Simbol

Measured

Calculated

Name of the Test

Unit

Threshold

Backscatter Tx/Rx

Transmitted Power

Measured transmitted
unmodulated RF carrier power
at the Device OUT port.)

Pt

dBm

Minimum to
activate the
tag

With
Rotation

Backscattering Power

It is the received RF signal

power of the tag backscatter
measured at the Device IN
port. The level of the
unmodulated (bias) carrier
power at the IN port does not
influence the reading.
The backscattered power is
calculated from the two
complex power levels P1 and
P2 measured between which
the backscatter modulation
occurs. The backscattered
power is the magnitude of the
complex amplitude
(PBS=0.5*P) of the receiver.

PBS

dBm

Minimum to
activate the
tag

With
Rotation

deg

Minimum to
activate the
tag

Name of Measurement

Backscattering Signal Phase

Definition

This is the measured angle

between the I and Q channels
in the quadrature detector of
the receiver.

Backscatter Link Budget View

Orientation Response Test Interference Pop Analysis

(PBS=0.5*P) of the receiver.

It is used to locate the tag or

seen the movement of the tag

Electric Field Strengh

Calculated Electric Field

Strengh measured at the tag

V/m

Minimum to
activate the
tag

Delta RCS

The tag sends data during one

of the CW periods by switching
its input impedance between
two states, effectively changing
its radar cross-section (RCS)
and thus modulating the
backscattered
field.

RCS

dBsqm

Minimum to
activate the
tag

Power on Tag Forward

It is the calculated transmitted

unmodulated RF carrier power
at tag.

Ptag

dBm

Minimum to
activate the
tag

With
Rotation

Power on Tag Reverse

It is the calculated effective

backscatter transmit power
(EIRP) of the tag when
answering to a reader
command. It is calculated from
the Backscatter Power:

Ptag,BS

dBm

Minimum to
activate the
tag

With
Rotation

Theoretical Read Range Forward

It is the maximum calculated

distance value to activate the
tag using an EIRP value of
3.28 W.

Rmax

Minimum to
activate the
tag

Theoretical Read Range Reversed

Calculated theoretical read

range reverse is a metric
specified by the EPC global. It
can be easiest understood in
the following way; 1) Assume
separate transmit and receive
antennas. 2) Set the transmit
power to the maximum
allowed. 3) Move the transmit
antenna as far away from the
tag as possible while still
activating the tag. 4) Move the
receive antenna to the
maximum distance where a
reader with a receiver
sensitivity of -70 dBm and an
antenna gain of 4dBi will barely
pick up the signal of the tag,
this is the read range reverse.

Rmax,BS

Minimum to
activate the
tag

Forward link

The forward link margin plot is

calculated based on PTF,TH
which is Power On Tag
Forward threshold value. The
value of PTF,TH remains the
same in spite of the
measurement distance.

Margin FL

dBm

Reverse Link

The forward link margin plot is

calculated based on PTR which
is Power On Tag Reverse
threshold value. The value of
PTR depends on the
measurement distance (d).

Margin RL

dBm

Normalized Radiation Power

dB

With
Rotation

With
Rotation

With
Rotation

With
Rotation

Peak Power

Is a instantaneus metric of the

niose Power. Like a Spectrum
Analyzer.

dBm

Average Power

Is a instantaneus metric of the

niose Power. Like a Spectrum
Analyzer.

dBm

Activate the tag

Get an answer from the tag

c
f
E
Lcable

Light Velocity

PEIRP

Effective Isotrpic Radiated

Power
Effective Isotrpic Radiated
Power at Backscattering in the
margin of response
Effective Isotrpic Radiated
Power at Backscattering

PEIRP, BS, limit

PEIRP,BS

Frequency
Electric Field
Loss of the Cable

Pmax, EIRP
Ptx
Ptag

Power of the Transmitter

Ptag,BS

Power of the tag in

Backscaterring

Pr

Power at the Receiver

PTR

Transmitted Power

PTF,TH
PBS
R
Ro
RMAX
RMAX,BS
Gtx Ant

Power at the tag

measured at the
receiver port
measured at
transmitter port

Backscattering Power
Radious distance
Impedance of the air
Theoretical Read Range
Forward
Theoretical Read Range
Reversed
Gain of the Transmitter
Antenna

GRX Ant
Gr
SRX

Gain of the Receiver Antenna

FSPL

Free Space Power Loss

RCS
Margin FL
Margin RL

Radar Cross Section

EIRP

Equivalent Isotropic Radiation

Power

Gain of the Receiver

Margin Forward Link

Margin Reverse Link

this is an universal measurement not dependent of the measurement setup.

Transmitted Power (dB)

Power
on
Tag
Forward
Power on
on Tag
Tag Reverse
Forward (dB)
(dB)
Power
(dB)
Power on Tag Reverse (dB)
Backscatter
Power
(dB)
Transmitted
Power
Power
on
Tag
Forward
Power
on
Tag
Reverse
Backscatter Power

Power (dB)
20
10

8.5
-7.5
-7.5
-18.5
-18.5
-42.5
8.5
-7.5
-18.5
-42.5

Distance(m)
0.00
0.45
0.45
0.45
0.45
0.00
0.00
0.45
0.45
0.00

Tag Path

Forward Link
Reverse Link

8.5

0
-7.5

-10

-18.5

-20
-30
-40

1
-42.5

-50
-60
Distance (m)
0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.45 0.50

Link

Link

Transmitted Power (dB)

Power
on
Tag
Forward
(dB)
Power on
on Tag
Tag Reverse
Forward (dB)
(dB)
Power
Power on Tag Reverse (dB)
Backscatter
Power
(dB)
Transmitted
Power
Power
on
Tag
Forward
Power
on
Tag
Reverse
Backscatter Power

Power (dB)
20
10

Distance(m)
10
0.00
-18
0.45
-18
0.45
-20
0.45
-20
0.45
-55
0.00
10
0.00
-18
0.45
-20
0.45
-55
0.00

Column L

Tag Path Smartrac

Column L
Column L

10

0
-10
-20

-18
-20

-30
-40
-50

1
-55
-60
Distance (m)
0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.45 0.50

lumn L

lumn L

lumn L

ce (m)

P(dB)
P(mW)
Ant Gain
Cable Loss

P(dB)
P(dBi) EIRP

Transmitted Power (dB)

Power on Tag Forward (dB)
Path Forward
Power on Tag Reverse (dB)
Tag Conversion Loss
Backscatter Power (dB)
Path Reverse

26.9
490
8.1
2.1

32.9
35

1
-16
-17
-22.5
-6.5
-45.5
-23

Pmax = 35dBi EIRP

10
-18
-28
-20
-2
-55
-35