Radio frequency identification reader

A radio frequency identification reader, the reader comprising:

• a resonator comprising:
• a waveguide closed at a proximal end and closed at a distal end and dimensioned to facilitate resonance in radio frequency waves having a frequency of operation so that the radio frequency waves produce an electric field in the waveguide having a peak intensity at a location between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the waveguide is a ridged waveguide comprising a pair of ridges extending from the proximal end of the waveguide towards the distal end of the waveguide, wherein the waveguide comprises a tuner comprising an adjustable conductive connection between the proximal end of the resonator and a first ridge of the pair of ridges, and wherein a central longitudinal axis of the waveguide is defined that extends from the proximal end of the waveguide to the distal end of the waveguide and is centrally located within the waveguide, wherein the adjustable conductive connection comprises a sliding contact, wherein the conductive connection is adjustable by moving the sliding contact between a first location adjacent to a surface of the first ridge that faces a corresponding surface of a second ridge of the pair of ridges and a second position that is further from the second ridge,
• a holder for holding one or more radio frequency identification tags at the location at which the electric field produced by radio frequency waves having the frequency of operation has a peak intensity, and
• a radio frequency feed point for coupling radio frequency signals between the waveguide and radio frequency identification reader circuitry;
• and
• radio frequency identification reader circuitry electrically coupled to the radio frequency feed point of the resonator.

A method of reading data from one or more radio frequency identification tags, the method comprising:

• locating the one or more radio frequency identification tags in the holder of a resonator, wherein the resonator comprises:
• a waveguide closed at a proximal end and closed at a distal end and dimensioned to facilitate resonance in radio frequency waves having a frequency of operation so that the radio frequency waves produce an electric field in the waveguide having a peak intensity at a location between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the waveguide is a ridged waveguide comprising a pair of ridges extending from the proximal end of the waveguide towards the distal end of the waveguide, wherein the waveguide comprise a tuner comprising an adjustable conductive connection between the proximal end of the resonator and a first ridge of the pair of ridges, and wherein a central longitudinal axis of the waveguide is defined that extends from the proximal end of the waveguide to the distal end of the waveguide and is centrally located within the waveguide, wherein the adjustable conductive connection comprises a sliding contact, wherein the conductive connection is adjustable by moving the sliding contact between a first location adjacent to a surface of the first ridge that faces a corresponding surface of a second ridge of the pair of ridges and a second position that is further from the second ridge;
• a holder for holding one or more radio frequency identification tags at the location at which the electric field produced by radio frequency waves having the frequency of operation has a peak intensity;
• and
• a radio frequency feed point for coupling radio frequency signals between the waveguide and radio frequency identification reader circuitry;
• reading the data from the one or more radio frequency identification tags using radio frequency identification reader circuitry electrically coupled to the radio frequency feed point of the resonator.