Patent ID: 8054184

Claim:
A radio frequency identification system comprising: a radio frequency identification reader that includes a radio frequency identification transceiver circuit, a first pot core half having a base, the base having a center pole and an outer pole extending from a first side of the base, a first toroidal wire coil that fits within the first pot core half around the center pole, the first wire coil terminated by two leads electrically coupled to the transceiver circuit to transmit and receive radio frequency energy, a second pot core half having a base, the base having a center pole and an outer pole extending from a first side of the base, wherein a distance between the first pot core half and the second pot core half is less than two inches, and a second toroidal wire coil that fits within the second pot core half around the center pole, the second wire coil terminated by two leads electrically coupled to the transceiver circuit to transmit and receive radio frequency energy; and a radio frequency identification tag that includes a radio frequency identification circuit assembly, a third pot core half having base, the base having a center pole and an outer pole extending from a first side of the base, and a third toroidal wire coil that fits within the third pot core half around the center pole, the third wire coil terminated by two leads electrically coupled to the radio frequency identification circuit assembly to modulate the radio frequency energy received from the first wire coil only when the third pot core half is substantially aligned with and proximate to the first pot core half and to modulate the radio frequency energy received from the second wire coil only when the third pot core half is substantially aligned with and proximate to the second pot core half.