Loop antenna for RFID

A multiple technology data reader comprising:

• a) an optical data reader comprising
• a housing;
• at least one photosensitive detector within said housing;
• an optical collector for directing light onto said photosensitive detector;
• and
• processing circuitry connected to an output of said photosensitive detector;
• b) a radio frequency identification (RFID) interrogator for detecting data;
• c) a communications unit connected to said optical data reader and said RFID interrogator;
• and
• d) a loop antenna means connected to said communication unit for providing gain and directionality when transmitting and receiving an electromagnetic signal.

A bar code scanning and decoding apparatus comprising;

• a) a bar code scanner which includes,
• a scanner configured to scan a bar code symbol;
• a transmitter configured to transmit a signal corresponding to the scanned bar code symbol via wireless transmissions;
• and
• a storage unit, wherein the scanner retains the signal in the storage unit until the acknowledgement signal is received from the computer;
• b) a loop antenna means connected to said communication unit for providing gain and directionality when transmitting and receiving an electromagnetic signal;
• and
• c) a computer separate from the bar code scanner, the computer including,
• a receiver configured to receive the signal sent from the bar code scanner and to convert the signal to digital information;
• and
• a computer program configured to receive the digital information from the receiver and to be executed by the computer based on the digital information,
• wherein the computer sends an acknowledgement signal to the scanner when the computer has successfully received the signal,
• wherein the computer receives the signal sent from the the bar code scanner in a time division manner, and
• wherein the signal is allowed to be erased or overwritten in the storage unit once the acknowledgement signal is received from the computer.

A multiple technology data reader comprising:

• a) an optical data reader comprising
• a housing;
• at least one photosensitive detector within said housing;
• an optical collector for directing light onto said photosensitive detector;
• and
• processing circuitry connected to an output of said photosensitive detector;
• b) a radio frequency identification (RFID) interrogator for detecting data;
• c) a first loop antenna means to transmit the RFID signal and to receive the response from the transponder;
• d) a communications unit connected to said optical data reader and said RFID interrogator;
• and
• e) a second loop antenna means connected to said communication unit for providing gain and directionality when transmitting and receiving an electromagnetic signal.