Fully Printed 32-Bit RFID Tag on Plastic Foils

Although all printed cost-less radio frequency identification (RFID) tags have been considered as a core tool for bringing up a ubiquitous society, the difficulties in integrating thin film transistors (TFTs), diodes and capacitors on plastic foils using a single in-line printing method nullify their roles for the realization of the ubiquitous society1,2. To prove the concept of all printed cost-less RFID tag, the practical degree of the integration of those devices on the plastic foils should be successfully printed to demonstrate multi bit RFID tag. The tag contains key device units such as 13.56 MHz modulating TFT, digital logic gates and 13.56 MHz rectifier to generate and transfer multi bit digital codes via a wireless communication (13.56 MHz). However, those key devices have never been integrated on the plastic foils using printing method yet because the electrical fluctuation of fully printed TFTs and diodes on plastic foils could not be controlled to show the function of desired devices. In this work, fully gravure printing process in printing 13.56 MHz operated 32 bit RFID tags on plastic foils has been demonstrated for the first time to prove all printed RFID tags on plastic foils can wirelessly generate and transfer 32 bit digital codes using the radio frequency of 13.56 MHz. This result proved that the electrical fluctuations of printed TFTs and diodes on plastic foils should be controlled in the range of maximum 20% to properly operate 32 bit RFID tags.