RFID

Technical Training
Low Frequency Antenna Design

J.A.G Jan 2009 Texas Instruments Proprietary Information 1

 RFID
LF Antenna Design
● Custom Antenna Design
– There are many reasons why integrators may wish to make
their own Low Frequency antennas:
– The application needs special sized antennas
– The antennas must be built into structures/equipment
– The field needs to be more localized
– Larger loops are needed to cover a wide area (road loops)
– Another reason may be to achieve a greater reading distance
but integrators are advised that reader antenna size is only one
factor. Factors that influence read range include:
– The size and shape of the tag’s antenna
– The size and shape of the reader’s antenna
– Environmental noise
– The transmitter power (limited by legislation)
J.A.G Jan 2009 Texas Instruments Proprietary Information 2
 RFID
LF Antenna Design
● Custom Antenna Design
– What intending antenna designers should keep in mind is:

WARNING
Increasing the antenna size doesn’t automatically lead to an increase in a
tag’s reading performance - it may go down. Even if it were possible to
fully charge a tag at long range, the battery-free tag may not have a
strong enough signal to respond back over the same distance. More
usually the tag doesn’t have the necessary 6 dB signal difference to be
heard above the increased noise resulting from the poorer signal-to-noise
ratio of the larger antenna

J.A.G Jan 2009 Texas Instruments Proprietary Information 3

 RFID
LF Antenna Design
● Standard Antennas

G04E

G01E
G02E
P01A S01C

J.A.G Jan 2009 Texas Instruments Proprietary Information 4

 RFID
LF Antenna Design
● Readout Distance with Noise Vs Antenna Size

J.A.G Jan 2009 Texas Instruments Proprietary Information 5

 RFID
LF Antenna Design
● Resonant Frequency Calculation
– Antennas for TI’s LF RFID readers must resonate at a
frequency of 134.2 kHz

1
ƒ(res) =
2π√ LC

INDUCTANCE CAPACITANCE

– Each reader has a resonant circuit of a certain capacitance –

all that is required of an antenna loop is to supply the
inductance, e.g. 27 µH. If the inductance is within limits and
the resistance is the correct value, the antenna will work.
J.A.G Jan 2009 Texas Instruments Proprietary Information 6
 RFID
LF Antenna Design
● The Power RF Module Antenna Requirements

RI-RFM-007B

J.A.G Jan 2009 Texas Instruments Proprietary Information 7

 RFID
LF Antenna Design
● RI-RFM-007B expects its antenna to have:
– an Inductance (L) between 25.5 µH and 28.5 µH
● Within this range, the on-board tuning can be used

J.A.G Jan 2009 Texas Instruments Proprietary Information 8

 RFID
LF Antenna Design
● RI-RFM-007B expects its antenna to have:
– a high quality factor (Q) [typically 100]
● A high Q gives increased performance
● Increased immunity to noise
REF .0 DBM MARKER 134 400.0 H
10 DB/DIV RANGE .0 DBM -20.1 DBM

High "Q"

60 dB
Low "Q"

CENTRE 134 400.0 H SPAN 200 000.0

ƒ0 Frequency RBW 1 KHZ VBW 3 KHZ ST .4 SEC

Bandwidth = 12 kHz
J.A.G Jan 2009 Texas Instruments Proprietary Information 9
 RFID
LF Antenna Design
● RI-RFM-007B also expects its antenna to have:
– a low resistance (R) [typically < 0.3 Ohm]

● As the resistance rises, the Q factor drops and performance is less.

J.A.G Jan 2009 Texas Instruments Proprietary Information 10

 RFID
LF Antenna Design
● RI-RFM-008B Remote Antenna Module

Tuning Board
(RI-ACC-008B)

J.A.G Jan 2009 Texas Instruments Proprietary Information 11

 RFID
LF Antenna Design
● The RI-ACC-008B tuning board expects antennas to have:
– Inductances between 12 µH and 80 µH
● Within this range, the Tuning-board will match antennas
● Inductances outside this range are not recommended

– quality factors (Q) between 30 and 100

– low resistances (R) [typically < 0.3 Ohm]

– tuned to resonance

J.A.G Jan 2009 Texas Instruments Proprietary Information 12

 RFID
LF Antenna Design
● MicroReader Antenna Requirements

J.A.G Jan 2009 Texas Instruments Proprietary Information 13

 RFID
LF Antenna Design
● The MicroReader expects its antenna to have:
– an Inductance between 46 µH and 48 µH [typ. 47 µH]
● Within this range, the Antenna will be matched

– a quality factor typically Q < 20

– a higher resistance [typically 2 ~ 2.5 Ohm]

J.A.G Jan 2009 Texas Instruments Proprietary Information 14

 RFID
LF Antenna Design
● The Mini-RF Module Requirements:

J.A.G Jan 2009 Texas Instruments Proprietary Information 15

 RFID
LF Antenna Design
● The Mini-RF Module expects its antenna to have:
– an Inductance (L) between 115 µH and 117 µH [typ. 116 µH]
● Within this range, the Antenna will be matched

– a high quality factor [typically Q = 200]

– a low resistance [typically < 0.5 Ohms]
J.A.G Jan 2009 Texas Instruments Proprietary Information 16
 RFID
LF Antenna Design
● Checking the Inductance (Calculated)
– Using “ADU.exe”

J.A.G Jan 2009 Texas Instruments Proprietary Information 17

 RFID
LF Antenna Design
● Checking the Inductance (Measured)
– Choosing an LCR Meter

• Frequency of operation not critical

• Must read in the µH range (ideally a resolution of 0.1 µH)

• Must be portable (battery operated)

• Must be robust

J.A.G Jan 2009 Texas Instruments Proprietary Information 18

 RFID
LF Antenna Design
● Antennas Size vs. 27 µH Inductance
1 TURN

3 TURNS

4 TURNS
G04E

2
3 G01E 7 TURNS
G02E
4

0.68 m
1.28 m
4m

J.A.G Jan 2009 Texas Instruments Proprietary Information 19

 RFID
LF Antenna Design
● Quality Factor
– The Quality (Q) Factor is a measure of the effectiveness of an
antenna.
– A high Q antenna will output a higher field strength than a low Q
antenna for the same input power.
– A high Q antenna is also a filter and will reject signals outside the
bandwidth.
– Unfortunately, the higher the Q, the more easily the antenna is
de-tuned by the presence of metal.
– The MicroReader is intended for low Q antennas that are
mounted next to the metal cylinders of door and ignition locks

J.A.G Jan 2009 Texas Instruments Proprietary Information 20

 RFID
LF Antenna Design
● Quality Factor Calculation
─ The Quality (Q) Factor of an antenna is given by

2πƒL
Q=
R
– Where
• π = 3.142
• ƒ = 134200 Hz (134.2 kHz)
• L = Self inductance (henry)
• R = Resistance @ 134.2 kHz

– Although the resistance should be measured at 134.2 kHz

because of the increasing skin effect with frequency –
nevertheless this formula will give a good approximation of
the Q when R is measured as a DC resistance
J.A.G Jan 2009 Texas Instruments Proprietary Information 21
 RFID
LF Antenna Design
● Quality Factor Examples

Standard TIRIS G01E MicroReader Low-Q Antenna

ƒ = 134200 hertz ƒ = 134200 hertz

π = 3.142 π = 3.142
L = 0.0000275 henry L = 0.000048 henry
R = 0.22 Ω R = 2.3 Ω

Q = 2 x 3.142 x 134200 x 0.0000275 Q = 2 x 3.142 x 1342000 x 0.000048

0.22 2.3
Q = 105 Q = 18

J.A.G Jan 2009 Texas Instruments Proprietary Information 22

 RFID
LF Antenna Design
● Litze wire
– At RF frequencies the AC current in a wire is only flowing in the outer
‘skin’ because the centre of the wire is disturbed by eddy currents . As
frequency increases the wire’s impedance increases. The formula below
gives a reasonable approximation of the depth of this skin:
0.064 0.064
e.g. = 0.17 mm
ƒres (Hz) 134200

– To maintain a high Q, it is importance to keep the resistance low and Litze

wire is a low resistance wire because it is composed of hundreds of
individually insulated wires, each around 2 × skin depth and covered in a
thin silk sheaf.
– It is ideal for small antennas, as it is compact and low resistance.
– On the downside though, Litze wire is expensive, difficult to work and
tends to be brittle. There are few suppliers.
– It is not recommended for larger (lower Q) antennas where it has few
advantages over regular wire.
J.A.G Jan 2009 Texas Instruments Proprietary Information 23
 RFID
LF Antenna Design
Medium Q Antennas
● Which wire?

Coil Wire (CL4C)

(2.5 mm2 – 50 x 0.25)
Road Loops
1x per meter

‘Jumbo’ Hi-Fi OFC Wire

(2.5 mm2 – 322 x 0.1)
2x per meter
High Q Antennas

Low Q Antennas

Litze Wire
(2.5 mm2 – 600 x 0.07) Polyurethene Coated
(1.5 mm2 – 120 x 0.1) Copper 0.2mm (36 AWG)
6x per meter x/15 metre

J.A.G Jan 2009 Texas Instruments Proprietary Information 24

 RFID
LF Antenna Design
● Antenna Tails
– It is important that the two wires of the tail are tight together. In this way
any signals cancel. If they are apart they will radiate.
– HEAT SHRINK
• Expensive, protective but less flexible

– PLASTIC BRAID
• Easier to apply and cheaper than heat shrink

– FIGURE OF EIGHT
• No action necessary but has a joint at the loop

– TWISTED
• Effective but adds extra wire (inductance)

– Keep tails as short as possible as the extra resistance lowers the Q

(and performance). Each meter of twin cable adds 0.5 µH. When
extending standard tails, any more than 3 m will require external
capacitance to tune to resonance.
J.A.G Jan 2009 Texas Instruments Proprietary Information 25
 RFID
LF Antenna Design
● Tuning Antennas to Resonance

– The Antenna Tuning Indicator greatly

simplifies the tuning of antennas

Antenna Tuning Indicator (RI-ACC-ATI2)

J.A.G Jan 2009 Texas Instruments Proprietary Information 26

 RFID
LF Antenna Design
● Antenna will not Tune

All jumpers in / L↓ All Jumpers out / L↑

Inductance too Low Inductance too high
Antenna close to metal? Extension added to antenna tail?
Increase size of loop Reduce size of loop
Make antenna narrower Make antenna more square
Add capacitance in Parallel Add capacitance in Series

J.A.G Jan 2009 Texas Instruments Proprietary Information 27

 RFID
LF Antenna Design
● Resonant Frequency Formula

1
ƒ(res) =
2π√ LC

INDUCTANCE CAPACITANCE

– If the inductance is too high, adding capacitance in series, or

in the case of the inductance being too low, adding
capacitance in parallel, will bring the antenna back into tuning
range.

J.A.G Jan 2009 Texas Instruments Proprietary Information 28

LF Antenna Design
● Extending the Reader’ Tuning Range
Inductance (µH) Capacitance (µF) Inductance (µH) Capacitance (µF)

51.0 0.060 25.0 0.004

48.0 0.067 24.5 0.005
45.0 0.076 24.0 0.007
43.0 0.089 23.5 0.008
41.0 0.100 23.0 0.009
40.0 0.110 22.5 0.010
39.0 0.120 22.0 0.012
38.0 0.130 21.5 0.013
37.0 0.140 21.0 0.015
36.0 0.160 20.5 0.017
35.0 0.180 20.0 0.018
34.0 0.200 19.5 0.020
33.5 0.220 19.0 0.022
33.0 0.230 18.5 0.024
32.5 0.260 18.0 0.026
32.0 0.280 17.5 0.028
31.5 0.310 17.0 0.031
31.0 0.350 16.5 0.033
30.5 0.400 16.0 0.036
30.0 0.470 15.5 0.038
29.5 0.560 15.0 0.042
29.0 0.700 14.5 0.045

1/19/2009 TI Proprietary Information 29

LF Antenna Design
● Extending the Reader’ Tuning Range

Capacitance in parallel to Capacitance in series to

correct low inductance. Correct high inductance.

1/19/2009 TI Proprietary Information 30

 RFID
LF Antenna Design
● Extending the Inductance Range
– High Voltage Polypropylene 134 kHz
are capacitors required
– The maximum voltage of
these capacitors falls off
sharply at 134 kHz

J.A.G Jan 2009 Texas Instruments Proprietary Information 31

 RFID
LF Antenna Design
● Worked Example
– Make a 50-cm × 40-cm using 1.5 mm2 Litze wire
• Use ADU.exe to model the antenna

J.A.G Jan 2009 Texas Instruments Proprietary Information 32

 RFID
LF Antenna Design
– Make a former for your prototype and check the inductance.

40 cm

50 cm

– If the inductance is out – adjust the size of the loop.

J.A.G Jan 2009 Texas Instruments Proprietary Information 33
 RFID
LF Antenna Design
● MicroReader Antenna Designs
– The Microreader requires 47 µH , low Q antennas. As Texas
Instruments doesn’t sell a separate antenna suitable for this
product, details of four MicroReader antenna designs follow

Antenna Size Turns Q L Range with

(mm) (µH) 32 mm Tag

1 10Ø n/a 17 47 40 mm
2 40Ø 28 14 47 110 mm
3 75Ø 15 18 47 160 mm
4 200 x 200 8 20 47 270 mm

– Each antenna will be described in the following slides

J.A.G Jan 2009 Texas Instruments Proprietary Information 34

 RFID
LF Antenna Design
● (1) Ferrite Cored Antenna
– Uses catalogue parts
– Gives localized field

J.A.G Jan 2009 Texas Instruments Proprietary Information 35

 RFID
LF Antenna Design
● (2) 40Ø Antenna
– Constructed around 40 mm plastic pipe

40 mm 27 TURNS
(0.2 mm Enamelled wire)

J.A.G Jan 2009 Texas Instruments Proprietary Information 36

 RFID
LF Antenna Design
● (3) 75Ø Antenna
– Wind 15 turns (item 1) around a 75 Ø former.
75 mm – Cross over the start and finish wire with approximately 50
mm free ends and secure with a small piece of tape
– Separate the braid and main conductor of the cable (item
3) wrap the loop ends 3 times around the braid and
conductors respectively and solder the joints. Polarity is
not important
– Tightly bind the solder joints and lead together using cloth
tape

Parts List
Item Description Qty RS Part

1 Enameled copper wire, 0.2 mm 1.1g 357-918

2 Cloth tape, 12 mm wide 120 mm 512-301
3 Screened antenna lead 1m 388-259
J.A.G Jan 2009 Texas Instruments Proprietary Information 37
 RFID
LF Antenna Design
● (4) 200 mm x 200 mm Antenna
– Produced around an MDF former
• Use double sided tape to retain the fine wire during construction

8 turns of 0.3 mm
Enamelled wire

• Inductance is high because the Program doesn’t allow for the

radiused corners
J.A.G Jan 2009 Texas Instruments Proprietary Information 38