Transformation of Barcode Into RFID Tag, Design, and Validation

This letter demonstrates the possibility of combining advantages of barcode and radio-frequency identification (RFID) technologies on the same smart label. In this letter, several UHF RFID tag designs based on barcodes of different standards and sizes are realized and measured using a professional RFID measurement system. Measurements of all realized prototypes are in good agreement with simulations. Interesting results are obtained with a maximum RFID read range reaching around 12 m while keeping the prototypes readability as a standard barcode. Another tag configuration which avoids soldering the IC to the structure and based on the coupling of a near-field RFID tag to the barcode is also presented, showing a read range of more than 7 m.