Impact of reader-to-tag interference and forward link fading on RFID system performance

Abstract

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system uses the principle of radiative power transfer between the reader and the tag antenna. Usually, it operates in a forward-link limited regime where the read range is limited by the ability to deliver power to the tag. Most of current researches consider the reader interrogation zone to be determined only by its read range assuming omni-directional antennas. However, the reliable interrogation zone also depends on interference effect, channel fading and the relative reader-tag antennas orientations. In this paper, we analyze the performance of the passive RFID systems taking into consideration reader antennas orientation and forward link fading for both desired signal and multiple RFID interferers. Using our model, we examine the effect of constructive and destructive (i.e. tag jamming) interferences in passive RFID system from the RF point of view. We also analyze the tag detection rate at different fading environments modeled by Rician distribution.