Patent ID: 7839287

Claim:
An RFID system for selectively communicating with a targeted transponder from among a group of multiple adjacent transponders, the RFID system comprising: a transponder conveyance system adapted to transport at least one targeted transponder from a group of multiple adjacent transponders through a transponder encoding region; a transceiver configured to generate a communication signal, wherein the transceiver defines a source impedance; and a near-field coupler in electrical communication with the transceiver for receiving the communication signal, the near-field coupler defining an input impedance and including, a grounded terminating load for substantially matching the input impedance to the source impedance, and a conductive strip for a transmission of an electromagnetic signal within an operating frequency range into the transponder encoding region, the conductive strip defining a length that is less than or substantially equal to a quarter wavelength of a center frequency of the operating frequency range.