MOBILE HANDHELD ANTENNA FOR READING TAGS

A tag reader, including: a. a mobile part having an antenna for positioning near a group of tags, transmitting a power signal to the tags and receiving a response from the tags; wherein the antenna has an internal impedance that increases or decreases responsive to objects located in its vicinity; b. a reader base for providing the power signal to the mobile part and for storing and analyzing information read from tags; and c. a real-time antenna tuning circuit for adjusting the impedance of the antenna; wherein the mobile part, reader base and real time antenna tuning circuit are wired together to transfer the power signal from the reader base to the antenna through the real-time antenna tuning circuit, and wherein the real-time antenna tuning circuit monitors the power signal and adjusts the impedance of the antenna responsive to a determination in real-time of power return loss from the antenna.