Patent ID: 7973645

Claim:
A radio frequency identification (RFID) reader device comprising: a radio frequency (RF) output port operable to allow a plurality of RFID antenna modules that are electrically coupled together to be coupled with the RFID reader device; a RF signal generator coupled with the RF output port, the RF signal generator operable to generate an RF signal for transmission by one of the plurality of RFID antenna modules; a select signal generator coupled with the RF output port, the select signal generator operable to generate a select signal for selecting one of the plurality of RFID antenna modules; a signal combiner coupled with the RF signal generator, the select signal generator, and the RF output port, the signal combiner operable to combine the RF signal and the select signal into a combined signal and provide the combined signal to the RF output port for both selecting an RFID antenna module and providing the RF signal to be transmitted by the selected RFID antenna module; and a signal separator in each of the plurality of RFID antenna modules, for separating the select signal from the RF signal prior to transmission.