Near field RFID probe with tunning

A radio-frequency identification (“RFID”) probe comprising:

• a probe tip comprising a resonant coil configured to communicate with an RFID compatible device at a predetermined resonant frequency;
• a plurality of switch capacitor networks each comprising a capacitor and an RF switch, wherein switching the plurality of switch capacitor networks changes the capacitance of the resonant coil, thereby changing a resonant frequency of the resonant coil;
• a probe control module configured to adjust the resonant frequency of the resonant coil to maintain the predetermined resonant frequency by switching the switch capacitor networks responsive to detecting that the resonant frequency of the resonant coil has deviated from the predetermined resonant frequency;
• and
• a substrate disposed in the probe tip, the substrate comprising a slotted ground plane on an exposed surface to reduce eddy currents from canceling out projected magnetic fields.