Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2024 - 25

Hyper-Distributed RFID Antenna (HYDRA) System
Novel multiplexing RFID antenna system improves range while reducing cost and complexity.
Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX
I
nnovators at NASA Johnson Space Center
have developed a method and apparatus
to multiplex Radio Frequency
Identification (RFID) signals efficiently.
The resulting Hyper-Distributed RFID
Antenna (HYDRA) system enhances
distribution of the RFID reader signal,
providing improved coverage for large
areas as well as for small, fixed regions
requiring a high density of reader antennas.
This greater coverage translates into
better RFID sensing capabilities, higher
localization accuracy, and enhanced logistics
awareness.
Many conventional RFID applications
require adding more readers and antennas
to increase coverage in existing areas
and to improve localization. Employing
conventional multiplexer switches can
reduce the need for additional readers
but require additional control and power
cabling. Both conventional options
will increase mass, size, and cost of the
overall infrastructure to improve sensing
performance. The HYDRA system,
which uses microprocessor-based lowmass
multiplexers, reduces the need for
additional readers and cabling over the
conventional prior art, and it operates
with smaller-sized antennas. As a result,
the advantages of the HYDRA system include
the ability to transmit data at low
power, improve coverage performance,
increased capability to localize RFID
tags, along with reduced cost, complexity,
and mass.
Components of the HYDRA system include
an RFID reader, RF cables, antennas,
and one or more Intelligent Multiplexer
Modules (IMMs). The IMM is the core
building block of the HYDRA system. In
one of its basic embodiments, the IMM
comprises an RF directional coupler, RF
switch, RFID chip, micro-controller, and
power generation and management hardware.
In this basic implementation, a single
RF port from the RFID reader is attached
to the IMM and transfers power thereto.
Internally within the IMM, the RF directional
coupler diverts a small amount of RF
power to rectification and power management
circuitry for conversion to DC power
that drives the RFID chip, microcontroller,
and RF switch.
The RFID chip enables communication
with the RFID reader and allows the
Tech Briefs, June 2024
www.techbriefs.com
25
reader to administer changes to the microcontrollers
embedded software. The
microcontroller controls the RF switch,
which passes power along to one or
more output channels. Connections to
the output channels can include antennas,
additional IMMs, or other sensors.
The HYDRA system may include
numerous alternate embodiments to
enhance and customize the basic funcExceptional
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Tech Briefs Magazine - June 2024

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