Patent ID: 6392544
Filing Date: 2002-05-21
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
An apparatus for capacitively powering radio frequency identification devices, the apparatus comprising:a plurality of antenna elements; an exciter, coupled to at least a first portion of the plurality of antenna elements, to provide an excitation signal used to selectively energize the first portion of the plurality of antenna elements; and a switch selectively coupled to at least one of the plurality of antenna elements and the exciter, wherein the exciter has a first potential terminal and a second potential terminal, and wherein at least one of the first potential terminal and the second potential terminal emits a radio frequency signal, and wherein a first antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements is coupled to the first potential terminal by the switch and a second antenna element is coupled to the second potential terminal by the switch such that a radio frequency identification tag between the first and second antenna elements is energized.