Radio frequency access control system and method

An access control system comprising:

• at least one receiver responder comprising
• a receiver responder magnetic flux antenna,
• a plurality of RF tone detectors electrically coupled with the receiver responder magnetic flux antenna,
• a microcontroller electrically coupled with the plurality of RF tone detectors,
• a responder RF burst generator electrically coupled with the microcontroller and the receiver responder magnetic flux antenna;
• and
• a transmitter initiator comprising
• a transmitter initiator magnetic flux antenna constructed and arranged to direct magnetic energy in an angular direction, wherein the transmitter initiator magnetic flux antenna and the receiver responder magnetic flux antenna define an open-air gap therebetween, and wherein the transmitter initiator magnetic flux antenna comprises
• a paramagnetic housing,
• electromagnetic windings disposed within the paramagnetic housing, and
• at least one ferromagnetic element disposed within the open-air gap, wherein the paramagnetic housing and the ferromagnetic element are constructed and arranged to direct a magnetic field across the open air gap, and
• a plurality of RF tone detectors electromagnetically coupled with the transmitter initiator magnetic flux antenna,
• a transmitter initiator microcontroller electromagnetically coupled with the plurality of RF tone detectors, and
• a plurality of RF burst generators electrically coupled with the transmitter initiator microcontroller and with the transmitter initiator magnetic flux antenna;
• wherein the system is configured for wireless communication between the transmitter initiator and the at least one receiver responder via near-field magnetic induction.