RFID—sensor system for lateral discrimination

An RFID sensor system for reading at least one object having a programmable RFID device embedded therein, the at least one object being disposed in at least one of N -predetermined reading regions, N being an integer value greater than or equal to two, the system comprising:

• N-RFID reader arrays, each N-RFID reader array being disposed in a corresponding one of the N-predetermined reading regions, an Mth RFID reader array of the N-RFID arrays including an Mth reader loop configured to read the at least one object disposed in an Mth region and an Mth jamming device disposed proximate the Mth reader loop, the Mth jamming device being configured to generate a jamming signal that prevents reader loops disposed in adjacent reading regions of the N-predetermined reading regions from reading the at least one object disposed in the Mth region, M being an integer value in a range of integers from 1 to N;
• and
• a control system coupled to the N-RFID reader arrays, the control system being configured to energize each reader loop in accordance with a predetermined reading sequence and energize each jamming device in accordance with a predetermined jamming sequence.