An RFID-based guided control node for batteryless reconfigurable RF architectures

This article introduces a passive reconfiguration strategy for RF networks based on radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuits (ICs) embedded within guided-wave structures. Each RFID IC is repurposed as a batteryless, addressable dc voltage source capable of biasing RF components, such as varactors and GaAs switches. Unlike conventional over-the-air (OTA) architectures, the proposed approach eliminates tag antennas by integrating the ICs directly into microwave transmission lines, where power, control, and signal share the same RF path. A dedicated multichip test platform is developed to experimentally characterize the IC behavior in this novel configuration, evaluating impedance variation, activation thresholds, and output stability. Measurements on a commercial RFID chip demonstrate reliable operation with only −15 dBm of incident RF power, and sufficient dc output to drive over 1000 GaAs SPST switches or 10 000 varactors. To validate the concept, a fully passive, four-element monopole array operating at 900 MHz is demonstrated, where each element is gated by an RFID-controlled SPST switch. The array performs beam steering through selective element activation, using a single RF feed to simultaneously energize the array, power the ICs, and transmit EPC Gen2 control commands.