Electronic reader for reading a special characteristic of an object

An identification system including a reader for reading an object and providing a first output signal if said object has certain predetermined characteristics readable by said reader, said system comprising:

• a detector detecting the presence of the object in a field of inspection of said detector;
• a timer responsive to said detector and started by the detection of the object in said field of inspection;
• a counter counting the number of times the object is presented to the field of inspection while said timer is active;
• and
• a processor responsive to said timer and said counter, said processor generating a second output signal if the object is disposed within said field of inspection at least a first number of times while said timer is active,
• wherein said detector includes an antenna, a PSK receive path disposed between said antenna and a first circuit node, an FSK receive path disposed between said antenna and said first circuit node, and a first filter for attenuating a first RF frequency disposed between said first circuit node and a second circuit node,
• said PSK receive path includes a second filter for attenuating said first RF frequency and passing frequencies approximately one-half of said first RF frequency, and
• said FSK receive path includes a discriminator and a third filter, said third filter for attenuating frequencies approximately one-half of said first RF frequency and above and passing RF frequencies less than one-fourth of said first RF frequency.

A method for responding to the presentation of an object to a reader in an identification system, the object having certain predetermined characteristics readable by said reader, said method comprising:

• detecting the presence of the object in a field of inspection of the reader;
• initiating a timer in response to said detecting;
• and
• generating a signal in response to the object being disposed in the field of inspection in excess of a predetermined amount of time,
• wherein said reader includes an antenna, a PSK receive path disposed between said antenna and a first circuit node, an FSK receive path disposed between said antenna and said first circuit node, and a first filter for attenuating a first RF frequency disposed between said first circuit node and a second circuit node,
• said PSK receive path includes a second filter for attenuating said first RF frequency and passing frequencies approximately one-half of said first RF frequency, and
• said FSK receive path includes a discriminator and a third filter, said third filter for attenuating frequencies approximately one-half of said first RF frequency and above and passing RF frequencies less than one-fourth of said first RF frequency.

A method for responding to the presentation of an object to a reader in an identification system, the object having certain predetermined characteristics readable by said reader, said method comprising:

• detecting each presentation of the object to a field of inspection of said reader;
• initiating a timer in response to a first detected presentation;
• and
• counting each presentation from said first detector presentation;
• and
• generating a signal in response to the object being presented to the field of inspection at least a predetermined number of times within a predetermined amount of time,
• wherein said reader includes an antenna, a PSK receive path disposed between said antenna and a first circuit node, an FSK receive path disposed between said antenna and said first circuit node, and a first filter for attenuating a first RF frequency disposed between said first circuit node and a second circuit node,
• said PSK receive path includes a second filter for attenuating said first RF frequency and passing frequencies approximately one-half of said first RF frequency, and
• said FSK receive path includes a discriminator and a third filter, said third filter for attenuating frequencies approximately one-half of said first RF frequency and above and passing RF frequencies less than one-fourth of said first RF frequency.