Radio frequency identification reader

A radio frequency identification (RFID) reader comprising:

• a radio frequency (RF) multiplexer, the RF multiplexer comprising a plurality of antenna ports for connecting with a plurality of antennas respectively;
• a reader module, the reader module comprising a first internal port and second internal port and being configured for communicating with a tag proximate to the RFID reader through one of the first and the second internal ports;
• a network module for connecting the RFID reader to a network;
• a micro-controller module being connected to the RF multiplexer, the reader module and the network module, the micro-controller module being configured for controlling the reader module to communicate with the tag through a selected antenna port of the RF multiplexer or an external antenna device and for controlling the network module to communicate with the network;
• a power over Ethernet (PoE) module, the PoE module being integrated with and connected to the network module and configured for supplying power transferred from the network to the RFID reader;
• and the PoE module is also configured and integrated on a PCB;
• and
• a processor, the processor being embedded in the micro-controller module and configured to monitor any changes in the detection of the RFID tag so as to determine whether the data associated with the tag has changed since a previous detection;
• wherein
• the first internal port of the reader module is connected to the RF multiplexer for the reader module to utilize the antennas connected to the antenna ports of the RF multiplexer;
• the second internal port of the reader module is configured for connecting to the external antenna device so that the reader module can utilize an external antenna connected to a selected antenna port of the external antenna device;
• the RF multiplexer, the reader module, the micro-controller module and the network module are all configured and integrated on the PCB;
• the RF multiplexer comprises a plurality of RF switches, a plurality of co-planar waveguides for connecting the RF switches and each having an interior cavity, a first set of RF ports being configured to be the antenna ports, a second RF port, and an RF switch controller for selectively enabling a communication path between one of the first set of RF ports and the second RF port, the waveguides respectively comprising an RF trace having a width of 1.778 mm;
• and
• the PoE module converts the electrical voltage of PoE into a 5V system voltage for supplying to the whole RFID reader.