A conductive electronic component, that radiates and/ or receives electromagnetic energy usually in the radio frequency spectrum or thereabouts. An aerial on an RFID tag or interrogator, for example. All RFID interrogators have antennas as do most RFID tags. They are increasingly printed, usually with silver ink, the resolution and conductance required for adequate performance being more onerous the lower the frequency. Antennas for other uses are also sometimes printed. Ink makers are developing better silver inks that can be printed at high speed yet achieve adequate conductance in one pass. It may be possible to reduce cost further by eliminating silver from antenna inks.
See RFID, HF, UHF. IDTechEx has carried out consultancy for some of the world's largest electronics and printing companies on markets and new technology for printed antennas.
Read "RFID Forecasts, Players, Opportunities" www.IDTechEx.com 
