Patent ID: 8313028

Claim:
A multiple antenna reading system suitable for use with contactless transaction devices, said system comprising: at least one reader; at least first and second antennas having at least some inductive coupling therebetween and being coupled to said at least one reader; and antenna function disabling circuitry automatically operative, in response to receiving a control signal from said at least one reader upon activation of at least a first one of said at least first and second antennas, to disable antenna function of at least a second one of said at least first and second antennas by at least one of short circuiting said second one of said at least first and second antennas, changing the resonant frequency of said second one of said at least first and second antennas and changing the Q factor of said second one of said at least first and second antennas, said control signal being at least one of a rectified RF signal output and a signal routed from said at least one reader superimposed on an RF signal via a single cable to said at least first and second antennas.