Reliability evaluation of wearable radio frequency identification tags: Design and fabrication of a two-part textile antenna

Passive radio frequency identification-based technology is a convincing approach to the achievement of versatile energy- and cost-efficient wireless platforms for future wearable applications. By using two-part antenna structures, the antenna-electronics interconnections can remain non-stressed, which can significantly improve the reliability of the textile-embedded wireless components. In this article, we describe fabrication of two-part stretchable and non-stretchable passive ultra-high frequency radio frequency identification textile tags using electro-textile and embroidered antennas, and test their reliability when immersed as well as under cyclic strain. The results are compared to tags with traditional one-part dipole antennas fabricated from electro-textiles and by embroidery. Based on the results achieved, the initial read ranges of the two-part antenna tags, around 5 m, were only slightly shorter than those of the one-part antenna tags. In addition, the tag with two-part antennas can maintain high performance in a moist environment and during continuous stretching, unlike the one-part antenna tag where the antenna-integrated circuit attachment is under stress.