High-Efficiency Self-Oscillating Active Integrated Antenna Using Metamaterial Resonators and Its Application to Multicarrier Radio Frequency Identification Systems

A self-oscillating active integrated antenna with very high dc-to-radio frequency (RF) conversion efficiency is proposed and validated with the aid of metamaterial resonators. The key innovation is the new integration scheme which allows an independent control of the resonators used in the feedback oscillator and the radiating element in the integrated antenna. The metamaterial resonator, featuring a high quality factor for good oscillation performances, is applied to excite the dipole-mode ground radiation with good radiation efficiency at the same time. The design principle is introduced; the circuit and antenna parameters including the loop gain, oscillation output power, phase noise, effective isotropic radiated power, and radiation patterns are investigated in detail. Its application to multicarrier RF identification systems as a low-cost continuous-wave source is supported by quantitative measurement results.