A wide-band power module for passive UHF RFID readers

This paper presents a power module that can provide passive RFID readers with more than 30.6 dBm output power in the whole 860-960 MHz ultra high frequency (UHF) band. The module has been firstly analyzed and optimized by means of a simulation model developed in Agilent Advanced Design System (ADS). A prototype has been then fabricated and measurements have been carried out for validation. Results have shown a minimum output 1 dB compression point (OP1dB) of 30.6 dBm with only 1 dB flatness in the whole band. The efficiency of the PA has also been characterized, obtaining 61.3% power added efficiency (PAE) at 860MHz and 38%PAE at 960MHz at the OP1dB point. Moreover, the module has been designed to be compatible with both mono- and bi-static operation modes and features a high input dynamic range. Finally the module applicability was tested together with an RFID reader platform.