Patent ID: 7764181

Claim:
A radio frequency identification reader system, comprising: a portable reader, including: reader circuitry configured to generate an activation signal; a first resonant antenna, where the first resonant antenna is electrically connected to the reader circuitry; a reader housing containing the reader circuitry; a plurality of stationary antenna assemblies, where each stationary antenna assembly includes: a resonant antenna unit including a resonant antenna housing and a second resonant antenna contained within the resonant antenna housing, where the second resonant antenna is tuned to a resonant frequency; a loop antenna unit including a loop antenna housing and a loop antenna contained within the loop antenna housing and configured to provide a larger reading zone and greater reading distance than the first resonant antenna of the portable reader, where the loop antenna is tuned to the resonant frequency; and an electrical connection between the resonant antenna unit and the loop antenna unit; wherein the resonant antenna units of the stationary antenna assemblies are located a distance apart so that the first resonant antenna in the portable reader is only capable of inductively coupling to one resonant antenna in a stationary antenna assembly at a time; wherein the housing of the resonant antenna unit includes a mechanical coupler configured to align the first resonant antenna in the portable reader with the second resonant antenna in each stationary antenna assembly.