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Radio Frequency Identification Devices and Systems

Code: 45653
Credits: 5
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Telecommunication Engineering OP 2

Contact lecturer

Name :
Jordi Bonache Albacete
Email :
jordi.bonache@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Gerard Zamora Gonzalez
Ferran Paredes Marco

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

Design of Phased Array Antennas and other modules related to RF and Microwave circuits

Objectives

Tha main aim of the module is to acquire advanced knowledge related to Radio Frequency Identification systems (RFID) with an special emphasis on the design of high performance RFID Tags. It is also the aim of the module an introduction to commercial electromagnetic simulators for the design of RFID devices and also the use specific instrumentation for its characterization.

Learning outcomes

  • CA31 (Propose an RFID system for applications in the field of Industry 4.0, assessing the needs of the environment and the technical requirements.) Propose an RFID system for applications in the field of Industry 4.0, assessing the needs of the environment and the technical requirements.
  • KA31 (Identify the different technological alternatives for the design of an RFID system in a specific application.) Identify the different technological alternatives for the design of an RFID system in a specific application.
  • SA44 (Design RFID systems in their entirety, taking into account the power balance between the sender and receiver.) Design RFID systems in their entirety, taking into account the power balance between the sender and receiver.
  • SA45 (Design the communication components that will support a global RFID system, covering the different frequency bands.) Design the communication components that will support a global RFID system, covering the different frequency bands.

Contents

• Introduction to RFID systems. Components and operation of an RFID system. Bands and regulated emission power. Types of RFID systems (passive vs active and near field vs far field).

• Modulation and coding. Communication protocol.

• RFID tags. Fundamental parameters (read range, EIRP, gain and power transmission coefficient)

• Design of RFID tags. Antennas for RFID, conjugate matching. Tags for metal products. "Global band" tags.

• RFID Readers

• Measurement and characterization of RFID tags

• Green RFID (chipless) tags, tags with sensing capabilities. Wearables.

• Applications

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Practical sessions preparation 14 0.56 CA31, KA31, SA45
Solve problems at home 10.5 0.42 CA31, SA44, SA45
Study at home 28 1.12 CA31, KA31, SA44, SA45
Master Classes 25 1 CA31, SA44, SA45
Problems seminars 12.5 0.5 KA31, SA44
Practical sessions 12.5 0.5 CA31, KA31, SA45
Tutorials outside of class hours 12.5 0.5 CA31, KA31, SA45

Directed activities:


Master Classes: The teacher will explain the topics through the use of slides and blackboard.


Problems seminars: The teacher will carry out, or in some cases the students themselves, sample problems in small groups of students.


Practical sessions: Prior to the session, the student must prepare it and after the session must submit a report.


Note: The teaching materials of the subject will be available in the Virtual Campus of the UAB

Supervised activities:


Practical sessions: Prior to the session, the student must prepare it and after the session must submit a report.



Autonomous activities:


Autonomous study by the student.


Resolution of class problems prior to the realization of them.


Preparation of practical sessions.


Tutorials outside of class hours.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
2nd partial exam 37.5 % 3 0.12 CA31, KA31, SA44, SA45
Delivery of Lab reports 25 % 4 0.16 CA31, KA31, SA45
1st partial exam 37.5 % 3 0.12 CA31, KA31, SA44, SA45

The assessment will be based on two written midterm exams, each with a weight of 37.5%, and the results of the practical work reports, with a weight of 25%.

The midterm exams will be averaged provided that a minimum grade of 3 has been obtained in each of them. If the average grade of the midterm exams is higher than 4, it will be averaged with the practical work of the subject to obtain the final grade. In addition, in order to pass any exam, a minimum grade of 3 out of 10 must be obtained in the theory part.

If the subject is not passed, the part corresponding to the midterm exams may be recovered in a single final exam in which all the course contents will be assessed. In order to participate in the recovery assessment, students must have previously been assessed in activities accounting for at least 2/3 of the final grade of the subject.

The grade obtained in the resit examination will replace the grade of the assessment tests being recovered.

If the student does not pass the subject after the resit process, the final grade recorded will be the grade obtained in the resit examination, provided that the student has taken it. If the student does not sit the resit examination but has a valid grade for the midterm tests, the grade recorded will be the grade corresponding to the midterm tests. If the student does not sit the resit examination and does not have a valid grade for the recoverable midterm tests, the student will be graded as not assessable.

For these purposes, the student will be considered to have a valid grade in the midterm tests when they have obtained a grade higher than 3 in each midterm test and a grade higher than 3 in the theory part.

Failure to attend any of the practical sessions or not having any grade in the midterm or final exams will result in the student being declared non-assessable.

The awarding of an honours distinction is a decision of the teaching staff responsible for the subject. UAB regulations state that honours distinctions may only be awarded to students who have obtained a final grade equal to or higher than 9.00. Up to 5% of honours distinctions may be awarded out of the total number of students enrolled.

Without prejudice to any other disciplinary measures deemed appropriate, irregularities committed by the student that may lead to a change in the grade of an assessment activity will be graded with a zero. Therefore, copying, plagiarism, deception, allowing others to copy, etc. in any of the assessment activities will result in failing that activity with a zero. Assessment activities graded in this way and by this procedure will not be recoverable. If it is necessary to pass any of these assessment activities in order to pass the subject, the subject will be failed directly, without the possibility of recovery in the same academic year.

If the subject is repeated, the same assessment system as for the rest of the students will be followed.

This subject does not provide for the single assessment system.

  • For this subject, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is allowed exclusively for support tasks, such as bibliographic or information searches, text correction, or translations. The student must clearly identify which parts have been generated with this technology, specify the tools used, and include a critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and the final result of the activity. Lack of transparency in the use of AI in this assessable activity will be considered a breach of academic honesty and may lead to a partial or total penalty in the grade of the activity, or more serious sanctions in severe cases.

There is a protocol for “requesting the rescheduling of assessment activities” according to the cases specified in the assessment criteria and instructions of the School of Engineering.

The dates of the assessment tests correspond to those published by the degree coordination on the website of the School of Engineering.

Students with disabilities or specific educational support needs, NESE, may contact the UAB Equality and Diversity Service, which provides specific support for the development of a full and autonomous academic and social life at the university.

For each assessment activity, a place, date and time for review will be indicated, during which students may review the activity with the teaching staff. In this context, claims regarding the grade of the activity may be submitted and will be assessed by the teaching staff responsible for the subject. If the student does not attend this review session, the activity will not be reviewed at a later date.

Bibliography

1. V.D. Hunt, A. Puglia and M. Puglia. RFID. A guide to Radio Frequency Identification. John Wiley & Sons, New Jersey 2007.

2. H. Lehpamer. RFID design principles. Artech House, Norwood 2008.

3. D. M. Dobkin. The RF in RFID. Passive UHF RFID in Practice. Elsevier 2008.

4. GS1, EPC® Radio-Frequency Identity Generation-2 UHF RFID Standard: Specification for RFID Air Interface Protocol for Communications at 860 MHz – 930 MHz, Release 3.0.1, Ratified, Feb. 2026.

Software

Keysight ADS-Momentum

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE