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This paper introduces a novel way to implement passive RF identification (RFID) at millimeter waves. Passive operation is achieved by adding an external mixing element between the tag antenna and a standard RFID chip. The mixing element converts the RFID reader signal from millimeter waves to RFID carrier frequency—the RFID chip operates as usual. Either passive or semipassive RFID circuits at any RFID carrier frequency can be used. The reader's TX and RX ports are similarly equipped with external mixers to convert the reader output to millimeter waves and received millimeter-wave signal to RFID carrier frequency. The paper analyses the concept theoretically with a Schottky diode as the mixing element. The design and experimental demonstration of the operation at 10 GHz are presented. Using an EPC-compliant UHF tag integrated circuit and reader, a range of 30 cm is demonstrated, but range extension to over a meter is feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A reader module at 60 GHz for high data-rate short-range backscattering-based communications is presented. The reader consists of a CMOS-based oscillator, amplifiers, and a mixer on a low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) substrate. The filter, power splitter, and antennas are directly patterned on the LTCC. All millimeter-wave components are contained within the module and the only interfaces to the module are the IF and bias lines. Transmit power of the module is +\11.6-dBm effective isotropic radiated power with an IF bandwidth of 400 MHz. The LTCC module measures \ 13\times \ 24~\ mm^2 and has a dc power consumption of 130 mW. Reception of a 20-MHz square wave from a tag 5 cm apart from the reader is demonstrated; the suggested millimeter-wave identification concept enables a \10^2–\10^3-fold data-rate increase in comparison to the present near-field communication technique, with similar size, range, and power consumption of the reader. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The radio-frequency identification (RFID) concept is expended to millimeter-wave frequencies and millimeter-wave identification (MMID) in this paper. The MMID concept and a comparison with UHF RFID are presented, showing the limitations and benefits of MMID. Three feasible applications are suggested for MMID, which are: 1) wireless mass memory; 2) an automatic identification system with pointing functionality; and 3) transponder communication with automotive radar. To demonstrate the feasibility of the MMID system, experimental results for both downlink and backscattering-based uplink are presented at 60 GHz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]