Towards EPC-Compatible Organic RFID Tags

In this chapter, fully integrated organic RFID tags are demonstrated. These tags are inductively-coupled at a base frequency of 13.56 MHz and can be read out at distances up to 10 cm, which is the expected readout distance for proximity readers. We also demonstrate next generation transponder chips, fabricated in a dual-gate technology. The additional gate, backgate, is used to control the threshold voltage and allows integration into more robust unipolar, dual-V_T transponder chips. Finally, we realized an 8-bit transponder chip having data rates that are EPC-compatible. This has been achieved in our thin-film transistor technology by introducing a high-k Al₂O₃ gate dielectric, by scaling the channel lengths down to 2 mm and by reducing the overlap capacitance of the parasitic source-gate and drain-gate capacitors.