Abstract: In one embodiment the present invention includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) system. The RFID system includes a reader system that generates electromagnetic energy, reader antennas that communicate information with RFID tags using the electromagnetic energy, switches that are coupled to the reader antennas. The reader system selectively controls the switches to short adjacent reader antennas. In this manner, the target (RFID tag) may be located with improved positional accuracy.

Abstract: In one embodiment the present invention includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) system with a shorting loop. The shorting loop at least partially surrounds the antenna. The shorting loop distorts the electromagnetic field generated by the antenna to improve the definition of the border of the read region of the antenna. In this manner, the RFID system provides more accurate discrimination between RFID tags inside the read region versus RFID tags outside the read region (i.e., improves the accuracy of determining that a particular RFID tag is inside the read region).

Abstract: A direct-write laser lithography system comprises a reel-to-reel feed system in a vacuum chamber that presents the clear film-side of a single-sided metal-clad tape to a laser for direct patterning of the metal. The laser beam is swept laterally across the tape by rotating mirrors, and is intense enough to ablate the metal but not so strong as to destroy the tape substrate. In one instance, two specialized lasers are used, one set to ablate large field areas, and the other tuned to scribe fine features and lines. The ablated metal blows off in a downward direction and is collected for recycling.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention improves the efficiency of radio frequency identification (RFID) systems and helps to extend the effective read range for certain configurations of closely spaced RFID tags. Specifically, an embodiment helps to minimize energy losses that result when there is excess energy from the excitation source. This excess energy has the potential to damage the circuitry in RFID tags. A shunt regulator is often used to protect the RFID circuitry by clamping the voltage, but has the undesirable effect of converting this excess excitation energy into heat. Various embodiments are directed toward using only as much of the excitation energy as necessary to power the RFID circuitry.

Abstract: In one embodiment the present invention includes an RFID gaming token with a ferrite core. When the RFID gaming tokens are stacked, the ferrite cores steer the flux field from the excitation antenna through the center of the annular antennas in each token. The resulting flux field increases the efficiency of the energy transfer from the excitation antenna to the passive tags. This increased efficiency also improves the data transfer to and from the passive tags. This increased efficiency allows for reading RFID gaming tokens at a higher stack height (or at a better error rate for a given stack height) as compared to existing air core gaming tokens.

Abstract: In one embodiment the present invention includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) apparatus comprising an inlay layer. The inlay layer includes a plurality of resonant metal structures. The plurality of resonant metal structures has a first configuration of locations and resonate frequencies. Each resonant metal structure corresponds to a location and a resonant frequency.