexible and paper substrates for the first time ever. The first sections highlight the unique capabilities of inkjet printed electronics as well as the benefits of using paper as the ultra-low-cost, conformal and environmentally friendly substrate for the mass-scale ubiquitous implementation of the first RFID-enabled wireless sensing applications. Various inkjet-printed antenna configurations are presented for enhanced-range compact RFID-enabled sensing platforms in “rugged” environments up to 7 GHz, followed by the discussion of their 2-D integration with integrated circuit (IC) and sensors on paper. This integration is extended to a power-scavenging “smart-shoe” batteryless integrated RFID module on paper that could be used for autonomous wearable sensing applications with enhanced range. The paper concludes discussing the details for establishing for the first time an asynchronous wireless link between the aforementioned RFID-tags and a widely used commercial wireless sensor network (WSN) mote using a simplified protocol; a paramount step that could potentially create ubiquitous ultra-low-cost sensor networks and large-scale RFID implementations eliminating the need of expensive RFID reader infrastructure and linking RFIDs to the mature level of WSNs.

[1]  Ulrich L. Rohde,et al.  Microwave and wireless synthesizers: theory and design , 1997 .

[2]  V. Lakafosis,et al.  Paper-Based RFID-Enabled Wireless Platforms for Sensing Applications , 2009, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques.

[3]  Li Yang,et al.  RFID Tag and RF Structures on a Paper Substrate Using Inkjet-Printing Technology , 2007, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques.

[4]  C. Balanis.  Antenna theory , 1982 .

[5]  Nam-Young Kim,et al.  Screen Printed Resonant Tags for Electronic Article Surveillance Tags , 2009 .

[6]  P.V. Nikitin,et al.  Performance limitations of passive UHF RFID systems , 2006, 2006 IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society International Symposium.

[7]  L. Barclay.  Propagation of radiowaves , 2003 .

[8]  Jaeyoung Kim,et al.  All-Printed and Roll-to-Roll-Printable 13.56-MHz-Operated 1-bit RF Tag on Plastic Foils , 2010, IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices.

[9]  R. A. Burberry.  VHF and UHF Antennas , 1992 .

[10]  R. Grob,et al.  Thermal aging study of insulating papers used in power transformers , 1996, Proceedings of Conference on Electrical Insulation and Dielectric Phenomena - CEIDP '96.

[11]  Manos M. Tentzeris,et al.  RFID-Enabled Sensor Design and Applications , 2010 .

[12]  S.Y.Y. Leung,et al.  Performance of Printed Polymer-Based RFID Antenna on Curvilinear Surface , 2007, IEEE Transactions on Electronics Packaging Manufacturing.

[13]  V. Lakafosis,et al.  Implementation of multi-hop routing protocols for the dramatic range enhancement of wireless sensor networks , 2008, 2008 IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society International Symposium.