Method for optimizing a Yagi-Uda antenna for a RFID inlay or integrated circuit

1. A method of optimizing the read range of an RFID tag comprising the steps of:

providing a first substrate for the RFID tag wherein the first substrate has a top surface and a bottom surface;

providing an electrically conductive first element having a front, a back, a first side, a second side, a top, a bottom, and a length wherein the electrically conductive first element forms a portion of an antenna wherein the electrically conductive first element is located on the top surface of the first substrate;

providing an electrically conductive second element having a front, a back, a first side, a second side, a top, a bottom, and a length wherein the electrically conductive second element forms a portion of an antenna wherein the electrically conductive second element is located on the top surface of the first substrate wherein the electrically conductive second element is generated by first creating a mirror image of the electrically conductive first element;

providing an electrically conductive third element having a front, a back, a first side, a second side, a top, a bottom and a length wherein the electrically conductive third element forms a portion of an antenna wherein the electrically conductive third element is located on the top surface of the first substrate;

altering the electrically conductive second element such that the length of the front of the electrically conductive second element is between fifty-five and sixty-five percent of the length of the front of the electrically conductive first element; and

providing an integrated circuit or RFID inlay adjacent to or physically touching the electrically conductive first element.

2. The method of optimizing the read range of an RFID tag of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

providing an adhesive on the bottom surface of the first substrate.

3. The method of optimizing the read range of an RFID tag of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

providing a second substrate and a third substrate wherein the second substrate and the third substrate are on opposing sides of the first substrate and wherein the second substrate and the third substrate have each an identical electrically conductive first element, electrically conductive second element and electrically conductive third element as the first substrate and wherein the second substrate and third substrate may be removed from the first substrate.

4. The method of optimizing the read range of an RFID tag of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

providing an indentation on the first side of the electrically conductive first element wherein the indentation is arched-shaped and wherein the indentation forms a portion of a circumference of a circle having a radius equal to approximately thirty to forty percent of the length of the electrically conductive first element.

5. The method of optimizing the read range of an RFID tag of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

providing an indentation on the second side of the electrically conductive first element wherein the indentation is arched-shaped and wherein the indentation forms a portion of a circumference of a circle having a radius equal to approximately one hundred and fifty to one hundred and eighty percent of the length of the electrically conductive first element.

6. The method of optimizing the read range of an RFID tag of claim 4 wherein the integrated circuit or RFID inlay is located completely within the indentation of the first side of the electrically conductive first element.

7. The method of optimizing the read range of an RFID tag of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

providing an indentation on the second side of the electrically conductive second element wherein the indentation is arched-shaped and wherein the indentation forms a portion of a circumference of a circle having a radius equal to approximately twice the width of the electrically conductive second element.

8. The method of optimizing the read range of an RFID tag of claim 1 wherein the length of the electrically conductive third element is approximately one and a half times the length of the electrically conductive first element.

9. The method of optimizing the read range of an RFID tag of claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive first element is located between the electrically conductive second element and the electrically conductive third element.

10. The method of optimizing the read range of an RFID tag of claim 5 further comprising the step of:

providing an indentation on the first side of the electrically conductive second element wherein the indentation is arched-shaped and wherein the indentation is substantially the same size and shape as the indentation of the second side of the electrically conductive first element.

11. The method of optimizing the read range of an RFID tag of claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive third element is approximately seventy-five percent the width of the electrically conductive first element.

12. The method of optimizing the read range of an RFID tag of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

adjusting the distance between the electrically conductive first element and the electrically conductive second element to increase read range of the RFID tag using the equation: E t (x)=EXP[a−x·b]+E ∞.

13. The method of optimizing the read range of an RFID tag of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

creating a space between the electrically conductive first element and the electrically conductive second element wherein the space has a width equal to approximately fifty to sixty percent of the width of the front of the electrically conductive first element.

14. The method of optimizing the read range of an RFID tag of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

creating a space between the electrically conductive first element and the electrically conductive third element wherein the space has a width equal to approximately fifty to sixty percent the width of the electrically conductive first element.