Video-Rate Identification of High-Capacity Low-Cost Tags in the Terahertz Domain

Area of Science:

• Photonics
• Materials Science
• Electromagnetics

Background:

• Traditional identification methods like barcodes and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) have limitations.
• Existing chipless RFID tags often rely on planar structures.
• There is a need for embedded, low-cost identification solutions for product authentication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate video-rate identification of novel, low-cost terahertz (THz) tags.
• To present THz labels embedded within product volumes, offering a unique identification method.
• To explore the potential of 1D photonic bandgap structures for THz identification.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a commercial terahertz Time Domain Spectroscopy (THz-TDS) system as a reader.
• Designing THz tags based on a 1D photonic bandgap structure using polyethylene-based materials.
• Embedding millimeter-thick tags within the volume of products.

Main Results:

• Achieved a bit error rate below 1% for an 8-bit THID tag within milliseconds.
• Demonstrated rapid and reliable identification of binary information coded in the THz tags.
• Explored performance limitations related to dielectric material properties and angular acceptance.

Conclusions:

• Video-rate identification of embedded THz tags is feasible with current THz-TDS technology.
• These THz labels offer a promising alternative to traditional identification methods.
• Coding capacities of approximately 60 bits (~300 bits/cm²) are achievable with this tag structure.