measurring RFID system - connecting tag to signal analyzer

measurring RFID system

hello everyone,

I am doing my work training and my task is to learn how to use a newly bought EXA signal analyzer to carryout some measurement on RFID system. but the problem is i dont know how to connect the tag and reader system to the signal analyzer. am i to use a probe or what? what kind of connection should i make? am confused.

Please some one help by explainig in steps and i would appreciate if explanation comes with pictures.

thanks

measurring RFID system

You may need to know a measurement problem to decide how to measure.

Re: measurring RFID system

what i want to measure is frequency, power and bandwidth of the reader system and the tag

measurring RFID system

Signal spectrum (frequency and bandwidth) can be acquired with any auxilary antenna, e.g. a short wire for an UHF RFID (you didn't mention the frequency band at all). Exact measurement of radiated power would require an anechoic chamber and an antenna with known antenna factor. If the devices have 50 ohm antenna outputs, the transmitted power can be measured directly (after necessary attenuation).

Re: measurring RFID system

thanks FVM, i kind of have a clue though i still need more clarity. my major challenge is what to connect from the N9010A EXA Signal Analyzer to the ATA 2270 EK1 RFID evaluation kit manufactured by Atmel (consist of reader system, antenna 125Khz, and sample tags) so that i can get these measurement from the signal analyzer.

and if am able to connect where do i place such connection, for instance if its a probe, where exactly do i place it on the reader system or tag or antenna?

measurring RFID system

I didn't except a low frequency RFID system. In this case, the situation is somewhat different.

You don't have matched RF antennas rather than tuned inductive coupler coils with 125 kHz (and also mostly with 13.56 MHz RFID). To monitor system operation without disturbing the field, you can either use a very small test coil (one or a few windings) directly connected to the analyzer's 50 ohm input or a larger coil with a buffer amplifier. The latter is necessary for a measurement of field strength.

Some RFID standards have detailed test specifications how to measure reader and tag properties. But I'm not familiar to the 125 kHz RFID stuff. With 13.56 MHz systems many measurements can be done with a high impedance terminated test coil near the tag.

Some problems in RFID system measurement are related to protocol analysis, I don't know, if the said instrument is suitable for this application.