Fabrication Of UHF Antenna Based On Inkjet Printing

Compared to other types of antenna，such as LF RFID and HF RFID，the advantages ofUHF RFID are longer identification distance，faster read speed and smaller volume. On theone hand，with these advantages，UHF RFID antenna could meet the current miniaturizationrequirement of RFID system. On the other hand，it requires higher accuracy of its fabricationprocess. Furthermore，lowest cost is one of key factors determining whether RFID tags couldbe widely used or not.Due to higher cost or less precision，traditional fabrication process of antenna，likeetching, plating, screen printing, and so on, is difficult to apply to fabrication of UHF antenna.However，inkjet printing technology could well meet accuracy requirement of UHF antenna.It could also reduce fabrication cost of UHF antenna. Because inkjet technology is thin-filmprinting.To study the fabrication of UHF antenna based on inkjet printing technology， this paperfocus on the study of basic parameters of UHF antenna, chip and antenna matching theory ofUHF antenna，design requirement of UHF antenna, working principle of squeeze modepiezoelectric inkjet. Through the analysis of conductive ink and ink spreading on the printingmaterial，we find the parameters affecting the quality of printed antenna.Based on theoretical analysis, this paper primarily uses Flow-3D software to simulate thebreak-off process of droplet jetted out of nozzle，and ink spreading on the printing material.Then analyze relevant parameters affecting drop velocity. It also simulate the effect of dropsize，drop velocity，viscosity，contact angle and surface tension to ink spreading. Throughthese analyses, those parameters should be set reasonably to ensure the print quality of UHFantenna.