The Effects of ESD in Multiple Testing Environments on Adhesive-Label RFID Tags

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the ESD susceptibility of commercially available label-enclosed RFID tags. Six different types of adhesive labels with RFID transponders were subjected to ESD in different testing environments. Initial data shows that most of the tags were sufficiently protected from fairly large discharges by their covering material. The magnitude of discharge and distance of the discharge to the IC did not have the expected effects on the tags. Instead, the presence of a ground plane and low label resistance were correlated to larger damage rates. The type of antenna and IC also played a role in susceptibility.

Advanced Radio Frequency Identification Design and Applications

“…To measure the effects of the discharge, the change in minimum power required to activate the tag was measured using the procedure described in Bauer-Reich et al (2007). The minimum power was measured before and after application of the discharge The discharge was applied when the tag was not operating.…”

“…One hundred sixty-two tags were tested without a ground plane. (©2007 IEEE(Bauer-Reich et al, 2007))…”

“…The mean change in the minimum activiation power as a function of the tag type. (©2007 IEEE(Bauer-Reich et al, 2007))…”

The Interaction of Electrostatic Discharge and RFID

“…(Shaw, 2004) This data was provided by Appleton, a company which had developed dissipative coatings for RFID. As this data was fairly limited, giving no information on the types of tags tested and what factors altered the failure rate, the authors of this chapter tested and analyzed several commercially available tags and published the result in (Bauer-Reich et al, 2007). The results of that testing will also be summarized here.…”

“…One hundred sixty-two tags were tested without a ground plane. To measure the effects of the discharge, the change in minimum power required to activate the tag was measured using the procedure described in Bauer-Reich et al (2007). The minimum power was measured before and after application of the discharge The discharge was applied when the tag was not operating.…”